International Aid Work (Page 4)

Around the world childbirth is seen as a joyous occasion. It marks the beginning of a new life, full of possibility and hope for the future. In many countries we take this process for granted. There’s pain, certainly, but afterwards women can typically expect to recover with a happy, healthy child. However, in Afghanistan that is frequently not the case. In fact, childbirth can be a death sentence.

Jean-Baptiste Lacombe is a Rapid Response Manager with the Canadian Red Cross and recently shared with us how his latest mission went supporting the Africa Region for the International Federation of the Red Cross during COVID-19.

One member of the Far East Welfare Team was Jacqueline Van Campen, now a resident of Victoria, BC.  She was recruited by the Canadian Red Cross in 1953 when she was working on her Master of Social Work at Laval University. She spent a year in Japan and three months in Korea near the front, where she worked in various Maple Leaf Clubs. 

As we get ready in ring in 2020, we're reflecting on some events from the past decade that brought together international aid workers, inspired innovative solutions to complex challenges, and showed the amazing capacity for resilience humans have in the face of disasters.

About an hour’s drive south along the coast from Beirut lies the five-story 75-bed Hamshary hospital. Run by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, it was initially set up to provide health services to the surrounding Palestinian refugee camps, but the hospital is open to anyone in need.

Over the past six month, the Red Cross has been working to improve healthcare in Cyclone Idai impacted Mozambique. Canadian Red Crosser Jenn Houtby recently returned from Mozambique, where she was able to take stock of just how much work has been accomplished over the last months. 

Colourful mats line the floor, dolls sit in anticipation of being played with, building blocks stand at the ready, and puzzles lay piled waiting to be put together. These are rooms any child would want to play in – brightly painted Child Friendly Spaces, created by the Nepal Red Cross Society following the 2015 earthquake, with funding support from the Canadian Red Cross.

August 25, 2019 marks two years since the Bangladesh Population Movement began. Since 2017, more than 700,000 people have fled violence in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state for Bangladesh. Many international aid workers, like Canadian Red Crosser Norine Naguib, continue to support the efforts there.