(Ottawa - August 27, 2010) - Sometimes families are separated when they need each other most. The Canadian Red Cross is today launching a phone line for people living in Canada to reconnect with immediate family members that arrived from Sri Lanka on the MV Sun Sea.

The Canadian Red Cross Restoring Family Links program helps people in Canada to re-establish contact with immediate family members after separation due to migration, armed conflict, natural disaster and other humanitarian crises. The Canadian Red Cross is extending this service to facilitate initial communication between the detained Sri Lankan migrants and their relatives in Canada by:

Tracing immediate family members in Canada or overseas at the request of the migrants from the MV Sun Sea

Responding to inquiries from people in Canada that believe their immediate family member was on board the MV Sun Sea

Facilitating initial communication in Canada or overseas through a Red Cross Message. These messages often consist of only a few words, but can ease the minds of worried loved ones in Canada or half a world away. Each year Canadian Red Cross sends and receives between 500 and 600 Red Cross Messages.

The Canadian Red Cross Family Links line is: 1-888-893-1300.

Through an agreement with the Canada Border Services Agency, the Canadian Red Cross has been visiting immigration detention centres on a regular basis since 1999. Conditions are monitored against both domestic and international standards. During visits to detention facilities, the Canadian Red Cross monitors:

Conditions of detention

Treatment by staff or other detainees

Legal safeguards

Contact with family members

Visits to detention centres are conducted by trained and dedicated volunteers and staff who work in teams.

The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and over 185 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Our mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.

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Journalists, for more information call the Canadian Red Cross media line: +1 613-740-1994