Red Cross Blogs

Worldwide disaster response round-up

By Ellie Matthews
March 23, 2011 at 2:53 pm

Here’s a brief round-up of how the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is helping people to deal with disasters around the world.

Libya and Tunisia: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is moving more food and essential household items into Libya. The ICRC has called upon all parties to abide strictly by the rules and principles of international humanitarian law.

Around 8,000 people are currently living in the Choucha camp on the Tunisian border. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has built 260 latrines at the camp and the ICRC is helping people at the Egyptian and Tunisian borders contact their families.

The Italian Red Cross has also been working to provide shelter and healthcare to the thousands of north-African migrants landing on the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa.

Donate to our Libya and Region Appeal.

Japan: Following an earthquake off the east coast of Japan on Friday 11 March, thousands are confirmed dead. The Japanese Red Cross has deployed disaster response teams and is offering medical and psychosocial care for survivors and evacuees.

As concerns mount about radiation leaks from nuclear power plants, the Red Cross is also helping care for the thousands of people who have been evacuated. For the latest news on the disaster see our website.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, working closely with the Japanese Red Cross, has launched a Family Links website for people seeking to re-establish contact with family members and friends.

On 12 March, the British Red Cross launched the Japan Tsunami Appeal to support the Japanese Red Cross disaster response operation.

Côte d’Ivoire: The humanitarian situation is worsening for people in Côte d’Ivoire and for refugees in Liberia.

The Red Cross has distributed emergency supplies and basic medicines. Ivorian Red Cross volunteers continue to raise awareness of public hygiene and to mend equipment used to supply drinking water. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has also provided food aid to 1,020 prison detainees.

According to the United Nations, the number of refugees in Liberia is now over 85,000. The ICRC and the Liberian Red Cross are helping restore contact between separated families. Volunteers have been trained to provide care for refugees who may be injured or suddenly fall ill.

Read more on the situation in Côte d’Ivoire.

Yemen: A month of violence has gripped Yemen and demonstrators have reportedly gathered in cities across the country. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed increasing concern about the loss of life and the injuries that have resulted from the escalation in violence.

The ICRC has been supporting medical facilities and donating first-aid and other supplies that can be used to treat the injured.

Over the past few months, the ICRC has provided training for Yemen Red Crescent staff and volunteers in first aid and emergency response. Dozens of volunteers have been working round the clock in places where people are gathering.

Read more on the ICRC’s work in Yemen.

Somalia: Heavy fighting has recently intensified between the government soldiers and militants along the Kenya–Somalia border, resulting in the movement of more than 11,000 refugees and over 3,000 internally displaced people.

The Kenya Red Cross Society has been providing healthcare, counselling, shelter, water and hygiene activities in a camp that has been set up to host displaced people. They are also providing a tracing service for family members fleeing the conflict.

The British Red Cross has also given £110k from its Disaster Fund to help the Somali Red Crescent, who are providing food, health care and water and sanitation assistance to people affected by a drought in the country.

Read more on the situation in Somalia.

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Tags: Côte d'Ivoire, disaster, disaster fund, disaster response, Egypt, International, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Japan Tsunami Appeal, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Libya & Region Appeal, Libya crisis, Somalia, Tunisia, Yemen

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 at 2:53 pm and is filed under Emergencies, International. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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