The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.
SOMALIA: While Southern and Central Somalia carry the brunt of the East Africa food crisis, Somaliland has not escaped the effe
cts of recurrent droughts and political violence. Large parts of its capital were destroyed in the Somali civil war and now there is the drought. They have just received assistance in the form of tarps, blankets, jerrycans, buckets, mosquito nets and a hygiene parcel provided by the Icelandic Red Cross from its clothing business. Customers who purchase used clothes in Red Cross stores in Iceland know that the proceeds will be used for humanitarian assistance.
WORLDWIDE: The Presidents of the IFRC and the ICRC warmly welcomed almost 1,600 delegates from around the world to the 31st International Conference on Monday. In addressing the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and 194 State parties to the Geneva Conventions, both Presidents voiced encouragement to engage in dialogue and seek out consensus on today’s humanitarian challenges throughout this week’s meetings, workshops and side events.
GLOSSARY:
ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies