Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you…
[The place names link to maps so that you can get a quick idea of the region.]
IRAQ: When a massive bomb explosion hit Sadr City last week, the ICRC provided one ton of medical supplies and 120,000 liters of water to the hospital treating survivors.
It was just over a year ago that I became the President and CEO of the American Red Cross, and I was recently asked what this first year has been like.
It’s a blessing to be a part of the American Red Cross, and frankly, it’s been a time filled with pleasant surprises. Many of the issues that I thought would be problematic turned out not to be.
The talent here is extraordinary. You can cut the organization both down and across and you’ll find that the talent is deep in every direction. You often hear that nonprofits have people with big hearts but lack the business acumen to run an institution, but nothing could be further from the truth here. For example, I’ve discovered that a large institution like the American Red Cross can be cost-conscious and fleet of foot.
Another wonderful surprise is the culture. We have an amazing group of people who have a deep passion for our mission. If you need to get something done and explain to Red Crossers how it benefits the people we serve, they immediately put their differences aside and swiftly change direction. I’ve seen this happen again and again since I’ve arrived.
This is a 128-year-old institution that is capable of changing with the times, yet as the world is changing around us, our mission and our intense commitment to the mission remain constant.
Although you may have read otherwise, the American Red Cross is not accepting designated funds or blood from the public for activities in Iran.
The Iranian Red Crescent has not requested international assistance and has indicated that the government’s Emergency Center of the Ministry of Health is the lead responder during civil unrest. Per the Ministry of Health’s request, the Iranian Red Crescent has supplied ambulances, but they are not being operated by the Red Crescent. Similarly, because it is the responsibility of another organization to supply blood products within the country, the Iranian Red Crescent is not involved in the collection process.
“The Iranian government’s Emergency Center of the Ministry of Health is responsible for treating people who have been injured or affected by the emerging situation in Iran following the recent general elections. The Iranian Red Crescent is not involved in the response but has supplied the Emergency Center, based on their request, with ambulances to be put under the government’s authority.”
I’m currently traveling in Asia to a few of the countries affected by the December 2004 tsunami to document how the Red Cross is helping communities recover and rebuild.
My first stop was Indonesia.
The northern coast of Sumatra is one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever traveled. If it was in the United States the stretch of coast from Banda Aceh to Calang would be nothing but five star resorts and million dollar homes, but these beaches are mostly undeveloped.
While traveling from community to community, I’ve heard many sad stories as people talk about how the tsunami personally touched their lives. One such story comes from the small fishing village of Paton Makur near Calang, Indonesia. I first saw Mr. Ibnu Abas, a 50 year-old father of eight who has lived in the village for more than 40 years, carrying several colorful fishing nets past the community center where the American Red Cross was teaching children how to properly wash their hands and pick-up garbage with educational games and competitions. I found out later that several of Mr. Abas’ children were participating in the activities.
I decided to follow Mr. Abas on his journey, which ended up being a little less than a mile long walk to his small motorized canoe-like boat on a small stretch of beach. I watched as he loaded three large fishing nets onto his boat and pushed it into the water, which I found out happens everyday at 4pm. Before he headed out to sea to set the nets, I asked him if I could follow him along his journey the next morning and he kindly agreed.
The next morning I arrived at the same location at 7 a.m sharp. I wasn’t surprised to see Mr. Abas patiently waiting and ready to go. He reminds me of my father, an early riser that is always busy doing something and unfailingly three steps ahead of me.
I quickly jumped into another slightly larger boat of a fisherman that had agreed to take me out so I could film Mr. Abas’ journey. Armed with only pen and paper, a digital camera and a camcorder, I swiftly pulled out my Flip video-camera and started recording.
It took about twenty minutes to get to the sight of the first net. I was full of anticipation as he began to pull the net out of the water. The first few grabs yielded nothing more than seaweed, but then, much to my surprise, a medium size lobster was flopping in his net. He quickly untangled it set it aside to sell at the market later. As the morning progressed he caught a few more lobsters, maybe a dozen fish and a few conch shells, but this voyage was much more than a fisherman just catching fish.
On December 26, 2004, the village of Paton Makur was completely destroyed by the tsunami. Houses, neighbors, children, friends were washed out to sea, never to be seen again. Mr. Abas lost his his house and his thirteen year-old son to the waves that day. I can tell by the expression on his face and the tears forming at the corner of his eyes that it’s something he thinks about constantly.
Now, four and a half years after the tsunami, Mr. Abas and his family are living in a new house built by the United Nations with clean water and a sanitation system provided by the Red Cross.
Mr. Abas is hopeful for the future and plans to open a fruit and vegetable stand to earn additional income for his family.
American Red Cross youth volunteers participated in a mock disaster response today as a part of the world youth meeting in Solferino, Italy. In blistering heat, they walked through each step under the supervision of experienced responders.
These photos indicates the level of coordination required for a successful response. They just may inspire you to learn more about how the Red Cross responds to disasters abroad and how these responses work on the ground.
Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you…
[The place names link to maps so that you can get a quick idea of the region.]
KENYA: An entire community - 130,000 strong - has grown around a water well the Red Cross built in 2007. They call it simply “Borehole 11.”
IRAQ: With the hot season in full swing, the ICRC has been working on repairing water infrastructure and meeting emergency water needs. Read a full report of last month’s activities here.
- The ICRC has published a survey showing the impact of hostilities on civilians. Among the findings: Of those people directly affected by hostilities, 56% said they had been displaced by fighting, while almost half said they had lost contact with a loved one.
- According to a 2008 report by the World Health Organization, road injury is the biggest killer of people aged 10 to 24, topping AIDS, tuberculosis, respiratory infections, suicide and war. The IRFC’s Global Road Safety Partnership aims to change that.
GLOSSARY: ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
As you’ve probably heard, there was a major WMATAaccident here in DC yesterday. Our local chapter responded quickly by touching base with the NTSB, supporting the emergency responders with food, water, and blankets, and providing mental health assistance.
These accidents are quite rare, but there are a few simple steps you can take to prepare for this type of event. As our friend Amanda Ripley says,
“In the moments after the crash, passengers made tourniquets out of T-shirts, struggled to pull debris off others and sought to calm the hysterical and the gravely wounded. Inside the worst-hit car, waiting on ambulances and the “jaws of life,” an Anglican priest led a group in the Lord’s Prayer. On the ground below, a civilian Pentagon employee told a wounded girl he wouldn’t accept her last wish—she was going to live.”
With these reports we urge you to get trained in CPR/AED so that if you ever find yourself in a position like the one yesterday, you can jump into action and use your skills to help others.
At the Battle of Solferino, on June 24, 1859, the Swiss businessman Henry Dunant rallied local villagers to attend to wounded soldiers, without concern for their political affiliation. Now, 150 years later, youth volunteers and staff are in Italy to commemorate the birth of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
This historic event offers opportunities to addresss modern issues. American delegates will teach other youth about their experiences in program development, recruiting and fund raising, and they look forward to workshops and discussions that will be lead by other Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. Almost 500 youth leaders will be at meetings this week.
