The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.
IRAN: The first heavy snow of the season in Iran covered 11 provinces in a thick white coat, forcing more than 2,500 people to evacuate their homes with the help of the volunteers of the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRCS) while movement inside and in between cities was prevented due to the extreme weather conditions that rendered the roads unsafe for travelling. The Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran sources announced that 44 IRCS teams consisting of 160 rescuers have so far rendered services to more than 2,500 people. The Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran teams are on high alert and fully prepared every year to meet the rising urgent needs as the country is known for its harsh and stormy winter.
SOUTH SUDAN: More than one million people are estimated to have been displaced in South Sudan after internal armed conflict broke out in December 2013. Every state in the country has been affected, requiring the deployment of hundreds of volunteers from the South Sudan Red Cross to provide humanitarian assistance to affected populations, ranging from distribution of relief items to hygiene promotion. Frontline volunteers are the first to come into direct contact with communities during such crises and are often faced with difficult questions and complaints from people who are scared, frustrated and facing an uncertain future. To address this, the South Sudan Red Cross, with support from the IFRC, piloted a Communication Skills and Complaints Management training to support volunteers in their work with communities. The training was aimed at frontline volunteers who are directly involved in South Sudan Red Cross activities in internally displaced persons camps and other affected areas. Sixty frontline volunteers in Juba, and 30 in Awerial were trained on good communication skills, how to respond to questions and complaints, and how to recognize, prevent and resolve conflict and tension in communities.
