Q&A

Global humanitarian organization

The floodwaters, which have engulfed Europe were the reason to ask the representatives of the International Red Cross Organization – What is the role of this organization in cases of natural disasters? The Macedonian Red Cross has a special department – Program for preparedness and taking actions during disasters. The program is managed by a professional employed person, Council (seven volunteers) and Center for preparedness and taking actions during disasters. Red Cross has available materials, technical and human potentials for disaster management to a certain level (vehicles, warehouses, educated people/professionals/volunteers, communication equipment etc).

The overall activity is organized in cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) delegation and the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).

There are teams, which evaluate the situation through the Municipality organizations of Red Cross and the overall report is submitted to the Center. From here, the activities are coordinated depending on the size and evaluation of the damage or the need for humanitarian help (food packages, hygiene, mattresses, blankets, water, first aid, logistics, evacuation help, accommodation, psycho-social support, specialized rescue teams), with delegations of IFRC and ICRC in Skopje and the IFRC regional delegation in Budapest.

The overall taken activity is in close cooperation with the ministries in charge of these issues.

The activities, which are taken can be helped if the same is evaluated by some other Red Cross national associations which have experienced expert teams for certain issues.

The financial support is organized through donor conferences (emergency funds) in Budapest/Geneva IFRC.

IFRC and the Red Crescent is the biggest world humanitarian organization which gives help, regardless of the nationality, race, religion, class or political choice. International Federation’s mission is to improve the life of the vulnerable group of people approaching the power of humanity.

Founded in 1919, the International Federation has 178 members of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent - with additional number in the establishment – secretariat in Geneva and offices at strategic locations to support the activities all around the world. The Red Crescent is used instead of the Red Cross in a lot of Islamic countries.

The International Federation coordinates and manages the international help for the victims of natural disasters or technological disasters. It combines its activities for help with the work for development and strengthening the national associations’ capacities, thus the capacity of all people.

Through the help programs there is a registration of people, their accommodation, food distribution, hygienic packages, packages for babies, mattresses, blankets, kitchen sets, clothes – donation by other national associations. Within the National association, preparedness and taking actions during disasters are systematic and carried out in several phases:

- Regional teams for taking actions and disasters evaluation;
- Info-management systems;
- Teams and population training;
- Kinds of disasters and ways to deal with them;
- Logistics;
- Evaluation of an area with disasters and teams coordination.
 

Suzana Paunovska
Macedonian Red Cross