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.

SENEGAL: As in other countries across the Sahel, the lack of rainfall during 2011 left parts of Senegal facing food insecurity. This was particularly detrimental for livestock in the lean period just before the rains. In this West African country, it is estimated that some 850,000 people were directly affected by the lack of food, and 2.5 million people were affected indirectly. The Senegalese Red Cross Society, with support from the IFRC, responded to the crisis and, over the course of the following year, supported 499,000 people with food, animal feed and cash distributions. This was crucial, particularly during the lean season, when they needed most help.

SRI LANKA: The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society has taken steps to ensure that the millions of migrant workers travelling to Middle Eastern and European countries in search of employment will now be given support and financial protection as part of a new agreement recently signed with the Sri Lankan Government. Under this agreement, the Red Cross will help the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment improve levels of humanitarian assistance available to migrant workers through awareness and training programs for Sri Lankans planning to go abroad to work. These include trainings in first aid as well as access to the Red Cross Restoring Family Links program, which will enable migrant workers needing assistance to return home to seek help via the National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in the country where they are working. The Finance Company will provide the families of migrant workers with access to financial assistance where needed in the form of loans at concessionary rates for housing, education and other needs.

BURKINA FASO: Since February 2012, Burkina Faso has been dealing with the consequences of the crisis in Mali by taking in almost 50,000 refugees. The influx has strained an economic situation that was already difficult for the resident population.   To address these needs, farmers and herders in Oudalan province, in the north of Burkina Faso, have been receiving food aid provided by the Burkinabé Red Cross Society with support from the ICRC.

GLOSSARY:

IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies