The Red Cross Round-up

The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.

CHINA: Severe floods in China have left at least 108 people dead and damaged hundreds of homes and properties in 20 provinces. Between June 26 and July 2, the Red Cross Society of China responded to the disaster by activating their emergency response mechanisms covering the provinces of Hubei, Sichuan, Anhui and Jiangsu as well as Xinjiang Autonomous Region. To assist the affected population, the Red Cross has distributed relief items that include 14,300 quilts, 4,100 family kits, 4,000 jackets, 1,000 padded coats and 250 tents. Funds were also contributed to help the flood victims purchase food supplies. The National Society is monitoring the situation closely through its branches in the affected areas, providing continuous ongoing support in the distribution of relief items. Red Cross teams covering search and rescue, disaster relief, water and sanitation, supply and public health are on standby to provide further relief should the situation escalate.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Persistent violence in the Central African Republic has impacted negatively on health services, with vandalism and looting of health care facilities greatly affecting the ability of those living with HIV to access medication. The IFRC has partnered with the Global Fund to deliver HIV and tuberculosis services to affected individuals. The grant aims at reaching 18,478 people by the end of June 2016. The grant support includes the provision of treatment in health centres to deal with issues of transmission from mother to child. Others activities include supplying drugs to people living with AIDS, rehabilitation of government HIV treatment centres, and enabling biomedical examinations for HIV/TB at several laboratories in the country. To date, treatment for at least 17,372 patients is ongoing, at least 7,914 women have benefitted from the free testing services, and 443 are currently on HIV treatment. IFRC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other partners, including the National Society, is delivering these health services through 81 health facilities countrywide.