The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world. Here is an update on Red Cross response to flooding in Dominican Republic, earthquakes in New Zealand and conflict in Iraq.
Dominican Republic: Heavy rainfalls following Hurricane Matthew left the ground saturated, resulting 
in flooding that has affected tens of thousands of people and caused damage to homes, infrastructure and crops. A state of emergency was declared by the government in the provinces of Puerto Plata, La Vega, Espaillat and María Trinidad Sánchez. The Dominican Red Cross has mobilized teams to assess, monitor and support the emergency response to help those affected by the flooding, including evacuation of some areas. The Dominican Red Cross is working closely with authorities to distribute aid including hygiene kits and has prepared water and sanitation equipment at the request of the authorities. The Canadian Red Cross continues to monitor the situation and is ready to respond should help be requested.
New Zealand: Red Cross teams from all over New Zealand are responding after a series of massive earthquakes struck the centre of the country last week. The main 7.5 magnitude earthquake near Hanmer Springs was 15km deep and felt widely throughout the country. Two people were killed and the town of Kaikoura was cut off. The Red Cross team used defence force helicopters to bring in emergency generators, satellite communications, an inflatable Air Shelter welfare tent and lighting kit, as well as water bladders and tap stands. So far disaster welfare team volunteers have been deployed from Kapiti-Wellington, Blenheim, Nelson, Christchurch, Tauranga and Dunedin to provide emergency aid and psychosocial support. Teams will be rotated and others are on standby and ready to deploy as needed. In Wellington, the situation was being compounded by heavy rain and flooding and gale force winds.
Iraq: After one month of military operations to retake Mosul, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) is working as quickly as they can to assist families in areas around the city. Basic infrastructure in these areas is either severely damaged or destroyed, leaving tens of thousands of families without safe drinking water, power and basic health care. Local volunteers have been working in reception centres, providing first point of contact assistance to people fleeing the fighting for the safety of relief camps. Over the past month, IRCS has been working in the relief camps around Mosul. More than 42,000 hot meals have been distributed from IRCS field kitchens, along with more than 8,000 food parcels. Blankets, kitchen sets, jerry cans and clothes are distributed daily in the camps to people arriving from Mosul and surrounding towns. IRCS health teams are providing first aid and basic health services in the camps; trained psychosocial volunteers are providing much needed emotional support. Nearly 59,000 have been displaced by the fighting; about 26,000 of them children. 40,000 people have found shelter in the camps prepared and run by the Government, Red Cross Red Crescent, the United Nations and other partner organizations.
Iraq: After one month of military operations to retake Mosul, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) is working as quickly as they can to assist families in areas around the city. Basic infrastructure in these areas is either severely damaged or destroyed, leaving tens of thousands of families without safe drinking water, power and basic health care. Local volunteers have been working in reception centres, providing first point of contact assistance to people fleeing the fighting for the safety of relief camps. Over the past month, IRCS has been working in the relief camps around Mosul. More than 42,000 hot meals have been distributed from IRCS field kitchens, along with more than 8,000 food parcels. Blankets, kitchen sets, jerry cans and clothes are distributed daily in the camps to people arriving from Mosul and surrounding towns. IRCS health teams are providing first aid and basic health services in the camps; trained psychosocial volunteers are providing much needed emotional support. Nearly 59,000 have been displaced by the fighting; about 26,000 of them children. 40,000 people have found shelter in the camps prepared and run by the Government, Red Cross Red Crescent, the United Nations and other partner organizations.
