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International
Federation President visits Sudan and Chad to discuss humanitarian
crisis 13 July 2004 The President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro, has arrived in Sudan for talks on the humanitarian crisis in the country and to offer support to the Sudanese Red Crescent’s response to it. He will also visit Chad, where the International Federation is about to significantly scale up its operation to assist refugees who have fled the conflict in western Sudan. During his stay in N’Djamena, Suárez del Toro is scheduled to meet senior government officials and representatives of humanitarian agencies. A Federation assessment team is about to complete a mission to eastern Chad, the aim of which is to look at how the Federation can boost its support to the international response to the refugee crisis. At least 190,000 Sudanese refugees are believed to have crossed into Chad from the western Sudanese province of Darfur, only half of whom have been moved into camps set up by the UNHCR, the United Nation’s refugee agency. “Since the start of the crisis, some 140 Chad Red Cross volunteers have been an integral part of efforts to gather refugees into camps and supply them with safe water, food and other relief items. We are preparing to significantly boost our contribution to this coordinated international operation, particularly in those areas, such as water and sanitation and health - where the Red Cross/Red Crescent is especially effective,” Suárez del Toro said. In Darfur itself, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement’s response to the crisis is being led by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The Sudanese Red Crescent has been bringing assistance to the victims of the crisis, and a number of sister Red Cross Societies have also contributed staff, materials or funds. For its part, the International Federation is about to step up a disaster management training programme for the Sudanese Red Crescent and other national humanitarian organisations. “We will be looking at how we can strengthen the Sudanese Red Crescent to ensure it can continue to play an important role in Darfur and in other parts of the country where humanitarian needs must be addressed,” Suárez del Toro said. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: In N’Djamena: Gauthier Lefèvre, Information Delegate Tel: + 882 165 420 3311 / +235 28 15 41 In Khartoum: Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Information Officer, Spanish Red Cross Tel: +34 610 29 68 49 / +249 912 64 339 In Geneva: Roy Probert, Information Officer Tel. + 41 22 730 42 96 / + 41 79 217 33 86 Media Service, duty phone Tel. + 41 79 416 38 81 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 178 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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