The Red Cross Round-up

The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.

BURUNDI: For many weeks now, Burundi has been in the grips of pre-election tensions that have already left many dead and wounded and forced thousands of people to leave the country. The ICRC is helping the victims of this violence and reminds all those responsible that human life and dignity must be respected at all times.  In Burundi, the ICRC is visiting those arrested in relation to the violence and is supporting the activities of the Burundian Red Cross. In the countries that have been receiving the refugees, the ICRC, in coordination with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, is bringing aid to the Burundians who have fled and helping dispersed families re-establish contact with their loved ones.

ZAMBIA: In Zambia, the period of a crop harvest can be a joyous moment, characterized by traditional ceremonies through which people give thanks to their ancestral spirits for the healthy abundance. This year, however, the harvest is foretelling of signs of hunger and increased poverty for the majority of families in the Zambezi river basin. Failed rains are once again diminishing the yield. Through the Zambezi River Basin Initiative (ZRBI), supported by IFRC and implemented by the Zambia Red Cross Society, families are being taught how to notice signs of looming drought or floods, and how to prepare for such disasters and thereby reduce their impact.