RED CROSS EMERGENCY RELIEF

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RED CROSS EMERGENCY RELIEF

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Quick Page Search
[Syria Crisis Goes on and Millions Require Aid]
[The Red Cross responds to Syrian refugee crisis]
[The Red Cross responds to Hurricanes in Caribbean]
[Cyclone Idai & India's role as new security provider]
[In the wake of Hurricane Matthew - Red Cross helps]
[Bahamas suffers extensive damage, Red Cross helps]
[Global Medic]~[Doctors Without Borders]~[War Child]
[Millions Left Hungry: Drought Southern and Eastern Africa]
[Contact]~[CPAR]~[Avril Lavigne Foundation]~[CDC Insurance]
[Red Cross responds to devastating Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, etc]

TRANSLATION

Syria Crisis Goes On - MIILIONS REQUIRE AID

The conflict in Syria is now in its fifth year. With limited prospects for an immediate end of the conflict, Syrians are growing increasingly vulnerable as their savings are exhausted and their assets are liquidated.

Half the country’s population is now dependent on humanitarian assistance. Eight million people are also displaced within Syria while close to four million Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries.

A substantial number amongst those displaced have fled their homes without adequate clothing and are forced to stay in make-shift shelters, tents or unfinished buildings.

Ever since the crisis started, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) has been working on the frontline across Syria to provide food, household items and life-saving health services to people in need.

Together with other Red Cross Movement partners, the Canadian Red Cross actively supports SARC. The support provided by the Canadian Red Cross is made possible through generous donations from the Canadian public.

As the humanitarian needs in Syria and surrounding countries become more acute, the Canadian Red Cross is committed to supporting the Syrian Arab Red Crescent respond to the needs of the Syrian population in such a complex and challenging environment.

As a member of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, SARC is a neutral and impartial organization guided by the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross. Staff and have endured great risks to respond across the country, with 47 Red Crescent volunteers having lost their lives in the line of duty.

Please give generously

Violence has brought death and destruction to Syria, and millions of people have been displaced from their homes or have fled the country.

Money raised will go to support the work of the Red Cross/Red Crescent in responding to the growing emergency life-saving needs in Syria and neighbouring countries affected by the Syria crisis.

Canadians wishing to support Red Cross and Red Crescent relief efforts in response to the Syria Crisis are encouraged to make a financial donation to the Syria Crisis Fund.

Red Cross responds to Syrian refugee crisis

Topics: Middle East and North Africa, Refugee Crisis

September 03, 2015 In recent weeks and months, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking refuge in Europe and elsewhere after fleeing their homeland to escape violence and unrest in countries such as Syria, Iraq and Libya. Millions of people have been displaced since the Syrian crisis began, more than five years ago.

Many refugees and migrants are in need of support in their journey and the Red Cross has been responding in countries such as Greece, Serbia, Italy and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Red Cross volunteers are providing refugees and migrants with essential relief items such as food and water, as well as first aid.

Together with other Red Cross Movement partners, the Canadian Red Cross actively supports Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Syria, Iraq, Libya and throughout the region who are providing food, household items and life-saving health services to internally displaced persons.

The Government of Canada will match every eligible dollar you donate to support the Red Cross response to this migration and refugee crisis through the Red Cross Refugee Crisis Appeal.

The Samir family has just crossed the border from Greece into the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, after travelling for 20 days through Turkey and Greece from their home in Daraa, southern Syria.

They are covered in dust and they are tired. But when asked how they are, the father of the children, Abukushlif Samir (24), and his mother, Fendiye Seyid (47), break into huge smiles. “It is a little bit better here than the rest of the States. This is the first time we have seen the Red Cross and a Red Cross doctor. The baby has a cold and a sore throat. And she gave the other girl medicine for fever and diarrhea,” Samir says.

The family is being cared for by volunteers from the Red Cross of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for the short time they are in the country waiting to catch a train north to the border with Serbia. They are given food, water, and hygiene kits, which include tooth brushes, shampoos, toilet paper, soap, sanitary pads, razors, washing detergent and towels.

Samir’s wife is still in Syria, too unwell to travel after a difficult childbirth, but he hopes to be reunited with her when he gets to Sweden.

Meanwhile in Italy, thousands of people arriving by boat are saved and brought to the southern ports of Italy week after week. The Italian Red Cross continues to work tirelessly in the main ports of southern Italy to provide to meet the humanitarian needs of refugees, which has only increased over the warm summer months.

The Government of Canada will match every eligible dollar you donate to support the Red Cross response to this migration and refugee crisis through the Red Cross Refugee Crisis Appeal.

For every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities between September 12 and December 31 in response to the conflict in Syria, the Government of Canada will set aside one dollar in its own Syria Emergency Relief Fund. This money set aside in the fund will then provide financing to experienced international and Canadian humanitarian organizations. The total value of the Fund will be capped at $100 million.

Photo: Red Cross of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, Red Cross helps
Posted October 11, 2016 by Nicole Robicheau - Blogger in Montreal

Nicole Robicheau is a Canadian aid worker currently deployed in Haiti with the IFRC in response to Hurricane Matthew

Elmita Nodeis sits on the ground in the courtyard of Philippe Guerrier school in the town of Les Cayes in Haiti. The school's been turned into an evacuation centre since Hurricane Matthew hit, and she's been sleeping there with eight members of her family ever since. The 51-year-old has a few buckets in front of her, and she's busy scrubbing clothes.

"My home has been destroyed, and I haven't eaten since yesterday, so I started washing people's clothes that live around here for a bit of money," says Nodeis.

Nodeis was in her home when the hurricane hit.

"I was sleeping and dreaming about someone telling me come quick, come quick, and then I woke up and my house was being destroyed, so I ran out," says Noedis.

Twenty-two year old Yvette Smith is also staying at the centre. She and about 19 other families share one of the classrooms.

"Our house was destroyed and we lost all our things. The Red Cross came to get us and brought us here," says Smith.

There are no mattresses at the school, so everyone, including Smith's 83-year-old grandmother, sleep on the concrete floor. Her grandmother has been using a cane ever since she was injured in the earthquake in 2010.

Forty-one year old Pauline Divert wasn't in her home when the hurricane hit thanks to Red Cross volunteers who brought her and her family to the evacuation centre.

"I went back to see my house and I was devastated when I saw it destroyed," says Divert. "Even my husband's fishing boat is gone."

Yesterday, Red Cross volunteers worked with the World Food Program to register all 200 families living in the centre. Today, they are back to distribute much needed food. Each family receives enough rice, beans and cooking oil to last them just over a month. This is the first food distribution at the evacuation centre. In the coming days and weeks, more people will continue to receive the food, water and relief items they need to support them as they recover.

"Everyone's a victim in the south department. Everyone's been affected by Matthew," says Yvette Fenelon, Haitian Red Cross president, south west department.

The Red Cross will continue to assess the situation in the coming days, and support people with urgent needs such a food, water and shelter.

Canadians can help support those affected by Hurricane Matthew HERE.

Millions of people left hungry due to
drought in southern and eastern Africa
February 17, 2017

The worst drought in decades threatens to leave tens of millions of people in the region of eastern and southern Africa without enough food. In the three countries of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya alone, an estimated 15 million people are currently in need of urgent food assistance.

The county of Marsabit in the north of Kenya is one of the worst-affected areas in the country, where the drought has reached alarming levels.

“We have countless challenges. The drought has dried up all our water sources, wiped out our pastures and livestock,” says Umuro Katelo, who lives in the village of Dukana in Marsabit county. “The effects are severe and are causing mental problems to some people.”

Alidema Galgalo, who also lives in Marsabit county, has lost 80 out of the 115 animals he owned before the drought.

“Even the 35 left are weak,” says Galgalo. “At this rate, I doubt they will survive past the month of February.”

The Kenya Red Cross Society has been helping people like Galgalo with food, cash transfers and the rehabilitation of water sources.

In neighbouring Somalia, Bile Abdi and his extended family are seeking refuge – including water and viable grazing land – in Tukaraq, 150 kilometres from their home. Like many other drought-affected families across Somalia, their situation is getting desperate.

“I am 75 years old. I have not heard of or seen such a severe drought,” says Abdi.

Unfortunately, Abdi’s grandson did not survive the journey.

“He’s gone, he died while on our way here,” says Abdi. “Thirst and dehydration killed him.”

Abdi’s larger family also saw more than 1,100 of their goats and sheep perish.

“This drought is different from the previous droughts. People from all over do not have anywhere to escape to and some came here,” says Abdi.

Most people in Somalia like Abdi and his family are pastoralists who depend on their livestock for survival. The drought conditions have forced these communities to travel long distances in search of water and pasture. Pedram Yazdi, an aid worker with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), says people in search of food and water are being forced to leave some family members behind who are too weak to move.

“The journey that these families have to take is not easy,” says Yazdi.

As part of it its response to the severe drought in Somalia, the ICRC has begun a series of food distributions starting in locations across northern Somalia that will continue also in South-Central, including in areas affected by conflict.

Donations to the Canadian Red Cross International Disaster Relief Fund are always accepted and used to support response operations to crises like these. Donations allow the Canadian Red Cross to respond within hours of a disaster, anywhere in the world.

One of the strongest hurricanes to hit the Caribbean
in recent history, Irma has affected more than 1.2 million people across the region.
September 22, 2017

One of the strongest hurricanes to hit the Caribbean in recent history, Irma has affected more than 1.2 million people across the region. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Maria has brought new misery to the same areas, as the most intense hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in more than 80 years.

Antigua and Barbuda have suffered widespread devastation – 95 percent of buildings in Barbuda are either damaged or destroyed, making the island uninhabitable.

Red Cross teams on the ground supporting individuals and families in the Caribbean

The local hospital has been severely damaged and all medical equipment and supplies were lost in the storm. As a result, there are currently no health services available to individuals that are working to clean up the island.

The Canadian Red Cross has deployed aid workers, as well as two hospital rehabilitation units to Antigua and Barbuda. These units will support local health facilities that were damaged by the hurricane.

“The people of Barbuda are extremely resilient,” says Canadian Red Cross aid worker, Laura Archer, who is on the ground in Barbuda. “They have shown incredible strength and determination in their desire to return home and rebuild their community.”

Meanwhile, Dominica is also left ravaged in the wake of the Hurricane Maria.

“There has been widespread damage [in Dominica], they need all the support we can provide,” said Walter Cotte, Regional Director for the Americas for the International Federation of Red Cross.

A global Red Cross emergency team, including two Canadian Red Cross aid workers, is on its way to Dominica. The team is made up of experts from around the world and will serve as a frontline for Red Cross support to individuals and families whose lives have been shattered by this disaster.

Red Cross teams on the ground supporting individuals and families in the Caribbean Canadian Red Cross aid workers deployment to Dominica was made possible thanks to support from the Government of Canada.

Canadians wishing to support the Red Cross response to Hurricane Irma can make a financial donation to the Hurricane Irma Appeal.

Red Cross responds to devastating Cyclone Idai

Posted March 18, 2019

Last week, Cyclone Idai made landfall in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. The powerful tropical storm has caused flooding and has damaged infrastructure, crops, and homes. The number of people who have been injured or killed as a result of the cyclone is not yet known.

damage from cyclone

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is on the ground, assessing the damage left by Idai. Canadian Jamie LeSueur is leading the Federation assessment team in Beria, Mozambique’s fourth largest city with a population of over 500,000, he said, “the situation is terrible. The scale of devastation is enormous. It seems that 90 per cent of the area is completely destroyed.”

Roads into Beira have been cut off by flooding, leaving the area isolated and the extent of the impact of Indai not yet clear.

Bahamas suffers extensive damage, Red Cross helps

September 02, 2019

Photo credit: U.S. NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center Hurricane Dorian, a category 5 hurricane, has caused extensive and devastating damage across the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama in the Bahamas, according to initial assessments from authorities and Red Cross officials on the ground. The full extent of humanitarian needs will continue to emerge as Dorian is still causing a huge amount of rain on the already battered islands.

Dorian has damaged houses and other buildings, leaving many people without adequate shelter. As many as 13,000 houses may have been severely damaged or destroyed in the Bahamas. On the island of Abaco, extensive flooding has contaminated wells with saltwater, creating an urgent need for clean water.

Chiran Livera, Operations Manager for the Canadian Red Cross said, “We are starting to get a sense of the damage and are supporting the Red Cross volunteers on the ground. We know that relief assistance will continue for the next few days as we access all affected people and we are mobilizing international assistance to reinforce the local Red Cross response. Our immediate focus is on life saving assistance – food, water, shelter and health.”

Communication lines into Abaco and the Grand Bahamas are down, where Dorian has made the most impact. This is further complicated by the fact that Dorian has slowed down dramatically – it is now only moving at about five miles per hour, so it will take another one to two days to clear the Bahamas.

Hundreds of trained Bahamas Red Cross volunteers are mobilized to help people living in the path of the Hurricane, and will namely provide about 500 families with emergency shelter assistance, including tarpaulins, blankets, kitchen sets and solar cell phone chargers, thanks to financial support from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The same 500 families will be provided with unconditional cash grants, to help repair and replace what they have lost, while also helping to bolster local economies in the short term.

The American Red Cross is also preparing for the hurricane’s landfall which could potentially impact millions of people. As many as 50,000 people in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina may need emergency shelter. Hundreds of trained volunteers and relief supplies have been mobilized in the United States and the American Red Cross is urging anyone in the storm’s path to get ready now.

Current information about ways to find a shelter if you’re residing in the United States can be found at redcross.org.

The Red Cross is working to coordinate emergency relief efforts and get help to people in affected areas as quickly as possible. The Canadian Red Cross is in close contact with Red Cross partners and is prepared to provide support in the form of personnel and essential items, if requested.

Canadians wishing to support this response, can donate to the Hurricane Dorian Appeal. Money raised will enable the Red Cross to provide relief and recovery activities in response to this disaster.

Click HERE to Donate Online to the Canadian Red Cross

About the Canadian Red Cross

Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 189 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and throughout the world.

For more information, contact:

Canadian Red Cross media line, 1-613-740-1994

Quebec media can call 1-888-418-9111

Click HERE to Donate Online to the Canadian Red Cross

The Red Cross responds to Alberta fires - May 2016
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