The Red Cross Round-up

The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.

A number of projects in Kenya are using innovative methods of irrigation and farming to increase resilience to drought

Kenya:  A year has passed since the Kenyans for Kenya Drought Initiative began and one of the areas, Walda Location in Sololo District, is already harvesting the fruits of the work. The initiative was  formed to focus on integrated food security, water and sanitation, and health with a specific objective of ensuring resilience to the effects of drought for populations in Turkana North, East Pokot and Moyale.

The integrated food security and livelihood project in Walda aimed to improve the food security situation of an estimated 2,100 people through irrigation projects, greenhouse farming and training of farmers. A total of four boreholes yielding 60 cubic meters per hour have been sunk. A water pan, as well as a dam for water storage, was also sunk as well to improve irrigation options.

The project has also identified 60 acres of land which is suitable for farming, and seedbeds were established. One year later, the residents of Walda are already recording bumper harvests. The key crops that are already being harvested include tomatoes, buttercups, kale and spinach. The residents are all smiles as they sell their farm produces in markets that include Marsabit, Moyale and Isiolo.

Gaza: The Red Cross Red Cross is providing support to people affected by rocket attacks and rising tensions between Israel and Gaza.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is giving impartial support to people on both sides of the border. Despite difficult security conditions, the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel are working round the clock to treat casualties and evacuate them to hospitals.

The ICRC is helping the Gazan Ministry of Health and partners of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement take care of the wounded.

GLOSSARY:

ICRC= International Committee of the Red Cross