Today at the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will introduce a resolution proposing to strengthen the legal protection of victims of armed conflict.
Irish Red Cross Secretary General, Donal Forde, and Colm Byrne Head of the society’s International Department are in attendance at the conference, which brings together representatives of 194 States party to the Geneva Conventions along with representatives of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – the world's largest humanitarian network.
Speaking from Geneva, Colm Byrne said "On the whole, international humanitarian law remains appropriate for regulating how parties to a conflict must behave, however, in consultations with States prior to this conference, weaknesses were identified in the legal framework that we want to address. In particular, there is a need to improve protection for detainees in non-international armed conflict and to strengthen international mechanisms to monitor whether the rules are respected or not."
Read more abouth the Irish Red Cross and International Humanitarian Law
The Irish Red Cross has launched an ‘Irish Floods’ appeal to aid those who were affected by the flooding in on Monday, October 24th.
As the extent of the flood damage becomes clearer the number of people contacting the Irish Red Cross wishing to donate is increasing.
Donal Forde, Secretary General of Irish Red Cross said “We are receiving calls from members of the public who are moved by the extent of the damage caused to the homes of their neighbours and to the homes of many people throughout the affected areas. With everyone we speak to there is a clear sense of shock – no one expects this to happen to them”.
“Donations received will be used to support those whose homes have been damaged by flood water caused by Monday’s record rainfall.” said Forde. “We will work closely with the Community Welfare Service within the Department of Social Protection to identify those most in need of our assistance”.
The Irish Red Cross has an extensive network of volunteers throughout Ireland who act as an auxiliary to the State. On Monday night the Irish Red Cross was put on standby as part of the Major Emergency Management plan. Volunteers in Wicklow and Dublin remained on alert throughout the night ready assist as needed. In Wicklow, the Irish Red Cross Glen of Imaal mountain rescue team formed part of the search and rescue operation in Blessington.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Irish Red Cross ‘Irish Floods’ appeal can do so online; by phone: 1850 50 70 70; or by cheque made out to ‘Irish Red Cross’ and marked ‘Irish Floods’ and sent to Irish Red Cross, 16 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
Red Cross societies across East Africa look to increase their relief efforts for local people
In Kenya – home of the world’s largest refugee camp – the local Red Cross society is hard at work keeping the disaster at bay wherever they can.
The Kenyan Red Cross has already rehabilitated 9 boreholes giving water to 85,585 people and their livestock. Now they plan to:
•Supply clean and safe water for 250,000 people
•Provide supplementary food (intensive nutrition) for 20,000 school children in Marsarbit, Waji, Garissa
•Distribute drought resistant seeds to farmers in the Tana River area
•Truck in 24 million litres of water across the region, regenerate pipe lines and boreholes and wells to help people develop a more secure water supply.
In Somalia, the local society volunteers are working amongst their drought stricken and war torn communities.
•They are providing mobile health teams, medicine, nutrition and food to children under 5, pregnant and nursing mothers
•Helping communities to recover their crops, water supplies and livestock and to be more resilient to the drought/flooding cycle.
All local Red Cross societies in East Africa are looking to their own people and to the world. They need our support and practical aid to stop people dying of hunger, thirst and disease. Please give what you can today.
The International Red Cross is responding now. Water is being delivered to 5,000 people in Kenya, food aid is being given to families, mobile health teams are working in Somalia.
We can stop the dying before it starts. And you can help today.
A donation will feed stricken children.
A donation will deliver water to refugee centres.
A donation will provide food to a family during the crisis.
A donation will help families survive droughts and head-off food shortages in the future.
The East Africa Food Crisis Appeal will cover all currently affected and those potentially affected in the future.
In the unlikely event that we raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help us prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters either overseas or Ireland.
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!["Friendly" football match against the British Red Cross. The best team won!](http://img.youtube.com/vi/I8jNgK2cdmU/default.jpg ""Friendly" football match against the British Red Cross. The best team won!")
