The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.
CHINA: Red Cross Society of China emergency teams are hard at work to bring help to survivors of a series of
earthquakes that have struck a remote and underdeveloped southwestern region of China. Thousands of quilts and warm jackets, and hundreds of tents have been distributed to the worst-hit areas in Yiliang County, Yunnan. Further supplies of quilts, tents, warm jackets and family kits consisting of household items will also be transported to neighbouring Guizhou province. An Emergency Response Team from the Yunnan Red Cross has also been deployed to provide latrines to survivors in one of the main temporary camps for the displaced.
QATAR: As part of its mission to strengthen community resilience and reduce vulnerability, the Qatar Red Crescent Society has been working in Mali and Niger to support comprehensive action to minimize disaster risks. In June, a four-person emergency response team from the organization visited the town of Gao in northern Mali, which saw outbreaks of violence in March. The purpose of the humanitarian mission was to distribute food aid to 1,000 households and conduct an assessment of the population’s needs in water, sanitation, health and food security. During the mission, the team visited a number of health centres, water and power stations, and met with local groups concerned with food security and farming. These meetings revealed specific needs that require an urgent response. On August 2, the organization and the Mali Red Cross signed a partnership agreement to ensure strong coordination in planning and implementing projects in northern Mali.
SYRIA: Peter Maurer, president of the ICRC, has just returned from Syria following a three-day visit during which he held talks with the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, and the ministers of foreign affairs, the interior, health and national reconciliation. Mr Maurer also visited areas affected by the fighting in Rural Damascus to witness at first hand how civilians are coping in a context of extreme violence.
GLOSSARY:
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
