Round-up: Updates from Indonesia and Lesotho

The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.

INDONESIA: Torrential rains during the first week of February have caused severe flooding in eight provinces in Indonesia, heavily affecting Aceh, North and West Sumatra, Riau and Bangka Belitung. The floods isolated more than 89,000 people and forced them to evacuate to safer areas. The provinces of West Sumatra, Riau and Bangka Belitung have announced a state of emergency, while some districts in Purworejo in Central Java were hit by landslides. It is estimated that around 9,450 people have been affected by the floods in West Sumatra, while landslides in the district of Solok Selatan left five people dead and one missing. In response to the emergency, the Indonesian Red Cross Society (Palang Merah Indonesia) deployed 200 volunteers to provide first aid, medical services, and to evacuate people in the affected areas. At the peak of the flooding, the Red Cross distributed relief items including 100 pairs of boots, 400 family kits and 300 tarpaulins in West Sumatra.

LESOTHO: In September 2015, the Lesotho Red Cross Society, with support from the IFRC, began working with the people of Ha Moila to establish a Community-Based Disaster Response Team in the village. The group now comprises of four volunteers trained in swimming and water safety, and other volunteers trained in fire safety, first aid and home-based care. The Red Cross has provided training to each of the volunteers who then work to pass on their knowledge to other villagers. There is a tradition in Ha Moila of adults helping school children to cross the gorge. Thanks to the Red Cross and the water safety volunteers, community knowledge of water safety has increased. Members also want to look at reducing food insecurity, improving access to safe water and sanitation, and educating the community in home-based care and risk reduction. By tacking the problems prioritized by community members, this village is reducing its vulnerability to disaster once step at a time.

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