Emergency

Imagine having to escape violence in your home country. You pick up what you can, but you need to leave right now, what would you take? There are thousands of others doing the same. The violence may be right at your door, you may become separated from family and friends in the chaos. Now you need to travel to another country and find shelter there. ​Since October 2016, this has been the reality for hundreds of thousands of people who have fled violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar into Bangladesh.

A child’s terrible drawing of violence in Myanmar. People in crowded Bangladesh camps gently welcoming those who want to help them. Eager volunteers from the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society also pitching in with much-needed assistance. Just days after arriving, these are a few early impressions from members of the Canadian Red Cross mobile medical team and their Mexican Red Cross colleagues.

​Earlier this month, Canadian Red Cross Vice President of International Operations, Hossam Elsharkawi travelled to Cuba after Hurricane Irma ravaged the country. Here he shares some of the experiences he had alongside his colleagues, Lai-Ling lee, Head of Americas Region and David Campfens, Regional Representative for the Americas. 

By all appearances, Klaus Winkelmann fits right in with the community of Williams Lake – a small city in British Columbia’s interior built on ranching and forestry and known for its stampede rodeo each Canada Day long weekend.

When Brad Tippe heard about small business assistance available from the Canadian Red Cross, he was quick to apply.

It’s been a summer unlike any other for the resident of Williams Lake, B.C. Not only did he have to pack up with his family and leave his home when wildfires drew close in July, but he also had to lock up his business.
 

In drought-stricken Ethiopia, the Canadian Red Cross is supporting the Ethiopian Red Cross Society in delivering immediate life-saving help, including safer drinking water (via water trucking and water purification), hygiene promotion and supplies, and supplementary feed for livestock.

In response to a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, the Mexican Red Cross quickly mobilized hundreds of volunteers and staff. This includes medical personnel such as nurses and doctors, 140 ambulances and 30 urban rescue unit to provide assistance to people impacted by the disaster in Mexico City and in Puebla.

Overnight on August 14, after several days of torrential rainfall, devastating floods and mudslides occurred in and around Sierra Leone's capital city, Freetown. The most affected areas are in the eastern part of Racecourse, and in the outskirts of Regent and Lumley areas.