GENEVA, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - The Red Cross on Wednesday said that an estimated ten million people were affected by typhoon damage and floods in Vietnam, and launched an emergency appeal for 2.7 million dollars (1.9 million euros) in relief aid.

'We estimate that there are ten million people affected by floods in July, and 10 million by the most recent floods,' said Winnie Romeril, a spokeswoman for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

'A lot of people were displaced twice,' she told AFP.

GENEVA, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - The Red Cross said Friday that it had observed a 'worrying' eightfold increase since 2004 in the number of African flood disasters it has to deal with.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said the number of floods in Africa where the movement provided relief aid jumped from five in 2004 to 32 in 2006.

By mid September, with widespread flooding stretching across more than 20 countries from west to east Africa, the number of floods on the continent that mobilised Red Cross aid so far this year stood at 42.

GENEVA, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - The Red Cross warned on Wednesday that a food crisis could be looming across east and west Africa due to the massive damage wrought on crops by ongoing flooding.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies highlighted the situation in Ghana, Sudan and Uganda, which are among the largest nations out of the 22 struck by floods that have affected an estimated 1.5 million people.

GENEVA, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - The Red Cross warned Friday that a massive aid effort is needed to cope with floods in 18 countries across Africa that have already affected at least 1.5 million people and killed nearly 300.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said that the situation is expected to worsen, with more rain forecast in coming weeks.

BOGOTA, Sept 7, 2007 (AFP) - The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that it had recovered five bodies thought to belong to a group of 11 hostages killed in rebel custody in June.

'We have recovered five bodies, including one found yesterday (Thursday),' spokesman for the ICRC in Colombia Yves Heller told AFP.

'We think there are more remains in the area and we are working very hard to find them,' he said.

GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug 30, 2007 (AFP) - The Taliban's last three South Korean hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross late Thursday, an ICRC official told AFP.

The man and two women were in a Red Cross vehicle and being driven to the town of Ghazni, ICRC official Irfan Sulejmani told AFP.

JANDA, Afghanistan, Aug 30, 2007 (AFP) - Four South Korean hostages freed by Afghanistan's hardline Taliban were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross Thursday, an ICRC official told AFP.

'We have received the first group of hostages -- two women, two men,' ICRC official Irfan Sulejmani told AFP. He said he was travelling to an area where he expected to receive the three remaining hostages.

GENEVA, Aug 22, 2007 (AFP) - The Red Cross on Wednesday launched an international appeal for 1.3 million dollars (964,000 euros) to help 35,000 people affected by Hurricane Dean in the Caribbean.

The money will be used to provide basic supplies such as blankets, mosquito repellent and water purification tablets, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement

At least nine people across the region died during the first hurricane of the season, which was also one of the strongest in recent years when it hit Mexico on Tuesday.

GENEVA, Aug 21, 2007 (AFP) - The Red Cross on Tuesday more than tripled its aid appeal for survivors of an earthquake that killed more than 500 people in Peru, as the UN deployed emergency teams to coordinate the international relief effort.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement that it was now seeking 4.7 million dollars (3.4 million euros) to help 37,500 people over nine months, instead of 1.3 million dollars.

GENEVA, Aug 20, 2007 (AFP) - The Red Cross Monday launched a global appeal for 5.5 million dollars (four million euros) to aid 3.7 million people hit by massive floods in North Korea.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies said in a statement that medical supplies and infrastructure were severely damaged by major flooding across five provinces and the health situation was worsening.

GENEVA, July 30, 2007 (AFP) - More than 500 people have been killed in some of the most devastating floods to hit China for a decade, the Red Cross said Monday, launching an emergency appeal for aid to the millions left homeless.

'Over the past two months, more than 200 million people have been affected and over 500 have been killed nationwide by some of the worst flooding to hit the country in the last 10 years,' the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement.

GENEVA, July 30, 2007 (AFP) - More than 500 people have been killed in some of the most devastating floods to hit China for a decade, the Red Cross said Monday, launching an emergency appeal for aid to the millions left homeless.

'Over the past two months, more than 200 million people have been affected and over 500 have been killed nationwide by some of the worst flooding to hit the country in the last 10 years,' the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement.

GENEVA, July 30, 2007 (AFP) - China is facing its worst flooding ever with more than 500 people killed among 200 million affected, the Red Cross said Monday.

Nearly five million residents have been evacuated from their homes because water levels have risen dangerously high along China's main rivers, while more flash floods, downpours and landslides are expected in the coming days, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said.