The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.
INDIA: Despite the successful evacuation of 1 million people and minimal loss of life, Cyclone Phailin has still left significant
needs in its wake. In the village of Sunapur, the Red Cross cyclone shelter has towered above every other structure since its construction in 1995. Over the weekend, it once again became the temporary refuge for 500 villagers – and, in some cases, their animals – as Cyclone Phailin made landfall on India’s east coast. The shelter saved hundreds of lives, but effective disaster preparedness requires more than strong buildings. The safety of people in Sunapur lies in the hands of a dedicated network of Red Cross community volunteers that make up the Shelter Disaster Managing Committee. This group is responsible for the early warnings, and maintaining the safety of those that come to the shelter. The Indian Red Cross Society with support from the IFRC, is scaling up their support in the area. The number one priority being shelter and safe drinking water. To date, 15,000 tarpaulins have been brought in and will be distributed in a family package also containing kitchen utensils, clothing, mosquito net, towel, bucket and bed sheets. Water treatment plants are also being deployed to provide clean water for drinking and cooking.
CAMEROON: Heavy rains and flooding are nothing new to the people of Cameroon’s Far North region. Almost every year, they bring devastation and misery. Last year was the worst in recent memory, with heavy downpours causing rivers to burst their banks, damaging and destroying homes, valuable farmland and people’s livelihoods. To help families rebound quicker, the Japanese government, the IFRC, and the Cameroon Red Cross Society launched a food security project in March. Its goal is to teach people in the communities of Pouss and Guirvidic improved farming techniques in order to sustain their livelihoods.
LIBERIA: Building latrines and changing hygiene habits supports development. So the Liberian Red Cross, the IFRC and the ICRC are building latrines and training volunteers to improve sanitation habits in their communities.
GLOSSARY:
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross