World Red Cross Day 2013
150 years ago, an ambitious idea became reality with the
establishment of the ICRC and Relief Societies, known today as National
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Shortly afterwards, the first international treaty of modern
humanitarian law was adopted.
To mark these cornerstones, we are highlighting the richness of our
past and engaging in a global conversation about today’s humanitarian
challenges and how to make a real difference for people affected by
ongoing and emerging humanitarian crises.
In Sri Lanka we are marking the event by organizing a mini marathon
and a fun run in the City of Matara on May 8, 2013 to highlight the work
done by the Sri Lanka Red Cross , Under the guidance of Sri Lanka Red
Cross Society Chairman Jagath Abeyasighe, in the years past. The event
is organized in collaboration with the ICRC in Sri Lanka and the IFRC
Sri Lanka Delegation.
Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) has an extensive network of
volunteers and a branch in each of the 25 districts of the country. It
has experience in community-based health activities including first,
health promotion, blood donor recruitment and HIV/AIDS.
The role of Red Cross Red Crescent is to support and contribute to
strengthen the linkage between communities and health services by
facilitating contact when and if needed, provide essential health
messages in remote and rural areas, conduct health prevention and
promotion activities and to empower people to make informed decisions
about their own health. It is to promote healthy life styles and
encourage healthy practices and behavior the following diagram shows the
relationship between Red Cross Red Crescent and Ministry of Health
(including district health services), and the roles of each
SLRCS has been providing health services to the targeted communities
through supply of water and sanitation facilities, promoting hygiene,
improving psychosocial wellbeing and generating awareness on primary
health care issues such as immunization, nutrition, family planning,
communicable diseases and also special emphasis to the development of
First Aid skills, blood donation camps/drives and HIV/AIDS Programmes.
SLRCS is working very closely with the vulnerable communities in
establishing healthy living habits with special reference in bringing
down the disease burden of non-communicable diseases. Emergency First
Aid programme and provision of mobile health facilities in conflict
affected areas and health in emergency programme is also initiated.
CBH is one of the key successful projects for SLRCS in the past
covering 17 Districts. The other strong health Programme is the first
aid Programme having an island wide coverage both in community first aid
as well as general first aid.
HIV prevention project started in two districts covering mainly the
neglected estate communities now after achieving its expected results it
has expanding in to more districts and wider target groups. One of the
key areas for the SLRCS is to strengthen its relationship with PLHIV
networks.
First Aid activities are run by the SLRCS since its inception.
Emergency First Aid (EFA) services were also initiated to provide prompt
and effective First Aid services in conflict-affected districts. SLRCS
is now in the process of establishing First aid teams to provide first
aid services, rescue and evacuation support in times of emergency,
internal violence, natural disasters and other emergencies. SLRCS have
now its training curricula in general first aid trainings. SLRCS is in
the process of adopting CBHFA new approach to all our community health
projects in order to make this approach a success.
Standardized SLRCS is now rapidly scaling up its commercial first aid
sector having a more dedicated team both at central and branch level,
are also in the process of developing new materials to support this new
initiatives.
SLRCS has now build up capacity in addressing psychosocial issues
after completing a three year Programme in six Tsunami affected
districts, and now planning to utilize the present capacity in conflict
affected areas.
In future through its CBHFA programmes and IPA, SLRCS is looking
forward to address the emerging health issues such as issues due to
global warming, change of demographic pattern, and migration.
The objective of the disaster management programme of SLRCS is to
improve community resilience to cope with and manage disasters while
continuing to maintain organizational readiness to respond to natural
and man made disasters. Overall DM programme focuses on two thematic
areas i.e. institutional preparedness for disaster management and
Community preparedness for disaster risk reduction. There are 5 types
(components) of programmes are implemented under these 2 thematic areas
namely institutional preparedness for response, community Based Disaster
Risk Management, Early Warning systems, recovery, livelihood and
development and development of skilled human resources and SLRCS has
established training infrastructure.
The Red Cross Post Conflict Recovery Programme (RC – PCRP) in Sri
Lanka has been implemented successfully with the SLRCS since April 2010,
having a partnership with IFRC and other Red Cross Red Crescent Movement
partners.
The programme contributes to the sustainable rehabilitation and
reconstruction in the North of Sri Lanka, an area of the country, which
remains in great need of development assistance. It primarily supports
people who have been displaced due to the conflict and are now
resettling.
The programme is an integrated IFRC intervention with overall
coordination by IFRC, with the support of bilateral and multilateral
partners. The aim is to build 20,000 houses for the people who are
returning to the conflict zones.
From 13 July 2012 onwards, the RC PCRP entered a new partnership with
the Government of India receiving funding for the repair of 2,800 and
construction 14,000 new houses. Through this additional assistance
19,776 families will be provided shelter assistance based on the
owner-driven approach utilising direct-beneficiary cash transfer
mechanisms helping to empower beneficiaries and improve a sense of
community ownership.
Since the inception of the programme, the Kilinochchi and Mulathivu
branches of the SLRCS have been re-established, electing their
governance and deploying key staff. The evolving RC PCRP has been able
to attract youth and professionals of the area helping to re-establish a
strong Red Cross volunteer network.
The adverse weather affected many districts in Sri Lanka from
November 2010 to February 2011 resulting in mega scale catastrophe.
Heavy torrential rain poured down causing floods and landslides
shockingly almost all over the country. Initially, the damage was beyond
to be assessed as it caused vast environmental and human devastation.
The normalcy of the lives was overturned.
In response to this disaster, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society is
currently supporting over 60, 000 people with following assistance
mainly in Ampara, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Matale, Monaragala,
Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Kegalle districts.
Distribution of 164 two-wheeled tractors (Sifang GN 12) and 1370 tool
kits, as a livelihood support assisting 8200 families, through farmer
organizations. Valued at LKR 60 million.
92 tractors have already been distributed. Arrangements to distribute
another 72 tractors are in process. Shelter grant to 1,285 families
(Rs.50, 000/=per family) to repair/rebuild houses. Valued at LKR 70
million
1285 families in all eight districts have received their shelter
grants. Livelihood grant (Rs. 30,000 per family) to 2,800 families. In
view of uplifting their living conditions, training in tools, equipment
and services. Valued at LKR 84 million.
Livelihood grants were disbursed among 2799 families.
Restoring Family links is a core activity of SLRCS, designates by the
SLRCS Constitution on Chapter 2 article 6. General objectives and tusks,
notes SLRCS to Organize and explore a tracing service in peace time, in
time of natural disaster and in case of conflict.
There are needs in our communities for this service.
The Geneva Conventions provide the legal basis for tracing and Red
Cross Message services offered by the International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement.
SLRCS is recognized by the Government of Sri Lanka as having a
special role in Tracing and Family Reunion during times of disaster,
specifically mentioned in the National Disaster Management Road map
under Preparedness and Response Plans of the Emergency Response
Networks.
The RFL Services are provided to conflict affected groups, to
migrants workers and their family members, to people affected by natural
disasters and particularly vulnerable people (children, the elderly and
social cases). The SLRCS branches are joining their effort with the
national headquarter to carry out activities of restoring family contact
to these separated families.
SLRCS Tracing Service is member of the International Red Cross &
Red Crescent tracing network and aims to restore family links for
vulnerable families who have been separated due to migration, Disaster
& conflict.
The tsunami that struck on the 26th December 2004 caused the worst
disaster ever in Sri Lanka. The SLRCS and its volunteers, all over the
affected districts, were among the first to provide immediate support
and relief to victims. Due to the unprecedented magnitude of the
catastrophe and the subsequent need to rebuild lives of tens of
thousands of people, the SLRCS made a courage commitment to face the
challenge. With the support of various RC/RC Movement partners, it
rapidly scaled up its capacity to not only give back a home to the
victims, but also rebuild their livelihoods in a sustainable manner.
During the project, the Sri Lanka Red Cross managed to rebuild 33,000
houses, 69 hospitals, 20 water and sanitation projects and 12 schools.
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