The
Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.
SERBIA: Evacuations by helicopter, nights in schools halls,
digging out cars and providing bread and food
by snowmobile: winter paid a violent visit to Vojvodina and other areas of Serbia prompting the State Emergency service, the military and the Red Cross into action. Sixty staff and volunteers from the Serbian Red Cross were in full swing over the weekend assisting with evacuation and providing for people stranded in cars, homes and schools.
GREECE: Two strong earthquakes have hit the
Greek island of Kefalonia in recent days. The first – magnitude 5.9 – occurred last Sunday afternoon and the second early this Monday morning – slightly less powerful at magnitude 5.7 – sending the already worried population into the streets in panic. Monday morning’s earthquake, which was felt over a large area of western Greece, was followed by a severe aftershock, and rescuers are presently searching for people who might be trapped in villages around the island. The Hellenic Red Cross has deployed two teams of Samaritans to assist with the relief and rescue work on the island. The first team was sent after the first earthquake on board the ship ‘Super Fast’ which brought doctors, medical equipment and beds to those affected. A larger ship with 1,700 beds was sent to the island the following day provide immediate shelter for people with damaged or destroyed homes. Red Cross staff and volunteers have been helping with registration, health provision and bringing food and blankets to the people living and working on the ships.