The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.
PHILIPPINES: The Philippine Red
Cross is no stranger to responding to multiple disasters. The National Society is based in a country of 7,000 scattered islands that experience an average of 20 major typhoons a year, as well as earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions. Throughout September, the Philippine Red Cross has kept busy responding to life-threatening emergencies after two major consecutive storms hit Luzon island, home to the capital, Manila, as well as a serious threat from the Mayon Volcano in Albay, to the southeast. Arriving in the Philippines in mid-September, Typhoon Kalmaegi (locally named Luis) struck northeast Luzon, affecting more than 300,000 people. The latest weather event, tropical storm Fung-Wong (Mario) killed 11 people, affected more than 1 million and caused a trail of flood damage to homes and infrastructure in Luzon and Rizal province. The Philippine Red Cross monitored Fung-Wong around the clock. As floodwaters rose, the Philippine Red Cross deployed response and water search and rescue teams, picking up 670 people in Manila, Rizal and Ilocos Sur provinces and serving hot meals to nearly 20,000 people. In Albay, the authorities have put the population on high alert for an imminent eruption of the Mayon Volcano following a series of volcanic earthquakes and rock falls and after magma was spotted on the crater. Evacuation centres have been opened to deal with an influx of 32,000 people from areas surrounding the volcano. Meanwhile, the Albay Philippine Red Cross chapter has readied its emergency response teams, including water and sanitation and welfare volunteers, while nearby chapters and Emergency Response Teams remain on standby at the national headquarters in Manila.
TUNISIA: The renewed violence in Libya has significantly spilled over into Tunisia, where thousands of Libyans headed to escape the ongoing armed clashes. Since August, the Tunisian Red Crescent has mobilized its volunteers to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs resulting from the influx of refugees. The Tunisian Red Crescent established an operations base in the border crossing area to address refugees’ well-being and needs, providing in particular food and psycho-social support.