Annual Report 2012
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ANNUAL REPORT 2012 www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds. WHO WE ARE The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network, reaching 150 mil lion people each year through our 187 member National Societies. Together, we act before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. We do so with impartiality as to nationality, race, gender, religious beliefs, class and political opinions. Guided by Strategy 2020 – our collective plan of action to tackle the major human itarian and development challenges of this decade – we are committed to ‘sav ing lives and changing minds’. Our strength lies in our volunteer network, our community-based expertise, and our independence and neutrality. We work to improve humanitarian standards, as partners in development and in response to disasters. We persuade decision makers to act at all times in the interests of vulnerable people. The result: we enable healthy and safe communities, reduce vulnerabilities, strengthen resil ience, and foster a culture of peace around the world. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva, 2013 Any part of this annual report may be cited, copied, translated into other languages or adapted to meet local needs without prior permission from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, provided that the source is clearly stated. Requests for commercial reproduction should be directed to the IFRC at [email protected] All photos used in this report are copyright of the IFRC unless otherwise indicated. Cover photo: Hamza Sabano, 20, an emergency aid worker for the Syrian Arab Red Crescent surveys the scene of a suicide bombing in central Damascus. Andrea Bruce/NOOR. Myanmar Red Cross volunteer Aung Myat Htay loads relief supplies from a warehouse in Sittwe, Rakhine. Red Cross volunteers have been providing relief supplies, first aid and other assistance to affected 1259900 10/2013 E 1,000 communities since inter-communal violence broke out in Rakhine. Joe Cropp/IFRC ISBN: 978-92-9139-203-2 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 HIGHLIGHTS OF 2012 6 COMPLEX EMERGENCIES: THE NEW NORMAL? 10 RESPONDIng to the world’s SILENT DISASTERS 14 HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES WORLDWIDE 17 CAPACITY BUILDING ACROSS THE IFRC NETWORK 22 GLOBAL YOUTH ACTION AND VOLUNTEERING 25 GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR GREATER HUMANITARIAN IMPACT 27 FINANCES 31 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES 35 4 > INTRODUCTION ANNUAL REPORT 2012 OUR GREATEST HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES AND THE IFRC RESPONSE If we highlighted one example of the strength Man-made and natural emergencies in of the IFRC network in 2012, it would the Caribbean, Mali, Myanmar, the Philippines, undoubtedly be the response to the unfolding the United States, and the Sahel and Southern humanitarian catastrophe in Syria. This has African regions, also presented challenges. been at once heart-breaking, complex You can read more about these below in and inspiring. It is heart-breaking because the sections titled Complex emergencies and the situation continued to deteriorate with Responding to the world’s silent disasters. disastrous consequences, affecting every Syrian. As of the date of this publication, 22 staff and volunteers of the Syrian Arab Our reach Aurelio Sala/IFRC Jorge Perez/IFRC Red Crescent have perished. It is complex In 2012, our network of more than 13 million active because, although the International Red Cross volunteers reached 150 million people through Tadateru Konoé, Bekele Geleta, annual community programmes. In disaster President Secretary General and Red Crescent Movement was able to response, on average, National Red Cross Red reach people in need in almost every area Crescent Societies around the world responded each through the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, many month to 31 small or medium-sized disasters obstacles impeded our work and neighbouring or health emergencies. countries faced immense pressures as hundreds of thousands of Syrians sought Building resilience means building refuge. It was inspirational because the Red capacity and strong National Societies Cross Red Crescent Movement across Reducing the risks posed by man-made and natural the globe responded so impressively to this disasters is of paramount importance and, for acute humanitarian emergency. We pay tribute the IFRC, building resilience within grassroots to all the men and women and youth in communities is the key. We are uniquely positioned the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to do this and, as the importance of resilience who supported this work. comes to be recognized in sustainable development circles, we are building partnerships and creating collaborative approaches that leverage our unique ability to reach even the most isolated areas. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Annual report 2012 ANNUAL REPORT 2012 5 Our thanks The year ahead To build resilience, we provide technical support We wish to thank all those who contributed to our Whilst the Movement is perhaps best known for to National Societies for field operations in health, shared humanitarian vision in 2012 – our thirteen the work we do on the front lines of disasters, crises migration, climate adaptation, disaster risk million volunteers around the world who work and conflicts, through the unique access and reach reduction, and disaster laws. We also aim in their own communities, our dedicated staff, of our volunteer network, we will increasingly to strengthen National Societies’ institutional members of National Societies, and our major be recognized for the significant contributions and management capacities. This is vital because donors and supporters. we can make to social and economic development National Societies play critical roles, as auxiliaries and the strengthening of civil society. to their governments, as partners for national, We also wish to acknowledge our continued strong international and multilateral initiatives, and engagement with governments. Five landmark In the year ahead and in the foreseeable future, in establishing well-functioning civil societies. agreements were signed in 2012. They included: principled humanitarian action and meaningful a five year partnership between the Canadian Red economic, social and civil development will come In 2012 almost one third of National Societies Cross and the Canadian Government worth into sharper focus globally, as we work towards participated in the Organizational Capacity 100 million Canadian dollars to the Red Cross sustainable recovery in a wide range of contexts. Assessment and Certification (OCAC), a comprehensive Red Crescent; support from the Netherlands Disasters have been somewhat overshadowed by accreditation and rating process that benchmarks Government through the Netherlands Red Cross, for conflict and the human impacts of the extended excellence in the areas of financial management, emergency response preparedness and operations, economic crisis. But, as custodians of humanitarian operational capacity, transparency, and reporting. which will be worth 18 million euro over four years; principles and a leading humanitarian network, During the same period, 14 National Societies a new three-year cooperation agreement with the we will demonstrate the commitment and capacity participated in our Digital Divide initiative, which Norwegian Government on disaster preparedness of the Red Cross Red Crescent to address today’s improves their access to, and use of, information and risk reduction worth over 20 million Swiss challenges, providing leadership and vision in and communication technology. Development plans francs; a partnership agreement with Irish Aid the humanitarian sector. We will harness the power have been finalized by National Societies in Liberia, worth 3 million euro per year; and new agreements of technology, youth, and volunteers. We will link Mauritania, Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Tajikistan, with the Korean government and Korean Red Cross local and global realities. We remain committed Uzbekistan and Yemen. In these countries, as well as the Japanese Government. to empowering people, in every community the effective application of information and we serve, as partners and agents of change. communication technology will transform Our long term corporate sector partnerships also operations from branch level through to national continued to grow and deepen, beyond funding. Sincerely, governance, as well as deepen engagement with Key partners are Nestlé (food security and water international partners. and sanitation); Zurich Insurance (disaster risk Tadateru Konoé Bekele Geleta reduction and DREF); The Coca-Cola Company President Secretary General In the pages that follow you will read about (disaster management and communications); many other initiatives and activities that help Land Rover (reaching vulnerable people around strengthen our network and build the resilience the world); Medtronic Foundation (DREF); of communities. Eli Lilly Foundation (TB); and Airbus Foundation (air transport and training). International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Annual report 2012 6 > HIGHLIGHTS OF 2012 ANNUAL REPORT 2012 • 13-16 March. 35 National Red Cross Societies April HIGHLIGHTS from the Americas met together at the XIX Inter- American Conference, held in Haiti. They endorsed • 24 April. Colombia