The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.
CHINA: The province of Sichuan in south-western China hit the headlines in April with a magnitude 7 earthquake,
which killed nearly 200 people and made thousands more homeless. The timing of this earthquake was significant: it struck just before the fifth anniversary of the earthquake on 12 May 2008, which claimed more than 80,000 lives and destroyed more than 90 per cent of homes in some areas. In response to the 2008 earthquake, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement supported the rebuilding of homes for hundreds of thousands of people, as well as schools and hospitals, and provided psychosocial support for those affected. And work continues today to provide vocational training and micro loans that are helping transform people’s lives.
SINGAPORE: In June 2011, the Singapore Red Cross began operating a Day Activity Centre to provide care and support to people suffering from disabilities. The centre provides social, physiotherapy and occupational therapy activities to develop the cognitive, social and motor skills of clients. It is a valuable option for families who cannot hire full-time nurses or caregivers, allowing them to take up full-time work and gain an additional source of income, while maintaining peace of mind about their family members.
MALI: In northern Mali, which has been experiencing armed conflict for nearly 16 months, hard-hit communities need better access to water. Since April 2012 the ICRC has been providing fuel to produce the electricity required to distribute much of the drinking water in three major cities.
GLOSSARY:
ICRC =
International Committee of the Red Cross