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must be done to protect vulnerable communities from disaster 24 June 2005 As communities across the globe commemorate six months since the tsunami tragedy, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is stressing the importance of better community preparation when disaster strikes. “The response of local and international Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers to this emergency was swift and decisive,” said Johan Schaar, the International Federation Tsunami Operations Special Representative. “However, what is abundantly clear is that more widespread community-based disaster preparedness programs would have saved lives.” The sheer scale of the tsunami emergency has brought into stark relief the vital importance of effective, grassroots community disaster preparedness programs. “Having ocean-floor sensors and relying on satellites to provide information on impending emergencies is important, but this is only one part of the puzzle,” says Schaar. “How do we then warn people? Equally crucial is access to local communities to inform them of any approaching danger, and to have plans in place for evacuations to special shelters or to higher ground. Warnings can be issued by radio, or simply by cycling or driving through villages or towns using loudspeakers. “It’s in this very practical and tangible way that Red Cross Red Crescent is in a unique position, through our well-established community network of volunteers in more than 180 countries. Bringing early warning technologies and communities together will save lives, thus this is an area to which the Federation will devote even more energy in the coming years,” he said. While Red Cross Red Crescent emergency relief assistance continues for many of those made homeless by the tsunami, the emphasis of humanitarian operations in affected countries is increasingly focused on recovery and rehabilitation. Unprecedented levels of public support have allowed some 22,000 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff to provide direct assistance to more than one million people to date, and plans have been finalised for more than 1.5 billion Swiss francs (US$1.178 billion, €974 million) in programmes for the rehabilitation of lives, livelihoods and economies in tsunami-affected countries. These programmes, covering key the operational areas of relief distribution, shelter and housing, water and sanitation, rebuilding schools and health clinics, psycho-social support and volunteering will direct Red Cross Red Crescent operations in the affected region for the next five years. “Thus far the Federation, in conjunction with National Societies from affected countries and with assistance from dozens of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from around the world, have eased suffering on a massive scale. Many of the staff and volunteers have been working in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. While there are still years of difficult work in front of us, the response to this emergency again shows us the spirit of volunteerism and a tremendous solidarity from all over the world,” concluded Schaar. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Pete Haydon, Tsunami Operations Media Officer Tel. + 41 79 308 9804 / +41 22 730 4426 Siân Bowen, Head of Media Service Tel. + 41 79 217 3388 / +41 22 730 4428 Media Service, duty phone Tel. + 41 79 416 38 81 Information delegates in the tsunami-affected regions Virgil Grandfield, Indonesia Tel. + 62 812 10 48 207 Maude Froberg, Thaïland Tel: + 66 182 39 218 Paruru Lawrence, Sri Lanka Tel: + 94 77 322 88 21 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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