Disaster Response (Page 38)

Ever since Megan Whitmore ran from her house, strapped her naked baby in his car seat and fled ahead of advancing flames, the Fort McMurray mother says she can’t say enough nice things about Canadian Red Cross and its amazing donors.

Grateful replies from Alberta fire evacuees wanting to thank Canadians for their overwhelming support, poured into Canadian Red Cross just moments after emails went out Wednesday offering evacuees $50 million in immediate financial assistance.

The Canadian Red Cross has mobilized to help the people affected by wildfires in Alberta. Massive wildfires have triggered the largest fire-related evacuation in Alberta's history, and due to high temperatures and wind the situation has the potential to become more serious. 

In this panaromic photo, see the Red Cross equipment provided to help in the response to the earthquake in Ecuador.

April 25 marks one year since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal, resulting in widespread destruction. Nearly 9,000 lives were lost, around 22,000 people were injured, and more than 800,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. The Red Cross, with the support of Canadians, responded immediately and three million survivors received emergency aid. Vital relief items such as clean water, food, and shelter materials, were distributed to ensure the survival of tens of thousands of affected people.

A state of emergency has been declared in Ecuador following a powerful, 7.8 earthquake that hit the coastal province of Esmeraldas on April 17. Hundreds of people have lost their lives, or have been injured – and thousands have been impacted by the disaster. The earthquake struck 173km from Ecuador’s capital Quito, and caused serious damage to buildings, infrastructure, the electricity supply, and highways that are needed to deliver assistance. 

Participants crouch down in groups on the ground of a hotel in Ottawa with dried spaghetti sticks and marshmallows. The aim of the team-building exercise is to work together to come up with a way to create the highest structure topped by a marshmallow. The exercise is part of a training of future Red Cross Operations Managers.

Recovering from Cyclone Pam wasn’t easy for Karie Manarruru, who lost his leg in a construction accident when he was just 27. Thanks to Vanuatu Red Cross, people with disabilities such as Karie are one of the groups given the highest priority in their recovery operation.