Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

SYRIA: With continued fighting impeding relief response, the ICRC is urging the Syrian authorities and all others to implement a daily cease fire for at least two hours. A temporary halt in the fighting would allow the ICRC staff and Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers to deliver aid and evacuate the wounded and the sick.

MADAGASCAR: On February 14th, tropical cyclone Giovanna landed in the district of Brickaville on the East coast of Madagascar, resulting in at least 16 dead, 65 injured, 10,856 people affected, 3,380 houses totally destroyed and 1,480 houses damaged. The Malagasy Red Cross responded well before the cyclone with 1,416 volunteers involved in an early warning campaign. A few hours after the cyclone, the Malagasy Red Cross volunteers started to assess the damage and the resulting needs.

NEW ZEALAND: Staff and volunteers from the New Zealand Red Cross took part in a variety of memorial events to mark the one year anniversary of the deadly 6.3 magnitude earthquake that claimed the lives of 185 people on February 22, 2011 and damaged large parts of the city of Christchurch. In the aftermath of the disaster the Red Cross helped over 76,000 individuals and households, making it the largest relief and recovery program in the history of the New Zealand Red Cross.

MOZAMBIQUE: Late last month Tropical Cyclone Funso swept across the coastal areas of Zambezia province in Mozambique, leaving a trail of destruction to property and crops. Thousands of people were left homeless. The Mozambique Red Cross Society and the IFRC are launching an effort to provide relief to 10,000 families in need of shelter, food, mosquito nets and clean water.


GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

PHOTO:
Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers and members of the local community unload trucks of humanitarian assistance in Homs, Syria

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

AUSTRALIA: Thousands of Australians have been forced to abandon their homes, and many towns have been left isolated as heavy rainfall has caused flood waters to rise in south-western Queensland and northern New South Wales. The Australian Red Cross has more than 150 Red Cross people assisting with the relief effort, managing evacuation centers, and assisting people on their return.

SOUTH SUDAN: After six months as an independent country, South Sudan still faces humanitarian challenges. With a history of 30 years of conflict, the northern regions of today's South Sudan remain particularly volatile. The ICRC is working with the new South Sudan Red Cross to ensure civilians are respected, the wounded are protected, and to provide aid in conflict-affected communities.

MALI: Fighting in the Northern Mali since mid-January has led to a massive number of displaced people living in dire conditions. The ICRC is assisting 26,000 displaced people in and around Ménaka, 4,000 around Aguelhoc and 15,000 others displaced in neighboring Niger. Together with the Mali Red Cross, the ICRC is distributing millet, rice, oil, salt, tarpaulins, blankets, sleeping mats, buckets, kitchen utensils and hygiene items.

MADAGASCAR: Last week a plague-prevention campaign was launched at places of detention in Madagascar with support from the ICRC. In all, more than 3,600 people will benefit at two facilities in Antanimora and Tsiafahy, which have severely overcrowded conditions and limited opportunities for maintaining hygiene. Madagascar is one of the few places where the plague is still prevalent, with between 300 and 600 cases occurring in recent years.


GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

PHOTO:
Red Cross volunteer Lynette Tyler provides personal support for Mary Stanton, a Kamilaroi Aboriginal elder, who had to evacuate her home along with 3,000 others from the town of St. George. Australian Red Cross/Jack Tran

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

TURKEY: The Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) and IFRC are working to assist survivors and reach people trapped in the rubble following the 7.2 earthquake that hit the eastern Turkish province of Van on Sunday. At least 217 people have been killed and 1,090 people have been injured, with hundreds more missing.

CENTRAL AMERICA: Over the past week, heavy rains in Central America caused flooding and several major landslides. A landslide in La Libertad, El Salvador took five lives and another five were rescued from under the dirt by members of the Salvadorian Red Cross. In Guatemala, the Guatemalan Red Cross is delivering relief supplies to those affected by landslides. At least 100 have died in the region, which continues to receive heavy rains from Hurricane Rita.

AFGHANISTAN: Every year, as the weather turns cold, the ICRC runs a winter program for Afghan detainees. By the end of October, the ICRC will have distributed over 26,000 parcels, blankets and other supplies to 72 prisons all over Afghanistan.

MADAGASCAR: Last week was the final training seminar in a series of 10 at the national police academy in Ivato, Madagascar. The seminars, organized by the ICRC, gave 400 officers the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the rules on the use of force under human rights law.


GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies