International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
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Devastation in Venezuela
Geneva, December 21 1999		 In what may be one of the last appeals of this century, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is asking for 4,460,000 Swiss francs to support the Venezuelan Red Cross emergency operation for victims of the disastrous floods and mudslides which struck nine provinces in northern Venezuela. The funds will be used to help 50,000 people.
Launch of Appeal 2000-2001
Geneva, December 14 1999		 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies today launched its Appeal 2000-2001, designed to bring humanitarian assistance to more than 20 million people through 77 programmes. "To address the increasing complexity and duration of disasters and their consequences, the focus must be on longer term approaches to humanitarian assistance and capacity building - the ability to be ready when disaster strikes and to continue helping people for as long as it takes for them to recover", says Margareta Wahlström, Under-Secretary general.
Home and community care to fight HIV/AIDS
Geneva, December 1 1999		 With 33.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world (according to the World Health Organization and UNAIDS) home and community care is becoming a necessity to ensure that a much greater number of patients receive essential medical care and psycho-social support, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Many live in countries with inadequate health structures or do not have access to medical treatment for financial reasons. Educating people at the community level can also prove an effective way of trying to stop the pandemic - in 1999 alone, 5.6 million people were infected with HIV and 2.6 million have died.
Red Cross raises funds for the victims of the Vanuatu earthquake
Suva [Fiji Isl.]/Geneva, December 2, 1999		 The Vanuatu Red Cross and the International Federation are raising funds and organising relief to assist victims of the massive 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Vanuatu on November 27. The earthquake caused a giant tidal wave that killed 12 people, injured scores and destroyed the homes of over 1,000 people.
Winter support for Northern Siberian Territories
Moscow, 2 November 1999		 The appeal seeks 47,500,000 CHF (about $34,670,000). Donations in cash and kind are being sought to provide food and warm clothing to 770,000 people in 21 Siberian regions over the next nine months.

International Humanitarian Programme
"Winter emergency appeal 1999 - 2000"
Minsk, 2 November 1999		 The programme envisages: setting-up of soup-kitchens for homeless people and street children, the putting together of food parcels for multi-children families and lonely elderly, support to homeless children and those living in families at risk (provision of clothes, school items, food), and the provision of hygiene items to lonely, bedridden patients, from December 1999 to June 2000.
Lessons learned from listening to People on War
1 November 1999		 Listening to people express their views on war will help us discover how to better protect people in war. This statement neatly encapsulates the idea behind the People on War project, a worldwide consultation on the rules to limit violence in warfare, launched by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) one year ago. More than 20,000 people in 17 countries - civilians and combatants alike - were interviewed between October 1998 and September 1999 to find out what basic rules they think should be implemented in war and why those rules are so often violated.

Red Cross/Red Crescent reports major drop in global volunteer force
1 November 1999		 In the last decade, the worldwide volunteer force of the Red Cross and Crescent has dropped by more than 50 per cent, according to a new study by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The "Learning in the Nineties" report indicates that the number of members and volunteers has dropped from 220 million to 105 million since 1990.

Red Cross and Crescent appeals for Orissa victims
1 November 1999		 The International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies today appealed for four million Swiss francs to provide vital aid to the thousands of people left homeless and without livelihoods by the devastating cyclone that hit the eastern coastline of India over the weekend. This was the worst cyclone to hit this region for 30 years.

Power of Humanity Conference opens in Geneva
26 October 1999		 The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is holding its Power of Humanity conference in Geneva from 31 October to 6 November. This unique gathering - the largest of its kind, brings to Geneva 176 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from around the world, government representatives from the 188 signatories to the Geneva Conventions and the leadership of the International Federation and ICRC.

New Secretary General for the International Federation
23 October 1999		 The world's largest humanitarian network has a new Secretary General. Didier J. Cherpitel, a 54-year-old French national who lives in London was appointed to succeed Mr George Weber during the opening session of the Federation's General Assembly, this afternoon.

Red Cross / Red Crescent airlifts relief supplies to earthquake-stricken Taiwan
27 September 1999		 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is airlifting several tonnes of relief goods to Taiwan following Tuesday's devastating earthquake, which so far has claimed more than 2,100 lives, seriously injured nearly 8,000 people and left some 100,000 homeless. Aircrafts carrying the relief items are expected to reach Taipei as of Monday September 27.

Educational help for children affected by Nairobi bomb
23 September 1999		 Eleven year old John goes to school each morning - as he will for the next three years - knowing his mother will not have to worry about his education. John lost his father, the family`s breadwinner, in the bomb blast on 7th August 1998, but his schooling is taken care of - thanks to the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS). [Read more on the Nairobi bomb blast]

The Power of Humanity -- on show and in concert!
23 September 1999		 A unique and spectacular show will mark the opening of the 27th International Conference of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement on October 31st, 1999. The show, choreographed especially for the occasion, will honour and celebrate "the Power of Humanity." "The power of humanity is our strength and hope for the new millennium," says Stephen Davey, spokesman for the International Conference. "Acting individually, and together, we must continue to meet day to day needs in the community and prepare for and respond to man-made and natural emergencies."

Red Cross team to Taipei
21 September 1999		 The Japanese Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies today sent a team of eight people to Taipei to assist the local Red Cross responding to the earthquake which hit the region early this morning local time. The earthquake reached 7.6 on the Richter scale and is reported to have killed several hundreds to people and left thousands injured.

Appeal for Greek Earthquake victims
8 September 1999		 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching a preliminary appeal for 750,000 Swiss francs to assist 15,000 people hit by yesterday's earthquake in Greece. The appeal aims to cover the supply of urgently needed relief items, like tents and mattresses, for the thousands of people in need of emergency assistance.
Turkey earthquake: helping 250,000 people survive the winter
8 September 1999		 A long and threatening winter is looming for 250,000 people left homeless by the recent earthquake in Turkey - the world's worst in human terms this decade. With temperatures falling below freezing during winter and wet weather all too frequent, shelter, particularly winterised tents, remains an urgent need for those with no prospect of any other accommodation.

Fresh floods hit Sudan as Federation appeals
30 August 1999		 More than 100,000 people are now in urgent need of assistance as flooding worsens in Sudan. While the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched a 1.2 million-Swiss franc appeal to support relief operations, flash floods spread to White Nile State. Weekend assessments found another 800 houses destroyed or damaged, bringing the total number of homes affected in nine states to over 20,000.

Clean water to more than 20,000 people
28 August 1999		 An Emergency Water and Sanitation team (Emergency Response Unit) is this weekend being set up in Gölcük, Turkey, by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. With the risk of a health crisis in the wake of the devastating earthquake which hit Western Turkey last week, this unit will provide clean water and sanitation facilities to at least 20,000 people a day. This includes the homeless living in five tent camps in the outskirts of the town.

Millions of Chinese flood victms caught in poverty trap
24 August 1999		 "The most severely affected victims of this year's disaster have experienced flooding three to five years in a row, and have ended up in a poverty trap," says Dr Stefan Seebacher, leader of an International Federation assessment team in China. The team's findings have prompted the Federation to revise its appeal upward to seek 10.2 million Swiss francs to assist one million flood victims with food for three months.
Struggle for survival in Chukotka
18 August 1999		 A Red Cross team in Russia's Far Northeast today spoke of the "struggle for survival" in remote Chukotka. "No one is expecting the situation to get any better. Everyone who could get out of Chukotka got out years ago. This is a harsh environment," said logistics coordinator Eugene Sienkiewicz. The International Federation and Russian Red Cross have distributed over 7,000 food parcels to remote communities in Chukotka in recent weeks, part of an ongoing aid programme which is assisting 82,000 socially vulnerable people.
Ten million francs for Turkish earthquake victims
17 August 1999		 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched a preliminary appeal for 10.52 million Swiss francs to assist 100,000 victims of the earthquake which hit north-western Turkey early this morning. The funds will be used to support the Turkish Red Crescent relief operation and purchase urgently-needed relief items such as food, water, blankets and tents. All supplies can be purchased locally.
Half a million Cambodians threatened by floods
12 August 1999		 Serious flooding caused by the heaviest monsoon rains in South East Asia in three decades threaten the livelihood of over 520,000 people living in Cambodia's coastal districts, warned the Red Cross and Crescent today. Weather forecasts predict that seasonal rains will continue, prompting the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to appeal for 1.1 million Swiss francs to assist more than 30,000 people made homeless.
Flood alarm in Sudan
09 August 1999		 Severe flooding in Sudan, caused by unusually heavy and early rains, has destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 homes and left 50,000 people in urgent need of assistance. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says that with the rainy season having barely begun the scale of the disaster is alarming. Red Crescent/International Federation assessments show that medical intervention is required to help up to 100,000 people at this stage, but there is a shortage of crucial health and relief supplies. The immediate needs of flood victims are shelter, blankets and access to clean water.

60 million people at risk as new floods hit China
04 August 1999		 Some 60 million people are at risk along China's Yangtze river, as heavy rain cause flooding in the region, warned the Red Cross and Crescent today. Over 1.8 million people living in six provinces - Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan and Anhui - have been made homeless, more than 240 people have died, and at least 24,000 have been injured in this year's floods. The situation is expected to deteriorate as heavy downpours continue, prompting the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to appeal for 8.5 million Swiss francs to assist more than 1 million flood victims.
New Red Cross camp to ease refugee pressure in Tanzania
03 August 1999		 A new Red Cross refugee camp will be built in western Tanzania to relieve operations under pressure as people continue to flee conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. An existing Red Cross camp at Lugufu, 90 kilometres east of the Lake Tanganyika port of Kigoma, has been stretched beyond capacity for weeks. It can no longer cope with the influx, and is in danger of being overwhelmed.
Nairobi bombing: one year after
27 July 1999		 A year after a terrorist bomb meant for the American Embassy tore apart Nairobi's downtown business district, killing more than 200 people and injuring over 5,000, many Kenyans still reel from the consequences. Penniless widows struggle to feed and raise young families, the blinded and maimed face insecure futures, and trauma remains widespread, says the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Saying the hurt will be felt for years to come, it is calling on donors for continued support to Red Cross assistance programmes.
The Balkans: Thousands remain in urgent need
26 July 1999		 The situation in Kosovo remains extremely precarious for returning refugees and many others. A second exodus from the province is under way, this time involving Serbs, Montenegrins and Romany people who now face a difficult and uncertain future in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Civilians in Serbia and Montenegro, meanwhile, are still enduring the hardships resulting from NATO bombing.
One year after tidal waves struck Papua New Guinea
09 July 1999		 Over 2200 people were killed and almost ten thousand were displaced when three enormous tidal waves - up to 15 metres in height, travelling at a speed of more than 100 kilometres per hour - crashed into the coastline. The Papua New Guinea Red Cross, supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, has been deeply involved in the relief work and the subsequent rehabilitation phase since the beginning.

President warns against demonizing the population in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
08 July 1999		 The president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Dr. Astrid N. Heiberg, today warned the world not to lose sight of the enormous humanitarian needs in Serbia and Montenegro. "I highly appreciate the clear commitment of the international community to help refugees and displaced people now returning to Kosovo. Yet, I am gravely concerned that assistance will not be as generous to the humanitarian operations in Serbia and Montenegro," she said addressing particularly governments who appear to be considering limiting their support for humanitarian assistance for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY).

Greater mental health support for bomb-blast victims
05 July 1999		 Last August's Nairobi bomb-blast was unprecedented in Kenya, and the stress-related consequences of such a disaster were unknown in the country. Supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the programme will reach out to more than 200 Kenyan families who lost a relative in the blast, 5,000 who had someone injured, and 500 who had family members hospitalized. Some 500 rescue workers will also have access to it.
Macedonia and Albania still "high on the agenda"
02 July 1999		 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is stepping up its activities in Albania and in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to assist vulnerable groups whose situation has worsened due to the current Balkans crisis.
Fears for Red Cross camp in Tanzania
02 July 1999		 A Red Cross refugee camp in western Tanzania is struggling to cope with thousands of people fleeing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The camp, at Lugufu, 90 kilometres east of the Lake Tanganyika port of Kigoma, has been stretched beyond capacity for weeks but with up to 2,000 refugees a day crossing the lake to escape escalating violence, it is in danger of being overwhelmed. Health is suffering and mortality rates have risen.
Half african child deaths unnecessary, say Red Cross and Crescent
21 June 1999		 15 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies from East Africa, the Horn, the Great Lakes and the Indian Ocean islands approved a health strategy for the first decade of the 21st century. Rising poverty, widespread insecurity and the erosion of African state medical systems have caused care for the poor and most vulnerable to diminish dramatically over the past ten years.

Worldwide lack of blood supplies
19 June 1999		 While the demand for blood has been increasing over the past few years, it is getting more and more difficult to recruit safe donors. "In many countries, donors used to be paid for their blood donations. This is no longer the case and the motivation to become a blood donor has consequently decreased," said Ibrahim Osman, Under Secretary General of the International Federation, stressing the fact that developing countries are faced with the biggest problems.
Cholera spreads fast on Madagascar
12 May 1999		 More than 2,000 cases of cholera have occurred on Madagascar during the past month and over 170 people have died in what is the first ever outbreak of the disease on the Indian Ocean island. Concerned by the speed with which it is spreading, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is increasing support to a Malagasy Red Cross operation to help contain the epidemic.
Red Cross support to traumatized refugees
03 May 1999		 The need for psychological support of refugees arriving in Albania and Macedonia - many of them deeply traumatized - is enormous. "With systems in place for supplying basic needs such as food, water, medicine and shelter, the psychological problems now become clearer", says Mette Sonniks, director of the International Federation's Reference Centre for psychological support. She has just returned from an assessment mission to Albania.
Meningitis: over a million at risk in Eastern Sudan
02 May 1999		 The spread of meningitis in Sudan is now so furious the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies calculates that more than a million people remain at risk in seven badly-affected eastern states where it is working.

Crisis in the Balkans: International Red Cross and Red Crescent appeals for over 100 million swiss francs
2 April 1999		 The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has launched a preliminary appeal for over 100 million Swiss francs needed to address the devastating humanitarian impact of the crisis unfolding in the Balkans.

Water: the price of poverty
19 March 1999		 With cholera once more spreading dangerously in Eastern and Southern Africa, the Great Lakes and the Horn, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is marking World Water Day on March 22 by appealing for far greater efforts to prevent the disease in Africa.

Meningitis alarm in Sudan
04 March 1999		 A meningitis epidemic spreading through Sudan has reached alarming levels in six states. Nearly 1,800 cases and more than 230 deaths have been reported and the International Federation warns that unless vaccination campaigns are accelerated the disease will spread further. The International Federation is appealing for almost one million Swiss francs to support Sudanese Red Crescent efforts to immunize over 1.3 million people, raise public awareness and train Red Crescent volunteers to prevent and identify meningitis.
Red Cross/Red Crescent releases emergency funds for Colombia
27 January 1999		 The International Federation releases 300.000 Swiss francs to support emergency relief operations of the Colombian Red Cross. Nearly 500 volunteers are still helping find people from under the rubbles. Professional doctors and volunteers administer first aid to the wounded and evacuate them to the nearest shelters.



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