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…

POLAND: Thirteen Red Cross volunteers and two Polish Red Cross rescue teams took part in rescue operations following a tragic rail accident on Saturday night in southern Poland, where two trains collided head-on killing 16 people and injuring 56. The trains, carrying approximately 350 people, collided in the small town of Szczekociny, after one of them was diverted to the wrong track.

BOLIVIA: Heavy rains across Bolivia have caused massive damage to the homes of up to 12,000 families. The Bolivian Red Cross and IFRC are working to provide aid to 1,000 families, providing them with hygiene kits and food parcels, as well as contributing to the long-term repairs needed on damaged homes.

COLUMBIA: The ICRC distributed food this week to some 350 people who had fled two districts of Vigía del Fuerte municipality in Columbia. Last week the inhabitants of Bocas de Luisa and Vegaez were driven from their homes by armed hostilities. The ICRC is also pursuing dialogue to ensure that all parties to the armed conflict show due respect to civilians and their property.

MALI: Three million people in Mali are currently facing a severe food crisis due to a drought and rising food price. In the continuing relief efforts, last week Malian Red Cross volunteers distributed a month’s supply of rice, oil, salt and sugar to 8,200 people. The Malian Red Cross is also supporting agro-pastoralist families in diversifying their livelihoods so they are no longer dependent on rain-fed agriculture.

GLOSSARY:

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

PHOTO:
13 volunteers and two rescue team from the Polish Red Cross worked into the night to help rescue survivors from the train crash in southern Poland.