Climate-related emergencies on the rise as IFRC scales up support
As National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies stepped up to respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 also saw an increase in other emergencies around the world.
The IFRC’s 2020 Annual Report shows that 109 operations were supported by its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), with funding exceeding 34 million Swiss francs.
IFRC Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain, said: “We have seen climate-related emergencies increase, with floods, cyclones and migration emergencies affecting countries around the world.We mobilised more resources to make sure National Societies have increased support from DREF - not only to respond but also to anticipate and mitigate the impact of crises on the most at-risk communities.”
As COVID-19 gripped the globe, the Red Cross Red Crescent network reached more than 650 million people with health and hygiene activities and more than 106 million with water and sanitation activities. The IFRC procured 20 million Swiss francs of PPE for National Societies and sent 184 million tons of COVID-19 related goods to more than 60 countries.
“I continue to be incredibly proud and humbled by the dedication and commitment of our volunteers, National Societies and IFRC,” Chapagain added.
“Last year was extremely difficult, but also an inspiration in how we can come together to overcome even the most daunting challenges of our time.”
In 2020, the IFRC also increased its investment in strengthening National Societies around the world by allocating 12.9 million Swiss francs to is Capacity Building Fund.
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Read IFRC’s full 2020 Annual Reporthere.
Canary Islands, Spain: Saving lives amid the COVID-19 pandemic
“We have had cases of babies, sometimes just hours old, with the umbilical cord still attached, or children who were born in the boat and who would touch the mainland for the first time in our arms.”
Miguel Vela has been a Spanish Red Cross volunteer since 2009, witnessing horror and desperation on a regular basis. A trained nurse, he is currently part of the Immediate Response Team in Humanitarian Assistance to Migrants (ERIE) in the Canary Islands – something he combines with his job in a hospital and the 112 emergency service.
In 2020, more than 30,000 migrants arrived by sea to Spain, the highest number in 15 years. COVID-19 made the rescue operation even more complex.
“The COVID-19 emergency added the risk of infection, the discomfort of having to use protective equipment despite extremely hot temperatures, the frequent modification of protocols and the psychological and physical exhaustion after long working hours,” explained Miguel.
But he is aware of how privileged he is.
“I have always had the luxury of going back home to running water, electricity and food. In the meantime, people continue to risk their lives in the middle of the sea or have to quarantine in overcrowded settings. Not to mention the bodies that reach the coast or those who do not even manage to touch the mainland, human beings whom no one will ever be able to watch over.”
Miguel’s daily activity is intense, racing against the clock to save lives and help the most vulnerable. He is always on standby for a boat sighting. In such cases, he provides basic health and humanitarian aid to migrants upon disembarkation. His team does a first triage, taking those who need medical assistance to a nearby medical post. The rest of the migrants are given essential items including clothes, food and water.
Miguel is particularly touched by the children they’ve seen. “No person should go through this, least of all a child. We should be embarrassed as a society,” he denounced.
Working in such environment is never easy, but it’s been especially hard this last year.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to give 200% of ourselves without having a physical shoulder to lean on, struggling with uncertainty in the face of the unknown and with great fear,” said Miguel.
His plea? More humanity and solidarity with one another.
“To me, this crisis has been a parenthesis, a ‘stop’ in our lives. From one day to the next all our plans were disrupted, for a moment there seemed to be no distinction of social class, gender, ideals, northern or southern hemispheres... For once in history, we all seemed ONE fighting the same cause.
“I invite you to continue maintaining prevention measures. The vaccine is the vertex of the triangle that will help us fight the virus, but it is important that it reaches all corners of the world. It is our duty as a society to ensure that. And I think this crisis is also an opportunity to further value life, the closeness of our own, a hug, a kiss or a simple look.”
Floods
Floods are when water overflows from the normal boundaries of a stream, river or other body of water, or accumulates in an area that is usually dry.There are two main types of floods. Inundation floods are slow and develop over hours or days. Flash floods occur suddenly, often without warning and usually due to heavy rain. Though annual flooding is a natural phenomenon in many parts of the world, human habitation and land-use practices have led to an increase in frequency and size of floods. Floodsare also predicted to become even more frequent and severe in future due to climate change. Floods can be extremely dangerous and cause massive human, environmentaland material damage to communities.
Cyclones
Tropical cyclones are rapidly-rotating storm systems that rotate (counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere) around a low pressure centre. They are generally slow moving but severe, with winds of between 120-320 kilometres an hour. They have different names depending on where they happen:cyclonesin Southeast Asian waters and the Indian Ocean, typhoonsin East Asian and Pacific waters and hurricanesin the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean sea. Most cyclone-related deaths are from flooding, but also from electrocution, collapsed structures and blowing debris.
Internships
The IFRC has a well-established and successful internship programme which provides students with valuable and relevant work experience within a lively and professional environment. We offera wide range of internships in our offices around the world.
Namibia Red Cross
Regional Director for Europe
Ms. Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen is the IFRC Regional Director for Europe covering 53 Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies in Europe and Central Asia. The Regional Director is responsible for implementing the IFRC mandated functions: Strategic and Operational Coordination; Membership Services and Humanitarian Diplomacy in the region.
The Regional Director currently oversees the Ukraine and impacted countries operation, which supports millions of people in and around Ukraine. In addition to relief, health, shelter and cash/vouchers, mental health is a key aspect of the support provided through this operation.
The Regional Director has more than 15 years’ experience working with the IFRC network and has previously been International Director of Danish Red Cross and Co-chair of the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support.
Ms. Ebbesen is from Denmark. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Roskilde University in Denmark as well as a diploma in High-Performance Leadership from the Copenhagen Business School.
Community focus for global health risks
Community-level health volunteers and activities are vital to addressing the most pressing global health risks. Governments and international partners must provide greater funding and recognition for the role of community level health volunteers and interventions.
Danish Red Cross
Protection, Gender and Inclusion
For the IFRC to remain true to our principles, we must ensure we reach all people effectively and in a non-discriminatory and equitable manner. Our work must ensure dignity, access, participation and safety for all people affected by disasters and crises.
Youth as Agents of Behavioural Change
Youth as Agents of Behavioural Change (YABC) is the IFRC’s long-standing programmethat helps people around the world promote a culture of non-violence and peace in their communities.
Epidemic preparedness tools and resources
Discover our helpful tools and resources about epidemic and pandemic preparedness—on topics ranging from disease control to community engagement and accountability.
About National Societies
The IFRC is made up of 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, often referred to as National Societies,present in nearly every country of the world. Their roles differ country by country, but they are all united by our Fundamental Principlesand all strive for the good of humanity.
Recovery
The IFRC has a long history of supporting communities to recover from crises. We ensure that our humanitarian assistance helps communities ‘build back better’ and become more resilient to future shocks.
Advocacy hub
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies areauxiliaries to the public authorities in the humanitarian field. Theyhave a special responsibility to support their authorities to develop policies that protect vulnerable people, particularlyfrom disasters and crises. The IFRC serves as their representative in global and regional policy fora, working closely with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).