The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.
JAPAN: Eighteen months after the earthquake and tsunami, recovery is well underway in communities along Japan’s
north east coast. Although emotions remain raw for families of the 20,000 who lost their lives, Japanese Red Cross Society psychosocial support staff report that in general, the people they are working with now seem happier and more active. The Japanese Red Cross Society continues to work to bring support to the communities. Through activities including movie events and day trips to nearby cities, staff and volunteers hope families can live through these difficult times and help to take care of each other.
PAKISTAN: Whilst parts of Pakistan are grappling with a new wave of monsoon floods for the third consecutive year, a massive fire in a garment factory in city of Karachi broke out on September 11, continued for two days and left 289 people dead. Pakistan Red Crescent Society immediately mobilized two Emergency Response Teams, consisting of 25 members including first aid qualified staff, two paramedics and trained volunteers and four ambulances. They provided first aid services to the injured and clean drinking water, masks and food to other rescue teams.
GLOSSARY:
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross