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26 May 2003 by Rana Sidani in Algeria; pictures by Chris Black Sister National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from many countries have mobilised staff and resources to help the Algerian Red Crescent Society (ARCS) in coping with the huge humanitarian needs resulting from last Wednesday’s earthquake, in which more than 2,000 died, 8,000 were injured and thousands of families have been left without shelter. Two Emergency Response Units (ERU) were despatched to Algeria by the French Red Cross under the coordination of the International Federation. The first, a water and sanitation team, will provide water purification and distribution for affected areas. The second, a logistics ERU has been deployed at Hawary Boumidien Airport in the Algerian capital, to coordinate the arrival and the distribution of all of Red Cross and Red Crescent relief donations. “The water and sanitation ERU has the capacity to provide 600,000 litres of water for 30,000 people per day for a month. The unit will provide water purification, trucking and distribution,” said Benoit Porte, emergency desk officer for the French Red Cross. “The logistic ERU will coordinate the arrival, storage and dispatch of all humanitarian relief donations from the Red Cross Movement,” he added. The Spanish Red Cross has sent a Basic Health Care Unit to Algeria. This team, which will be deployed once a needs assessment has been completed, can assist up to 500 people per day. The service comprises a central medical unit which can assist 200 people and five satellite units, each with the capacity to help 60 people per day for a month. “The unit will be responsible for medical observation, with an overnight capacity of 30 beds. In case of surgical emergency cases, the team will transport the patients to the nearest hospitals,” explained Elena Gonzales from the Spanish Red Cross. The unit is equipped with enough medicine and medical kits for 30,000 people. The burden on the ARCS is heavy, but sister national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have been quick to lend support. Hours after the quake, many National Red Cross and Red Crescent national Societies sent their rescue teams to help look for survivors. These included the Swiss Red Cross and the German Red Cross, which sent four sniffer dogs to search for people trapped under the rubble. The German Red Cross has also sent 14 tons of relief materials, such as medical equipment, medicine, blankets, and non-food items. The Saudi Red Crescent has provided the ARCS with a donation of “tents, blankets, food parcels and non-food items”, according to Walid Al-Sadoun, the Saudi Red Crescent representative. Flights of relief items have also been sent by the Iranian and Turkish Red Crescents, and the Belgian and British Red Cross Societies. Related links: News story: Easing the suffering of Algeria’s quake victims Algeria earthquake appeal: operations update Algerian Red Crescent Make a donation |
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