A Strong Honduran Red Cross responds quickly to earthquake
By Elaine Hernandez, Canadian Red Cross Delegate
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Honduras Red Cross volunteers assessing the damage to a home following an earthquake in Honduras. Photo/Honduras Red Cross. | |
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On May 28th, 2009, families were awakened in trembling houses by an earthquake off the Honduran coast. Buildings were damaged or collapsed, roads were blocked, nearly 50 people were injured and several people were reported killed.
For hard-to-reach communities in the mountainous Santa Bárbara area of north-western Honduras a natural disaster can be devastating. However, thanks in part to support from the Canadian Red Cross and the Government of Canada, the local Honduran Red Cross was equipped and ready to help.
Following the earthquake, 50 trained Red Cross volunteers, who primarily work on health initiatives in their communities, responded quickly to assess damages and provide comfort. The efficiency of their response can be linked to the Canadian Red Cross’ Project REDES or “Networks for Community Health”, a maternal and child health program, supported by the Government of Canada.
This program has allowed the Honduran Red Cross to train volunteers, strengthen health systems and build stronger relationships and coordination between communities and their ministries of health, municipalities and local Red Cross branches. This increased capacity, both within the Honduran Red Cross and rural communities in Santa Bárbara, have helped these often isolated towns and villages remain in contact with health authorities and emergency workers following the earthquake.
The Canadian Red Cross is proud to partner with the Honduran Red Cross to turn their passion and commitment into humanitarian action and help communities there be stronger, healthier and more resilient.
