More than 100 Burundi Red Cross volunteers have been on the front lines, responding to assist those injured in the violence. This includes evacuating the injured to hospital for treatment and providing on-site first aid. /Photo courtesy: IFRC
The Burundi Red Cross deployed eight advanced mobile first aid posts in Bujumbura. To date, volunteers have evacuated or treated more than 500 people injured in the ongoing violence. /Photo courtesy: IFRC
Jean Baptiste Niyungeko, operations coordinator, Red Cross volunteer since 2002: “My role is to coordinate the rescue operations of the injured people and manage the first aid centres in Bujumbura." /Photo courtesy: IFRC
Eddy-Juste Bitagoye, in charge of Restoration of Family Links Services: “We help reunite separated families after conflicts. Our volunteers are on stand-by in emergency support centres where people can come to seek help.” /Photo courtesy: IFRC
Leila Niyukuri, volunteer rescue worker since 2008: “What matters most to me is to contribute to the humanitarian response of the Red Cross and help vulnerable people in an impartial manner.” /Photo courtesy: IFRC
Sylvestre Gacece, field emergency rescue since 2004: “I coordinate rescue operations and in charge of the provision of first-aid services; easing people’s suffering and saving human life are the very goals of our operations.” /Photo courtesy: IFRC
Adrien Rusharika, rescue driver: “I started with Red Cross in 1998, first for IFRC before joining Burundi Red Cross in 2006. I am in charge of transporting volunteer rescuers to first aid centres and evacuating wounded victims." /Photo courtesy: IFRC
This post was originally published by the IFRC: In Pictures – Burundi Red Cross volunteer responders
When pre-election violence broke out in Burundi in April, volunteers with the Burundi Red Cross were among the first to respond. The protests led to a number of casualties, and forced more than 96,000 people to seek safety in neighbouring countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
More than 100 Burundi Red Cross volunteers have been on the front lines, responding to provide first aid, evacuate the injured to hospitals, and disinfect high-risk areas to help avoid the spread of disease.
View powerful pictures from the crisis and meet some of the Burundi Red Cross volunteer emergency responders.
Red Cross societies in the neighbouring countries are also assisting people affected by this crisis.
The Canadian Red Cross has provided 50 family tents for refugees arriving in Tanzania and the Government of Canada is providing cash contributions to support the response in Tanzania and Rwanda. Canadian Red Cross aid workers based in the region are also providing support to the response.