International 27

In the past week, an already volatile situation in Ukraine escalated as heavy artillery and rocket fire hit residential areas in the eastern part of the country, ending a fragile ceasefire.  The fighting has put already vulnerable civilians at heightened risk, with the Red Cross warning of a deteriorating humanitarian situation. 

Every year during the first week of February, the Canadian Government recognizes International Development Week. The week aims to encourage Canadians to learn more about, and contribute actively to, international development. It also showcases the work Canadians are doing to make the world a better place.

Ridwan Jamal grew up in the Oromia region of Ethiopia with his parents, a brother and his sister. Their idyllic family life was forever changed when political unrest struck the region. Ridwan’s sister, Samira, was fearful of being married off so she ran away. In the resulting turmoil, the remainder of Ridwan’s family was imprisoned for a time. The family didn’t hear from Samira again, and after an exhaustive search, they believed she was dead.

In late November 2016, the Ecuadorian Red Cross, with support from the Magen David Adom (MDA), the Israeli National Red Cross Society, conducted mass-casualty incident (MCI) training in Ecuador. An MCI is a situation – natural or man-made – where emergency crews become overwhelmed by the number of casualties. Many Red Cross National Societies respond to MCIs in their home countries; these Societies then share their knowledge with other Societies to improve their response capabilities.

​It was seven years ago that a deadly earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. Since that day, the Canadian Red Cross has never stopped supporting the survivors and has remained present on the ground. This made it possible to support communities in the wake of other disasters, since the seven years following the earthquake were not without challenges. Haitians faced a cholera epidemic, Tropical Storm Sandy, the recent Hurricane Matthew and more.

Last spring the Canadian Red Cross welcomed three communications delegates from other Red Cross societies. Degsew Amanu from Ethiopia Red Cross, Marial Mayom Riak from South Sudan Red Cross, and Carlos Romero from Honduras Red Cross, joined staff and volunteers from across Canada to participate in an Emergency Response Unit (ERU) training and learn valuable skills that they could take home with them.

Immediately after Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti on October 4, the Haiti Red Cross Society and other Red Cross partners rushed staff and volunteers to the worst affected communities to assess needs and deliver emergency assistance. Canadian Red Cross aid delegate Dr. Lynda Redwood-Campbell was part of an IFRC assessment team that was among the first to reach many storm-battered towns and villages and had a key role in supporting the health response that followed, in coordination with Haiti’s Ministry of Health, the Haiti Red Cross and other health responders. These are some of her reflections:

“Wintery mix” weather forecasts. Icy road conditions. Christmas shopping rush. Public transportation delays. Rising grocery prices... It all sounds like home to me and I’ve dearly missed it here! I’m catching up with friends and family, enjoying good company and the simple pleasures of life in Montreal – what I have missed most while on mission in South Sudan.