Red Cross Red Crescent - Iraq: International Federation launches appeal to assist nearly one million socially vulnerable and disabled people
In a world of poverty, war, displacement and disaster, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies serves those in need without regard as to race, religion, class or political belief.
The International Federation directs and coordinates international assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Together with Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, the Federation acts locally to respond to humanitarian challenges everywhere, everyday.
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“We have decided, with the Iraqi Red Crescent, to put our efforts into meeting the needs of the most socially vulnerable inside the country, a group of beneficiaries who do not receive adequate attention.” — Gurgen Boshyan, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Iraq delegation.
Photo: Iraki Red Crescent Society volunteer holding a newborn baby, Sadr City, Baghdad, Irak.
Iraq: International Federation launches appeal to assist nearly one million socially vulnerable and disabled people.
In order to support Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) operations to bring vital assistance to the most socially vulnerable people inside Iraq, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching an emergency appeal for 20.7 million Swiss francs (US$ 19 million/€13 million). The funds will be used to distribute food and other goods, as well as provide emergency health care and special assistance to nearly one million people over the next 12 months.
Some 150,000 families (900,000 people) will receive food and other relief items, health services will be provided to 50,000 people, and 10,000 disabled people will be provided with wheelchairs.
The funds will also finance training in logistics and stocks management, first aid and psychosocial support, as well as monitoring and evaluation, to strengthen the disaster preparedness and response capacities of the Iraqi Red Crescent. IRCS National Intervention Teams will be established and deployed in the North, Central and Southern governorates.
The IRCS will also establish three Mobile Medical Units to provide basic and emergency care to people who have limited access to state-run health institutions or live in remote areas.
“A lot of attention, and rightly so, has been given to the needs of two million people who have been internally displaced by the violence and insecurity, as well as to those of two million externally displaced people, who have fled to Syria and Jordan,” explains Gurgen Boshyan, Head of the Federation’s Iraq delegation, based in Amman. “We have decided, with the Iraqi Red Crescent, to put our efforts into meeting the needs of the most socially vulnerable inside the country, a group of beneficiaries who do not receive adequate attention.”
The criteria applied by the IRCS and the Federation to identify which families are the most socially vulnerable are the following: those who have no or a very small income – in particular families with many children, single parent families, widows as well as victims of natural disasters.
According to United Nations figures, up to six million people are in dire need of help within the country as a result of years of violence and economic hardship, four million people are unable to buy sufficient food regularly, only 40% have access to a safe source of drinking water and only 60% of families had access to government-provided supplies in 2007. In addition, many doctors and nurses have left the country, worsening the health care crisis in the country.
“With more than 3,200 staff and 10,000 active volunteers, the Iraqi Red Crescent is the only civil society organization that has the expertise, the resources, as well as public trust and confidence to deliver essential humanitarian services to the most vulnerable in all parts of the country, through its effective branch structure in all 18 governorates,” adds Gurgen Boshyan.
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Indexed under: Poverty, Red Crescent/Red Cross, Rescue Work
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- Feb 14, 2008: appletree » Blog Archive » News from Iraq: February 14, ‘08
Thank you for this post. Dear readers, please, if you can, make a donation to the Red Cross, Red Crescent. Valentine’s Day is just ahead: a gift to the IFRC is a great way to spread some love in the world. And how about sending the word on? Sharing this link with friends and family helps build a chain of support across the world. Post it on your Facebook or MySpace–let’s make this viral. May peace be with us all.
consider it done - I’m spreading it here on the West Coast. Needless to say I am beyond ashamed.