Red Cross Talks (Page 58)

The Red Cross field hospital in Mozambique has opened a specialized malaria treatment centre to support people affected by Cyclone Idai. This is in addition to the existing cholera treatment unit that has been operating at the Nhamatanda rural hospital since early April.

In the spring of 2018, Bessie Froud and her husband Ray had to evacuate as flood waters inundated their home. Having no place to go, it was the Canadian Red Cross that arranged accommodation during the three weeks they were evacuated.
 

Getting a field hospital from Canada to Nhamatanda in Mozambique on the east coast of Africa is no simple task. Few people understand this challenge better than Garth Tohms, a Canadian Red Cross logistics aid worker. 

Many Canadians don't know the risks in their community, so recently Canadian Red Cross volunteers went door-to-door in communities to share information to spread awareness about risks like fires and floods, and the actions residents can take to prepare for potential disasters and emergencies. 

At the Rigaud public library, a dozen people impacted by the floods have come to meet Red Cross volunteers in order to register and receive emergency assistance. In the waiting room, the mood is unpredictable. Laughter can quickly give way to sorrow, and for good reason. This is the second flood in three years for most of the residents here.

One of the best ways to be flood ready is to have an emergency kit in your home with enough supplies to meet your family’s needs for at least 72 hours. Most people remember to put the basics in their kit like, a first aid kit, non-perishable food, and water but there are things you may not think to include that you and your family need.

In Ethiopia, volunteers are being trained as branch disaster response team members, to help build the Ethiopian Red Cross' capacity to respond to disasters and emergencies. A key part of this includes having impacted communities participate in all stages of the response - that way, the help being provided is the help that is the most needed. 

Yasmine Farret is a Risk Management and Security Advisor at the Canadian Red Cross. Through her young career, Yasmine has demonstrated her passion for humanitarian work through her dedication and work ethic. Yasmine kindly agreed to tell us more about her journey and her career.