The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.
SENEGAL: According to the UN’s WFP, the effects of the 2012 drought on food security in the Sahel region are ongoing. The 
Senegalese Red Cross Society, in coordination with the IFRC, launched an emergency appeal in 2012 to address the immediate food security needs of close to 62,500 people across the country. Activities included the distribution of food, seeds, tools and fertilizer, as well as cash. To help rebuild community resilience, the Red Cross also provided support to build five seed banks in three regions. This was paired with the provision of 10 tonnes of certified seeds for each bank, which are distributed to communities and reach up to 27 surrounding villages in each location. Beneficiaries who have already received seeds will reimburse the seed banks with a surplus of even more seeds, which will, in turn, be distributed to other households and to even more communities.
INTERNATIONAL: Myanmar is a country dealing with rapid growth and change. As interest in business grows, traffic on the motorway between the major cities of Yangon and Naypyidaw has been increasing rapidly, making it one of the country’s most dangerous roads. To reduce these dangers, and to provide a more rapid response when accidents occur, the Myanmar Red Cross Society and the Singapore Red Cross Society have worked together to build a first-aid post on the motorway, and to re-introduce ambulance services.
PHILIPPINES: The ICRC is concerned for civilians affected by the outbreak of armed violence in the city of Zamboanga on Mindanao Island. Together with the Philippine Red Cross, the ICRC is ensuring vital aid reaches evacuation centres where thousands of displaced people are sheltering. Parcels containing enough food for 27,000 daily rations were provided to the local Red Cross branch in Zamboanga to feed people sheltering in evacuation centres set up by the local authorities. The rations consist of basic food items, such as rice, oil, salt, sardines, soya sauce, sugar and coffee. The ICRC also delivered kitchen utensils and 50 tarpaulins to provide basic shelter for displaced families.
GLOSSARY:
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
WFP = World Food Program