Red Cross Blogs

The British Red Cross welcomes a report released by Oxfam today which highlights the need for the humanitarian system to shift towards a local response, rather than global, when disasters strike.

Greater numbers of people are being affected by disasters due to issues which include:

•  increased frequency of weather-related disasters
• more people living in urban contexts at risk of more complex disasters
• a burgeoning global population of 7 billion, which is expected to double by 2100.

As the report explains, the international humanitarian system will struggle to cope with those affected when disasters strike without having local response mechanisms in place.

For the British Red Cross, as part of an international Movement, working with local staff and volunteers is always central in any response to a disaster. And every Red Cross and Red Crescent National Society is a neutral auxiliary to its government, meaning their volunteers and staff are active from the earliest moments in a crisis.

 In 2010, when an unprecedented earthquake struck Haiti, it was local volunteers who were first on the scene. Since then, the British Red Cross has been working closely with the Haitian Red Cross to help survivors recover.

Prepared before disaster strikes

As Oxfam’s report emphasises, there is an increasing need for emergency resources to be closer to where disasters happen.

Around the world the Red Cross has 187 National Societies and each has its own emergency supplies stored in-country. However, when large-scale disasters happen there can of course be a need for international assistance.

At the British Red Cross our aim is to buy and store goods locally so as to speed up our response, boost local economies and ensure assistance is relevant to local society and culture. For instance, we store emergency relief items in warehouses in Kuala Lumpur and Panama, which are strategically positioned close to areas more prone to disasters.

If we don’t have what is needed in our pre-positioned stock another approach we use, as for example in our response to the current food crisis in east Africa, is to release cash to buy items in-country or nearby. This is an efficient way of responding and supports the local economy.

When responding to an emergency, the Red Cross co-ordinates with affected governments the UN and other humanitarian organisations – however co-ordination in the chaos of a disaster is always a challenge and all actors have a responsibility to improve ways of working together more effectively.

Reducing the risk of disasters

Investment in reducing the risk of disaster is a core part of British Red Cross work. When we plan a recovery programme to help people get back on their feet, we also look for ways to lessen the impact of future disasters. In Haiti, we’ve seen how improving the ways we communicate with people affected by disasters is vital to ensuring that communities are at the heart of and engaged in their own recovery.

However, it’s not only in the aftermath of disasters that we help communities be better prepared. Bangladesh is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, but the work that the government, the Red Cross and other organisations have done to help communities at risk of cyclones get prepared has had a huge impact in recent years. In part, this work can be attributed for the fact that in 2007 Cyclone Sidr resulted in more than 3,300 people losing their lives, where as in 2009 when Cyclone Aila struck the number of lives lost – while still too many – was reduced to 190, although 300,000 lost their homes and livelihoods.

When disasters strike humanitarian aid is essential and the generosity of donors at such times helps save lives. Although the emphasis remains on responding to crises, as Oxfam’s report points out, there is not enough investment in preventing and reducing the risk of disasters.

We know that when the TV cameras shine the spotlight on a humanitarian disaster people are willing to give a donation, but raising money to help people prepare for a disaster that hasn’t happened proves a much bigger challenge.

And yet according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), every $1 spent on reducing the risk of disasters could save $4 in responding to an emergency.

I doubt many people know that and it’s not exactly a headline winner – but if anyone has a bright idea on how to get people excited about putting their hand in their pocket to support disaster risk reduction please let me know!

Visit our website to find out more about how we help people prepare for disasters

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Tags: disaster, emergency response, local capacity, preparing for disasters, resilience, risk reduction
Posted in Emergencies, International, News

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As the situation in Syria continues to deteriorate, it becomes increasingly difficult and dangerous for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in the region to carry out their lifesaving work.

On 25 January, Dr Abd-al-Razzaq Jbeiro, secretary-general of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and president of its Idlib branch, was shot and killed on the Halab-Damascus Highway. He was travelling in a vehicle clearly marked with the Red Crescent emblem.

Lack of respect for medical services

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has already called upon all those involved in the violence to respect and facilitate Red Crescent and Red Cross efforts to come to the aid of those in need. The call came when one Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteer died and two volunteers were injured after their ambulance came under fire in September 2011.

Last month Béatrice Mégevand-Roggo, the ICRC head of operations for the Near and Middle East, again voiced the ICRC’s concern about difficulties accessing medical care in Syria. She said: “There have been repeated reports of lack of respect for medical staff and facilities.

“Our partners in the Syrian Arab Red Crescent have been working around the clock to provide medical and food aid in particularly difficult and risky circumstances. Any delay or impediment in providing first aid could cost injured persons their lives.”

Protection in neutrality

The neutrality and impartiality of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement enables it to work in areas where many other agencies cannot – providing help to people solely on the basis of their needs and giving priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers administer life-saving first aid to the injured. Like all medical personnel, they must be allowed to carry out their work in safety. Increasing the people in Syria’s knowledge of the Movement’s exclusively humanitarian aim – to bring aid in a fully impartial and neutral manner to people in need – will help reduce the dangers faced by staff and volunteers.

Funds from the British Red Cross’ Libya & Region Appeal are helping support the Syrian Arab Red Crescent in preparing a public awareness campaign to raise awareness in Syria about the Red Cross Movement’s emblem and fundamental principles, and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent’s role.

Donate to our Libya & Region Appeal

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Tags: emblem, International Committee, Libya & Region Appeal, Syria, Syrian Arab Red Crescent
Posted in Emergencies, International

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It took its time, but winter’s finally here.

The gloves are on, the temperature’s dropping faster than the economy and, later this week, parts of the UK will be colder than Iceland. That’s Iceland.

With the best will in the world, that realistically means lots of falls and broken bones, and hundreds of vulnerable people potentially put at risk from the freezing weather. So, here are some tips for staying safe:

Broken bones
It’s a simple enough equation: snow equals ice equals slippery surfaces equals people flat on their backsides. If you see someone slip over and break a bone:

1. You need to immobilise the affected part.  Try and support the injury with a cushion or items of clothing to prevent unnecessary movement.

2. With upper-arm injuries, encourage the person to support the limb with their hand.

3. As soon as possible, call 999 or get someone else to do it.

Head injuries
If someone is unlucky enough to slip and bang their head, they will definitely need your help.

1. Ask the person to rest and apply a cold compress to their injury – this can be ice or a packet of frozen vegetables, wrapped in something like a tea towel.

2. If they become drowsy, vomit or their condition deteriorates, call 999 or get someone else to do it.

Hypothermia
Most of us associate hypothermia with mountaineers and outdoorsy-types, but it’s more often caused by being in a poorly heated room for too long.

Older people and infants are especially at risk.  (Older people are less aware of changes in temperature and infants can’t regulate their own body temperatures.)

A person with hypothermia may be shivering, pale and cold to touch. They may also be disorientated.
1. Call 999 or get someone else to do it.
2. Warm the person slowly by wrapping them in a blanket and giving them warm drinks and high-energy foods, such as chocolate.
3. Give constant reassurance.

Take care during this cold snap, and for more information on basic first aid skills that could help your family and friends visit our website.

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Tags: Emergencies, First aid, first aid tips, severe weather
Posted in Emergencies, UK

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Bangladesh has always been a frequent victim of cyclones, but a number of complex issues mean cyclones, and the tidal surges they often cause, are having an increasingly devastating impact on people living along the coast.

Population pressure, land shortage, urbanisation, governance and environmental management are all contributing factors, along with any rise in sea level from the impact of climate change* , which challenge the sustainability of many people’s means of making a living.

Fishing families and others on low incomes are particularly vulnerable. As they are already poor, when a cyclone or flood takes everything they own, they are left with literally nothing. They have no reserves in the bank and no insurance to help them start over.

The trauma of living through a cyclone only gives way to the overwhelming struggle to survive in its aftermath. And of course the survivors are the lucky ones.

It would be understandable to think that hundreds of thousands of people are facing a bleak future. But that’s not quite the whole story.

Many communities are defying the odds, hoping for, and finding, a better future for themselves and their children.

You can find out more in the photo story below.

Our programme

Thanks to a five-year Bangladesh Red Crescent programme (2006-2011), supported by the British Red Cross,  84 communities are now better at protecting people and their means of making a living when a cyclone strikes.

We focused on those living along the coast and most at risk of losing their lives, in particular:

• women and children
• fishermen.

Alamgir Hossain, from Ghutabacha community, says: “Knowledge is not expensive but it saves lives. Before Cyclone Sidr in 2007, people didn’t bother much about cyclone warnings.

“But over the last few years, since the Red Crescent has been working with us, people’s attitudes have changed. Now people listen to the warnings and know what to do.”

Safety at sea

Facing a cyclone at sea is a risky business. But without a radio and understanding of early warning signals, this is the terrifying situation experienced by many Bangladeshi fishermen.

We’ve trained 300 fishermen in safety at sea and provided them with:

• radio
• torch
• buoy
• compass
• first aid kit.

The training included: use of the equipment; understanding the cyclone warning system; first aid; and search and rescue.

Empowering women

It is common practice in Bangladesh for women to only leave the house with permission from their husband.

When a cyclone hits and a woman’s husband is out, despite the danger, she often doesn’t feel able to leave the home to seek safe shelter. As a result many women and children may die unnecessarily.

Through our programme, we tackled this problem by:

• setting up women’s forums and building women’s confidence through training
• working with the wider community, including religious leaders, to change attitudes to women.

Community action

Setting up community committees, made up of volunteers that motivate and organise their community to prepare for and respond to cyclones, has been key to the programme’s success and sustainability.

Alagmir Hossain, who is the secretary general of the Ghutabacha community disaster preparedness committee, says: “We are much better informed and organised. We’ve developed hazard maps that identify the homes and people most at risk, as well as the location of shelters.

“I feel confident we’ll continue sharing this knowledge and using the skills we’ve gained to save lives.”

A safer future

Following the completion of this work, the Bangladesh Red Crescent, with support from the British Red Cross, is developing a programme to help communities become more resilient, not just to cyclones but also a wider range of disasters and day to day crises.

Helping people protect their livelihoods as well as their lives will be a vital part of this work.

* UNISDR: Climate Change Impact And Disaster Vulnerabilities In The Coastal Areas Of Bangladesh

View the photos on Flickr

Find out more about how we’re helping people in Bangladesh prepare for disasters

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Tags: Bangladesh, climate change, cyclone, disaster recovery, fishermen, livelihoods
Posted in Emergencies, International

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Would you ask for less homework? For better school dinners? Or for longer holidays?

On Tuesday 31 January the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP – Secretary of State for Education – will meet parliament’s Education Committee, where MPs will field questions from members of the public.

You can submit your question online, too, using the Twitter hashtag #AskGove.

First aid and humanitarian education

We see this committee as a great opportunity to highlight Pupil, citizen, life-saver – our campaign to add first aid and humanitarian education to the school curriculum. We know that it is a pressing concern for teachers, parents and pupils, who all value the Red Cross’ work in schools.

In 2011 we responded to the Department of Education’s national curriculum review of the essential knowledge and skills taught in schools. Now the department is reviewing responses around the core subjects of English, maths, science and physical education before they tackle other subjects to be included in the new National Curriculum.

A great campaign response

Since we launched our Pupil, citizen, life-saver e-campaign, our supporters have asked over 50 local MPs to sign our parliamentary petition. So, thanks to those who have taken part – and if you haven’t yet, you can ask your MP too.

Education isn’t – and shouldn’t be – just about reading, writing and maths. At its core, education should also be about gaining practical knowledge that will help people to be more confident, willing and able to help in a crisis. And what’s more practical than learning to save someone’s life? That’s why we asked Michael Gove questions about the curriculum.

Schools provide an ideal forum for learning how to cope with challenging situations, and the British Red Cross has an excellent track record with over five years helping teachers use our creative resources in the classroom.

We’ll be listening out for our questions (and the answers) on Tuesday during the Committee’s meeting – and we hope you will too.

For more information about our advocacy work, email advocacy@redcross.org.uk.

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Tags: advocacy, campaign, citizen, e-campaign, education, life-saver, parliament, policy, pupil, Twitter
Posted in First aid, News, UK

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