RED CROSS APPEALS

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, an umbrella group that includes the American Red Cross, has announced that it needs $333-million through 2007 to pay for its aid work, reports the Associated Press. The group, which normally makes annual appeals, said it was breaking its tradition so that it could help countries better plan for disasters. About 25 percent of the aid would be designated for Asia for disaster planning that would include ways to respond to public-health emergencies, like the bird flu. About 40 percent of the funds would be spent in Africa to combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases.