Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up -

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It’s a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work…

JAPAN: Red Cross relief in Japan is more than food and blankets. Psychosocial nurses are helping survivors deal with the emotional impact of disaster, while on the other side of the globe the Irish Red Cross has started an online message board for the public to post messages of support the people of Japan.

SOMALIA: The British Red Cross is supporting Somalia Red Crescent efforts to continue providing food, healthcare, water and sanitation facilities in response to a severe drought.

KENYA: The IFRC and Kenya Red Cross are taking early action to tackle drought.

Côte d’Ivoire: Before the fighting started, the city of Toulepleu had a population of between 40,000 and 50,000. Today, just 3,000 people remain in or near the town. Everyone else has fled. The ICRC and the Red Cross Society of Côte d’Ivoire have begun providing emergency aid for those who remain.

TUNISIA: Red Crescent volunteers have been caring for thousands of migrant workers stuck in the Djerba airport after fleeing the violence in Libya.

LIBYA: In the still unstable city of Ajdabiya, the ICRC and Libyan Red Crescent staff delivered enough lentils, oil, rice, salt, tea and sugar to 15,000 people to cover their needs for a month. They also distributed blankets, cooking sets and hygiene kits.

GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies