Swiss Red Cross cuts donor blood supply to Greece over debts February 26, 2013 - 19:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Swiss branch of the Red Cross says it is cutting its supply of donor blood to Greece because the country has failed to pay its bills on time, AP said. The head of the Swiss Red Cross' transfusion service says the number of blood packets delivered to Greece will be halved to 14,000 by 2020. Rudolf Schwabe on Tuesday, February 26 confirmed Swiss media reports that Greece had run up debts of several million Swiss francs (dollars) in the past. Those debts have been repaid but Schwabe says the non-profit SRC took the decision to limit its financial risk. The Swiss blood sent to Greece comes from unused emergency stockpiles. It helps meet high demand in Greece caused by the prevalence of thalassemia, a genetic disorder whose carriers need regular blood transfusions. Partner news  Top stories Earlier, at least five Azerbaijan soldiers were killed and six seriously injured when their vehicle rammed into a tree and overturned. Among its provisions are bans on child marriage and the traditional practice of selling and buying women to settle disputes. Jorge Rafael Videla, an austere former army commander, led Argentina during the bloodiest days of its Dirty War dictatorship. According to the United Nations, April was Iraq's bloodiest month for almost five years, with 712 people killed.   Partner news |  Latest news "The Fades" actor to star in Ryan Gosling's "How to Catch a Monster"  Centered around a landscape of a disappearing city, the film follows a single mother who finds herself in a gloomy fantasy underworld.1st look at Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela in "Long Walk to Freedom" The Golden Globe-winning Luther actor has been paired up with Bond girl Naomie Harris, who will play Winnie Mandela.Pistorius not to compete in 2013 as he awaits trial Pistorius was granted bail and had certain conditions lifted which meant he could compete in events outside his homeland.Angelina Jolie to play her mother in biopic? Marcheline Bertrand, who died from ovarian cancer in 2007 aged just 56, like her daughter devoted herself to humanitarian causes. |
