Jose Tomas/MRCS

ICRC Regional Delegation - JULY 2013 NEWSLETTER On 17 February 2013 the ICRC Mozambique: Red Cross volunteer commemorated the 150th anniversary of its founding. This caught in an ambush event symbolizes the resilience On March, 24, 1992, Artur Quilambo, At the age of 66, Artur can still of the spirit of humanity that who was then the Head of Health and vividly recollect what happened. “I led to the birth of the Red Cross Social Services for the Mozambique remember the incident like it was and Red Crescent Movement. Red Cross Society (MRCS), escaped yesterday,” Artur says. “It was just It is a testament to the death while traveling with two a few months before the peace durability of the Movement’s other colleagues on their way from agreement that put an end to the fundamental principles that providing assistance in one of the conflict in Mozambique. We (MRCS) continue to guide its work refugee camps. Although they were were informed that many refugees worldwide despite numerous in a MRCS vehicle, with a clear Red had arrived in Malehice, so we rushed challenges. The Movement is Cross emblem, they were attacked there to provide humanitarian also commemorating 150 years by a group of heavily armed men in assistance to the refugees, train of the work of its dedicated Bungane, Malehice, Gaza Province. midwives and prepare other volunteers. In this special issue volunteers to be able to respond to of the ICRC Harare Regional further emergencies,” Artur explains. Delegation newsletter, we focus “After a long day, we were tired”. on The Role of Red Cross/ “On our way back, about 30 Red Crescent Volunteers kilometres outside the city of Xai-

in Humanitarian Action Xai, we came across two groups of as they meet the humanitarian people heavily equipped with fire needs of people in many arms. We did not suspect anything different situations – from at that time, we remained confident conflict to climate change. that the Red Cross emblem would protect us so we went past them , but Jose Tomas/MRCS Artur Quilambo at the beginning of the suddenly one of the groups started discussion. firing towards our vehicle, although the bullets missed us,” Artur says.

NEWSLETTER 1 “I have been experiencing acute “During that time of pain recently and I suspect that something like a small part of the desperation, bullets projectile might still be inside my hit our vehicle from leg (where the bullet penetrated) up to this day. I feel this pain especially all directions but when I walk. I noticed that at the I also felt a sharp hospital they only treated the wound pain in my leg without taking an X-ray to ascertain the extent of the damage that my near my ankle,” leg suffered, this could explain the pain I am still feeling.” Artur says he is - Artur Quilambo currently saving some money so that Jose Tomas/MRCS he can go for specialized treatment. Today, Artur is not employed. He lives through a grant that is given Artur Quilambo narrating his ordeal. Artur joined the Mozambique to him by the Mozambique Red Red Cross Society as a volunteer Cross Society in recognition of his in 1981, a few months after its dedication. The grant is also being The attack did not stop. “The second inception. He attended a number given to help him through the group also fired at our vehicle of training courses and later on he injury that almost cost his leg while without mercy. In desperation, our was appointed the Head of health, working for the Mozambique Red driver drove towards the sand dunes social services, water, sanitation and Cross Society. on the road side into the bush and training of volunteers. He enjoyed back into the dust road until he his job and worked with a lot of managed to get out of range of the enthusiasm. firing troop.” It was during this time “During the time that the war was that one of the bullets hit Artur’s leg. escalating, nothing would affect our “During that time of desperation, morale, because we were confident bullets hit our vehicle from all that all the parties to the conflict directions but I also felt a sharp pain respected us and understood the in my leg near my ankle,” he says Red Cross emblem. During our trips with a quivering voice, as if reliving to assist people made vulnerable the pain. by the conflict we met a number of armed groups from various areas but “The attack did not they never stopped us from fulfilling stop. The second our exclusively humanitarian mission,” he recalls. “Sadly, on that

group also fired fateful day, when we least expected Jose Tomas/MRCS at our vehicle it, we got caught up in that ambush,” without mercy...” he continues. The bullet ridden leg. “If I were asked to join the Mozambique Red Cross Society Artur was taken to a local hospital again for another mission, today, I where he stayed for about 64 days. would gladly go with an open mind “When I fully recovered, I went back and I would feel honoured knowing to work, but it was not same, I did not that I am doing something to help have the same vitality that I always someone who is in a very difficult carried at work before the ambush. situation”. The ambush and the consequent injury on my leg traumatized me,” he says looking down at his leg with sadness.

2 Preserving human dignity during conflict: the experiences of Red Cross volunteers

The fight for independence in Rhodesia and civil wars in neighbouring countries left thousands of people homeless and seeking refuge. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) worked together with the national Red Cross Society to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of people who were displaced and provided medical assistance to the wounded without discrimination. The following is an account of the experiences of Justine Mukwecheni /ICRC Perez Francois who has been a volunteer for the Rhodesia, 1977. The Rhodesian Red Cross and the ICRC jointly distribute relief goods to inhabitants Rhodesia Red Cross Society from in a protected village in Chiredzi district. 1972 to date. The Red Cross volunteers remained volunteers I had a passion for what Justine joined the Rhodesia Red impartial in all their work. “It did not we did, the burning flame in us to Cross Society in 1972 as a volunteer. matter to us which side a person assist vulnerable people could not He continued to work for the was fighting on, we assisted them all be turned off”. Red Cross Society after without discrimination”. The work of the Zimbabwe Red Cross independence until 1998 when he The national Red Cross Society Society as it is known today did not joined the ICRC. Today, 41 years later, and the ICRC were accepted by the end after independence in 1980. he still recalls with clarity the work people in different communities The volunteers together with the he did to save lives, and give hope and all parties to the conflict. “We ICRC responded to the humanitarian to those made vulnerable by the were present to assist vulnerable needs of thousands of refugees conflict. people in different places and we from Mozambique who fled the civil “At one time we rushed to provide did so consistently,” he explains. war to come into Zimbabwe. There first aid services and assist people “We responded on two occasions were about four Refugee Camps – who were injured when fighting to bomb blasts in Salisbury in Mazowe, Nyangombe, Tongogara between the Rhodesia armed forces 1979 where several people were and a transit camp that was in and the liberation movement fighters injured and we also responded to Waterfalls in Harare. broke out in Mutoko in 1978.” Justine road accidents that occurred. The remembers the pain and suffering communities and the different he saw on that particular day. “When parties to the conflict understood The national Red we got there we found civilians, our work, they supported us and this Cross Society and liberation movement fighters and was mainly because they could see the Rhodesia army members lying the assistance we were giving”. the ICRC were on the ground, some were dead, The life of a Red Cross volunteer at others wounded, others seriously accepted by the that time was not easy. “We were injured and unconscious,” he recalls. also affected by the prevailing people in different “Two Red Cross helicopters went to environment – I had left my family that site on that day. I remember we communities back in the village to dedicate my transferred six who were seriously life to this humanitarian mission and all parties injured to a hospital in Salisbury, they of saving lives. Like all the other were more in the other helicopter.” to the conflict

3 “The humanitarian situation due to the influx of the refugees was dire – Nyangombe Refugee Camp at one time had over 200 000 refugees, whom we assisted,” Justine recalls. “The people needed food, shelter, blankets, water, sanitation facilities and other basic necessities,” he continues. Others were separated from their families because of that war. “You could see a 9 year old child who was unaccompanied. We would assist such children and other older people with the means to restore and maintain contact with their Michele /ICRC Mercier families back home in Mozambique”. Rhodesia, 1977. Rapagwala protected village located in Chiredzi, health centre supported by the ICRC. Red Cross messages (restricted reunited physically or when they received a Red Cross message from a family to family or personal news) were member they had lost. This was of more value to them than having shelter or exchanged between the families food,” Justine says. and some families were physically For Justine, being a volunteer brought meaning to his life. “It gave me an reunited. “It was an overwhelming opportunity to give hope to someone who needed it and watch them smile experience to see the tears of joy in appreciation,” he says. from the families when they were

Zambia: Responding to humanitarian needs during elections Adam Mbewe works for the Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS). For the past five years, he has worked with other volunteers responding to emergencies that have occurred. Today, he is the First Aid Trainer for the ZRCS and he recalls how the Red Cross volunteers assisted over 200 people during the elections in September 2011.

“I was stationed at a polling station Others had stomach-aches, cuts, in Chilanga district located in the fits and general body pains. We had Northern Province of Zambia. pitched a tent at the polling station Together with other volunteers we to allow for privacy for serious cases responded to the humanitarian – like fainting. needs of the people during the I can recall some particular cases. elections in September 2011. We attended to 2 people who had I remember we attended to about 16 fainted. When they fainted we people at the polling stations facing carefully moved them away from the different issues, for example, some crowd and took them to the tent. people fainted, others experienced There, we allowed them to have dizziness, headaches largely caused fresh air, loosened their clothes to by standing for too long in the allow for the free circulation of blood queues. in their body and monitored them until they had recovered. While we The Zambia Red Cross Society responded to were there, we encouraged people emergencies during the 2011 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. They were present at to drink lots of water because it was polling stations and at the High Court in Lusaka really hot on that day and people during the inauguration; ready to assist people in line with their mandate. The ICRC provided financial were getting dehydrated leading to and technical support as well as emergency stocks headaches and dizziness. to build their (ZRCS) capacity.

4 ZRCS Gilead Mwenya/ We attended to 2 people who had fainted. When they fainted we carefully moved them away from the crowd to the tent.

The most serious case we attended to occurred just before midnight when the results for the Members of Parliament were announced. While celebrating the victory with so much excitement a group of people jumped onto the back of a van. The driver didn’t see that some people had not properly settled in the car. So he drove and they fell off the moving car. Five people were seriously injured. I attended to one who had a serious fracture on the limb of the lower leg. Because we did not have splints to support the leg, I used bandages and used the leg that was not fractured as a splint. The other was serious bruised on the hip and was bleeding, fortunately he was not bleeding Doreen Hove/ ICRC Hove/ Doreen excessively, so we quickly covered his hip with bandages to control the bleeding. They were both in so much pain. Our vehicle had just ferried a : Helping families see their pregnant woman to the hospital so we managed to get a private car and loved ones in prisons. rushed them to the nearest hospital. Since 2005 David Simataa, a How does the ICRC and NRCS help I really felt at that time that I volunteer for the Namibia Red families to keep in touch with their contributed positively to my Cross Society (NRCS) has been relatives who are detained? community. I spend most of my part of the team that organises time training volunteers on how to The ICRC and NRCS in cooperation the Family Visit Programme (FVP) provide first aid services, but this with the prison authorities organise which happens twice every year in time I was actively helping people in the family visit programme twice May and December. During these different situations”. each year for over 350 family visits about 350 people have an members. They provide them with opportunity to visit their relatives accommodation, transport and food. who are detained in four prisons in The visits are for three consecutive Namibia in relation to the situation days for the families – it’s really an in the Caprivi region in 1999. event to look forward to on their The ICRC and the NRCS with the part. After the visit the ICRC makes consent of the prison authorities follows ups with the inmates to see have been organising family visits if the programme ran smoothly and and enabling the maintenance of if there are any areas that need to be contact between the inmates and improved. their families since 2002.

5 Describe the process of planning registration stage to the time they food, clothes and school fees. Hence the Family Visit Programme? visit the inmates. I am moved by it was never easy for her to balance, their commitment. After travelling so she only saw him once in 2001 Together with Tracing Officers, we for over 1000Km from Caprivi region, before the FVP. Some people could normally facilitate this programme in Katima Mulilo the women still have not afford to see their loved ones in for over 300 family members who energy to cook for their husbands the prisons at all. are selected by the inmates. The – it’s just an amazing experience preparations are very intense. First, especially when you watch them. the ICRC and the prison authorities They arrive at 1am (after travelling for agree on the dates. After which about 18 hours) at the place where the inmates register three family they would be accommodated, rest members who should visit them, on for about two hours, there after they the forms provided by the ICRC and are up with so much energy and the NRCS. We then take the list to excitement to prepare all kinds of the Namibia Broadcasting Services, traditional meals for their husbands. where the names are announced It is quite interesting to watch them on radio and the families are asked talk and chat at the same time telling to visit the NRCS offices. Once they each other all the news they wish come to our offices we provide all to tell their son/husbands/father/ the relevant information and details brothers/uncles in the prisons. I have about the visit which include; the experienced the excitement from dates to collect their money for the young children, women and transport and food – and also where even the elderly of up to 72 years of So, through this programme the they will be accommodated. This age. I just enjoy seeing them happy families don’t struggle any more, this means by this point we would have particularly after they have visited is why they appreciate it very much. booked their accommodation and their loved one in the prisons; these As I work with them, I see the joy in transport from the Caprivi Region to memories remain priceless to them. their smiles, eyes and the way they or depending talk and that motivates me to make on where they will be going. How important is this programme to sure that everything is planned them from your own perspective? perfectly for them during each visit.

The programme has helped many families see their relatives in the prisons. Some are not so privileged enough to afford to travel to the prisons without this support. I remember in 2011 when I had the opportunity to talk to some of them about their experiences prior to this programme, one woman mentioned The pictures that when she came to visit her relate the husband at Windhoek Central Prison she had spent the night sleeping at visit in 2011, a petrol station because she arrived late at night and she also didn’t of women know anyone in Windhoek. It didn’t Tell us about your personal matter to her that it was freezing and children experience with the families? cold – during the winter season, all from Caprivi The hustling, bustling and she wanted was to see her husband. excitement that the families have as In addition to this she could not see Region to their they prepare to see their loved ones him as often as she would have loved in detention always captivates me to because she did not have enough relatives... each time I work with them from the money; her children need money for

6 Malawi: Building sanitation facilities for communities In 2012, over 3700 people in a village “I teach at the called Ntowerainfwa located in the CBCC between northern part of Malawi benefited 7am and 9am from a project implemented by then go on the Malawi Red Cross Society house visits. (MRCS) to improve their water and I make two sanitation facilities. A volunteer village visits from the MRCS, Lucia Msofi, who every week to was involved in the project shares make sure that her experience together with one of the sanitation the leaders of this community. facilities are still in good order Horace NyakaHorace /MRCS It is a cool morning, and they (Lucia and water is and Horace Nyaka, Communication available,” says Malawi, 2013. The volunteer for Malawi Red Cross Society, Lucia Msofi Manager at the MRCS) enjoy the (right) is with one of the community leaders Hilda Kondwe (Left). the volunteer They worked together with the community members to improve their fresh breeze in southern Karonga, who was trained water and sanitation facilities. 110km from the Malawi-Tanzania by the MRCS. border in northern Malawi. They are While in Ntowerainfwa village, which carrying out a routine field visits to “You should have come a year ago, is located about one kilometre from ensure that the MRCS’ humanitarian half of this village had no toilets,” Lake Malawi, they look for one of activities in the area are being Hilda says. Pointing at Lucia and the community leaders as they are implemented effectively. As they with a laugh of gratitude she adds, keen to get feedback on the impact stop by the roadside , they can “it has been a great effort from us – of the water and sanitation project already see Ntowerainfwa village the villagers and this young woman. in the village. Young men who are where, the MRCS and the Danish Red Lucia continues to encourage us to on their way from school tell them Cross Society completed a water and practice good hygiene in our village”. where to find Hilda Kondwe – one of sanitation project. Lucia Msofi has been working for the community leaders. “I have been the Malawi Red Cross Society as “There are over 3,700 people in 427 working with her for over a year. a volunteer for one and half years households in this village. Every Together with other villagers we and through her, efforts and those household now has a good standard made sure that the project ended in of the villagers they have managed toilet and hand washing facility as success,” Lucia says. a result of this project”, says Lucia. to ensure the availability of water “Although I work in this village all At 36, she is not only a Red Cross and sanitation facilities in the village the time it is fascinating to see the volunteer but also a member of the within a year. impact of the water and sanitation local community. She teaches at the “Working as a Red Cross volunteer project on the lives of these people local Community Based Child Care has given me an opportunity to all the time; it has improved their Centre (CBCC) where MRCS, with make a huge difference in my own hygiene conditions,” she continues, support from the Danish Red Cross community,” Lucia says with a smile. “Just look, every house we are going also runs a child-feeding centre. past has a proper toilet. Further, the toilet is not a unique thing in itself. “…These toilets have These toilets have locally designed locally designed washing washing facilities. The community facilities. The community members chose what would be more convenient for them,” she says. members chose They arrive at the homestead and what would be more are warmly welcomed. They begin to Horace NyakaHorace /MRCS convenient for them” talk about how the toilets and hand washing facilities have changed the - Lucia Msofi lives of the people.

7 “I was trained to provide home-based Andreas notes with sadness that the care and counseling for people living national society faces challenges Namibia: with HIV and AIDS as well as orphans in their quest to assist vulnerable and vulnerable children, in a neutral people in the country. “One of the A Volunteer – at and impartial way. It does not matter major challenges for the NRCS, what tribe, race or political party is gaining the support of local 76 years of age they belonged to, I was community members and businesses trained to provide the to help their fellow Namibians.” needed humanitarian Andreas and the Regional Officer for assistance to those who Otjozondjupa, Message Haukena, need it. I believe I have approach local businesses several done so effectively since times a year for donations in the the training”. form of money, food and non-food For Andreas, being a items. volunteer is not about Andreas notes that it worries him getting a pay check at that some people in Namibia do the end of the month, not understand how the NRCS it’s a passion to provide works and do not know that the Saara lipinge /NRCSSaara voluntary service. “I national society needs their support didn’t get paid, I just did to continue helping vulnerable Andreas Uupindi affectionately it to help people and people. “Some people know about known as “Tatekulu” meaning to make my community strong and the Namibia Red Cross Society, but “grandpa” has been working with healthy. At times, I used my own they think we are the Government the Namibia Red Cross Society car to go to the homes of people we or that we are handing things out. (NRCS) since 1998. The 76 year old assisted so as to talk to them, help But we are not the Government; man, now a board member for the them take their medication and take we remain independent from them national society is greeted with them to the hospital or clinic where (Government) and neutral in all our smiles and hugs from staff and necessary,” he says. activities, regardless that we do work volunteers as he enters the office. “Serving as a board member of the together in many activities”. He shares a light moment with the NRCS is part of my life. I love the However Andreas continues to enjoy Regional Officer, Message Haukena mission of the Red Cross and the working for the Namibia Red Cross when Message calls him “my historical events that gave birth to Society. “I enjoy working for the young brother”. the Red Cross Movement. Through Namibia Red Cross Society. Although the NRCS I am a part of something I am 76 now, my age will not stop Andreas has served as a board larger than myself, I can help the me from contributing positively to member for the Otjondijupa community and work with wonderful my community! Further, it makes me region since 2001, having started people,” says Andreas. proud to be a part of a Movement volunteering at the age of 65 – an As a board member, Andreas that responds so swiftly to local and elderly age. Andreas tells his story. represents the NRCS at stakeholder global disasters,” he says with a smile. “When I became a volunteer for the meetings and forums; helps the NRCS, I was quite old, it was only 11 national society establish and “I enjoy working with the years ago,” he recalls. “I joined the maintain partnerships with the Namibia Red Cross Society. Red Cross so that I can give back to local business community; recruits Although I am 76 now, my my community in a positive manner,” more volunteers and members; age will not stop me from he continues. and spreads the word amongst his contributing positively to Like every volunteer Andreas went community about the activities of the my community! Further, through intensive training to ensure national society and encourages the it makes me proud to be that all the activities he would do people of Namibia to donate their a part of a Movement that would be in line with the standard time and money to help vulnerable responds so swiftly to local and principles of the Red Cross and people. and global disasters”, Red Crescent Movement. - Andreas Uupindi

8 Zimbabwe: Reducing the risks of droughts in communities About 1000 people have benefited from a project to reduce the risk of drought that could be caused by deforestation in the long term. The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society together with the American Red Cross Society have been assisting communities to avert the risks of drought. Hopewell Munyari tells the story.

“As the Assistant Disaster Management Officer for the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) I work with diverse communities. We what would be worthwhile for them As I work with them on this project have a project aimed at reducing the to adopt as a community. I can see that they are building the risk of disasters that is on-going in stoves because they appreciate and Their major concern was the on- Binga where there are predominately understand how it will help them in going deforestation that is part of Tonga people. Interacting with a the long term. They have so much what is causing climate changes. people of a different culture is always commitment because they mobilize Consistent deforestation leads to interesting because you get to fit each other to ensure that the project a situation where there is more into their culture and understand is implemented, they build the carbon dioxide than the much their values as a people. Through my stoves, and they have structures needed oxygen escaping into the interactions with them I have learnt on the ground to coordinate their atmosphere. In the long run this that the Tonga people have a very activities. For me, it is very gratifying results in the depletion of the ozone rich culture. to see such levels of commitment layer, more heat and less rain then and to also see the positive change It is very gratifying ultimately they become prone to that such projects benefit the droughts. to see such levels of communities in the long term by commitment and to also In an effort to address these realities, making them safer and less prone to the communities have adopted fuel disasters”. see the positive change efficient cooking stoves which they that such projects built in their homes. With these benefit the communities stoves, instead of going to fetch firewood every day, they go once a week and this reduces the rate of We are working with people from deforestation. The women in that Simatelele and Siyachilaba. In these community (who would normally communities, the ZRCS together with spend lots of time looking for the American Red Cross Society have firewood) now have more time to do been working with them to think other things, and smoke is ventilated about how they can best reduce the outside the home reducing the risk of disasters like droughts. Under risk of blindness. Basically they are our Building Resilience project these no longer using open fires in their communities have been given a kitchens to cook. platform to think about what they can do, to also know how other To date over 200 households with people in similar circumstances have approximately five members have averted the disasters and decide on these fuel efficient cooking stoves.

9 The ICRC: A 150 years and still running!

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was formed on 17 February 1863 with an exclusively humanitarian mission to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and violence and meet their essential humanitarian needs. 150 years later the organisation is still running – saving millions of lives.

On 8 May 2013, the ICRC, Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Zimbabwe joined the Red Cross and Red Crescent (RC/RC) Movement around the world in a commemorative event under the theme “150 years and running”.. About 120 staff members and Red Cross volunteers ran in a distance of 4km from ZRCS Headquarters to the ICRC offices in northern Harare. The baton started in Suva, Fiji at 4am Harare time and ended in Mexico City, Mexico at 7pm Harare time, passing through Canberra (Australia), Kuala Lumper (Malaysia), New Delhi (India), Kabul (Afghanistan) and Geneva (Switzerland), on its way to Moroni Comoros, Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Ottawa (Canada), Brasilia (Brazil), Lima (Peru) and finally Mexico City. Members of the RC/RC Movement were walked, ran, kayaked, wheelchair raced and trekked their way across mountains from the start line to the finish line reaffirming that the Movement is 150 years and still running!

Zimbabwe

Run Sengwe/ICRC Tendayi

Burundi Volleyball © ICRC Rwanda Walking/football 10 © ICRC Afghanistan Wheelchair race © ICRC

Brazil Kayaking © ICRC

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: Making a difference in the lives of the people

Sporting activities were continuously When did you join the Red Cross Movement? held worldwide by the Red Cross and Red I first joined the Red Cross Movement in the 1990s through the Crescent Movement on 17 February 2013 Kenyan Red Cross Society. Although I left the Kenyan Red Cross under the theme 150 years and running. for a while, I returned to the Movement under the International Participants commemorated the millions Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and worked in different contexts of lives the Movement has saved since that include Ethiopia, Uganda, Sierra Leone and this region. In 1863 and demonstrated their continued these and other diverse contexts, the Movement has worked commitment to humanitarian action. Alex together as partners to prevent and alleviate human suffering and Munai, Cooperation Delegate at the ICRC to protect human dignity. Harare Regional Delegation, explains the uniqueness of the work of the Movement based on his personal experiences.

11 Can you describe how the ICRC, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the National Societies coordinate their activities?

The three entities are components of the Red Cross Movement, members of the same family, which operate in accordance to their complementary mandates during war, armed violence, natural and man-made disasters. Our humanitarian activities are guided by the seven Fundamental Principles of the Movement and

other internal policy frameworks. Ambroise/ICRC Tinde

The Red Cross Movement often Cote D’ Ivoire, Department of Bangola, Village of Diéou Zibiao. ICRC and the national Red Cross Society seeks to build on the strengths and distribute emergency aid. capacity of the Movement partner (s) to avoid duplication and enable parties or affiliations, and the Red Cross premises or equipment maximal utilisations of the available victims respectively. This makes us may not have been respected. At resources in the provision of services unique because these principles times access to those we seek to to those that need it most. provide a universal standard of serve may have been hindered. reference for all the activities of What do you think are the main What has and will continue to the Movement worldwide. strengths of the Movement as a protect and enable us to carry out whole? The “unity of purpose” is also one of our critical work is recognition The Red Cross/Red Crescent our strengths. In the same way we and respect for the Red Cross/ volunteers! We can quickly ran during this event as a united Red Crescent emblem by the respond to emergencies caused by front we also assist people made public and key stakeholders in floods, earthquakes, public health vulnerable by different situations governments, the armed and emergencies, war or civil unrest as a united front, supporting each security forces and community anywhere in the world because of other in different ways. leaders around the world, as well the millions of volunteers who are as our strict adherence to the What challenges does the seven Fundamental Principles. We dedicated to our principles and Movement face? based in communities. appreciate the continued financial We often work in difficult and material support we receive Secondly, we remain independent, circumstances. In some instances from individuals and donors who neutral and impartial in all our around the world, Red Cross believe in the mission and work of activities, interactions with the personnel have even been injured the Movement. donors as well as national authorities or lost lives while on duty, while and members of different political It is a life-changing experience to volunteer for the Movement, and we need more people to commit

International Committee of the Red Cross Sub-delegation their time to their communities. Harare Regional Delegation No. 19, 15th Avenue Corner George Silundika It is the skills and passion of the (Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe) T. +263 9 630 24, 629 93 9 Downie Ave, Belgravia. P.O Box 3970, Harare, Zimbabwe volunteers which will help the T. +263 4 790 268/9, 791 884 F. +263 4 790 260, 702 378 E. [email protected] W. www.icrc.org/zw Cover Photo: Jose Tomas/MRCS Movement to overcome the daily

A joint publication of challenges we face as we seek to make a difference in the lives of others!n

Cover Photo: Mozambique, 2013. Mozambique Red Cross Society responds to humanitarian needs of the communities. 12