VOICES OF THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN #5 | MARCH, 2016
Content Editorial 3 Emergency Operations 6 Floods in Peru 7 Red Cross responds to deadly landslide in Colombia 8 In Pictures: Visit of the IFRC Secretary General to the Americas 10
Cover picture
Peru, Huarmey. March 2017. Psychosocial Support technician sensitizes children through games on health issues . The children wait for their parents to finish receiving humanitarian aid. Since January an event called El Niño costero has affected Peru, generating heavy rains above normal values for the time and causing the worst floods and landslides in decades. Fernando Gandarillas / IFRC
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Americas Regional Office City of Knowledge, Clayton Panama Dir +507 317 3050 Many thanks to all who have contributed to this number of Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean.
Effective cooperation and unmet humanitarian needs 14 Americas´ Clusters meeting 14 In Pictures: 100 years of the Panamanian Red Cross 15 Americas region adopts its first disaster risk reduction plan 20 My house will be the first one to go if I don´t protect tge mangroves 22 Socio-economic costs of Zika virus in Latin America and the Caribbean to reach $7-$18 billion over three years 24 Launch of the leadership development program of the Nicaragua Red Cross
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After eight years of uncertainty, family gets in touch again 27 Salvadoran Red Cross completes case of Restoring Family Links 27 Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross provides CERT training 28 #BeatZika - Animation video
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EDITORIAL The International Federation of RED CROSS and RED CRESCENT Societies we should dream and fight for
Let’s fight together for this collective dream to be fulfilled now and forever, for the sake of every human being who suffers from war, violence, disasters, exclusion and indifference. Within the universe of our human resources, volunteer and staff, both with decades of service or recently involved in the humanitarian world; form the high level management to support services staff; each and everyone one of us can dream and fight for a better RED CROSS that: From the MISSION perspective, is a more active Red Cross in the compliance of its humanitarian role, relevant, useful, present, agile, inclusive, influential, simple and united in its values and principles from a real practice and with a permanent protection to our integrity. From the VOLUNTEERING to build a more democratic RED CROSS, representative, active in the community, promoting resilience and protecting dignity and the action of saving lives, making simple and concrete things through the spirit of service, enhancing the foundation of a volunteerism that believes in the spirit of humanity, neutrality and impartiality; involving others to become at least a 1 BILLION network of persons who are beneficiaries and promoters of resilience for themselves and for others, without institutional boundaries.
From the GOVERNANCE perspective, a Red Cross that works to shape leaders that protect the integrity of the organization and of its humanitarian service, giving up to personal interests, without nepotism, unselfishly, making their lives an example of service and striving for peace, reconciliation and integration to do good and to do it well, showing the ability to create a collective will expressed in means and resources that are managed with seriousness and efficiency to achieve the humanitarian mission around the world, and in each country where we exist and could exist. From the MANAGEMENT perspective, that our strength and action focuses in our humanitarian work, strengthening community resilience. Our organization needs a strong combination of Corporate Management with Social and Humanitarian Management, able to create transparency, velocity and efficiency, boosting information for a real and precise planning with feasible budgets connected to realistic financial mechanisms. But, above all, with an effective ability of coverage of the real and potential humanitarian space of the Red Cross within local, national and regional contexts, as a complement of private and public actions, promoting a global impact for development. To fulfil this dream from the Americas and the Caribbean we can do so much, through the following: • The improvement of our relations with States and with other actors, in the exercise of our auxiliary role enabling and adapting it to each country’s context, and with our complementary role as a Federation in each region and at a global level (as a collective and responsible expression of all National Societies), enhancing the power of humanity. • A sustainable improvement of our response tools at local and national level, relying on increased capacities at the regional and global level, acting faster, more flexible, more efficiently and closer to the people who are in suffer. • Through resilience, making it our vision for programmatic integrity at the medium and long term as a contribution to the SENDAI priorities and to the Sustainable Development Goals. • Working for the creation of networks capable of activating other networks, self-sustainable, capable of promoting actions that save lives, to protect dignity and seek peace and inclusion, as well as for the protection of victims. To achieve this, we must proceed with Love, Joy, Kindness, Commitment, Relevancy and Pertinence; through the pledges, declarations and commitments made in the more than 150 years of our network’s existence. But above all, we must have a useful volunteering, a serious and responsible leadership and sustainable and active local networks that are integrated into a single organization well managed at all levels of complexity, and to have operations that provide fast results, meeting quality standards and large coverage.
Let’s fight together for this collective dream to be fulfilled now and forever, for the sake of every human being who suffers from war, violence, disasters, exclusion and indifference. Let’s do our homework in each corner of the world and gather our good deeds at a LOCAL, NATIONAL, REGIONAL LEVEL to be truly USEFUL, GLOBALLY.
OPERATIONS
FACTS AND FIGURES
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS (11.04.2017) EMERGENCY APPEALS Country
Emergency
Pop. Affected
Pop. assisted
Budget (CHF) Coverage
Closing Date
Chile Peru Dominican Republic Haiti Costa Rica & Panama
Wildfire Floods Floods Huracรกn Pop. Movement
7,157 665,313 1,292,000 1,000,000 17,000
2,000 50,000 25,000 147,500 10,000
528,860 4,740,589 2,459,751 26,094,551 560,214
32% 20% 21% 31% 41%
Apr 13, 2018 Mar 23, 2018 Nov 26, 2017 Apr 06, 2018 May 22, 2017
Ecuador Regional
Earthquake Outbreak Zika
1,200,000 746,777
85,324 174,078
13,513,095 7,483,112
63% 100%
Aug 21, 2017 Sep 30, 2017
ACTUAL APPEAL COVERAGE
7 APPEALS People affected: 4,928,247 People assisted: 493,902 Budget: 55,380,172 CHF
44%
26,020,185 CHF FUNDING GAP
29,359,987 CHF
DREF OPERATIONS Country Argentina St. Vincent and the Grenadines Costa Rica Brazil Colombia Totals
Emergency Landslide Floods Hurricane Outbreak Yellow Fever Landslide
Percentage of emergency operations by type
Pop. Affected 2,666 25,000 10,000 1,431 45,000 84,097
Pop. Assisted 1,866 2,000 5,000 26,100 1,500 36,466
8% 25%
8% 8% 8%
17%
8% 17%
Budget (CHF) 85,705 155,905 335,893 200,791 114,534 892,828
Closing date Apr 23, 2017 Apr 13, 2017 Apr 30, 2017 Jul 19, 2017 Jul 07, 2017
Floods Hurricane Landslide Earthquake Outbreak Yellow Fever Outbreak Zika Pop. Movement Wildfire
12 OPERATIONS
FLOODS PERU
(11.04.2017)
SITUATION Flooding has had an impact on 24 of Peru’s departments at the national level, particularly in the Northern of the country, with official reports of 106 people dead, and more than 1 million people affected. Rainfall continues and the situation is deteriorating in the most-hard hit areas. Health, shelter, food security, livelihoods, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH), are critical areas needing Red Cross actions to assist the most vulnerable people.
Deceased
Affected households
Injured
106
366
Health centers affected
Affected crop area
68,266 ha
653
more than
1 million people affected*
Schools affected
218,866
1,959
Affected + destroyed tracks and roads
Affected + destroyed Bridges
21,116 km
811
Source: INDECI-SINPAD - RESUMEN EJECUTIVO - TEMPORADA DE LLUVIAS - 11/04/17 *998,522 affected people and 169,333 victims of the disaster.
OPERATION HUMAN RESOURCES
LOGISTICS # Flights
# Boats
# Containers
1
2
2
15
Total tonnes
71.2
human resources deployed
RELIEF
10,491 relief items
4,082 water (L) 25,000 water purification tabs 1,548 kitchen kits
1,576 3,096 3,096
hygiene kits jerrycans tarpaulins
1,175
9
National Societies deploying
2,030
volunteers
food kits
EMERGENCY APPEAL (read the document) The objective of this Emergency Appeal is to enable the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Peruvian Red Cross in assisting 50,000 people affected by the floods in northern Peru for the next 12 months.
IFRC APPEAL
4,740,589 Swiss francs
ACTUAL COVERAGE (AS OF 5 APRIL) 5%
Timeframe
12 months
Total contributions received 256,620 CHF Current gap
To assist
50,000 people
4,483,969 CHF
FOCUS ON Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Shelter (including household non-food items), Food Security and Livelihoods, Restoring Family Links (RFL), Disaster Response Preparedness, Early Warning, Risk Reduction and National Society Capacity Building.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
Red Cross responds to deadly landslide in Colombia
At least 127 people have been killed and 220 are missing following a landslide in the city of Mocoa in Colombia’s south-western border province of Putumayo, according to local authorities. The landslide, which happened late on 31 March local time, followed days of heavy rain that swelled the Mocoa, Mulato and Sangucayo rivers. The Colombian Red Cross has activated its National Crisis Room, and has deployed a multi-discipline technical team of 47 people to bolster the efforts of local volunteers who have been responding since the disaster occurred. The Red Cross team includes specialized personnel in health, search and rescue, water and sanitation, corpse management, psychosocial support, restoring family links, damage and needs assessment, and telecommunications. After the first week of response to the emergency, the Colombian Red Cross has sent 135 tons of food and cleaning and well-being items, donated by Colombians to be delivered to people who lost everything. At the same time, the team on the ground that was mobilized to attend to the victims and that reinforces the presence of the Institution in the department of Putumayo, has been working hard and in coordination with the presidents of the Community Action Boards of 19 neighborhoods for the delivery of the aid. Likewise, food and cleaning items have been delivered to the different shelters provided by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) to house the people who lost their homes. In the area of Water and Sanitation, a specialized team of the Red Cross has been working hand in hand with the UNGRD for the provision of washing facilities, toilets and showers for shelters, as well as the safe water purification through three plants that were moved to the affected area. On another front, requests for Restoring Family Links (RFL) from Mocoa and in coordination with the different sections of the Colombian Red Cross continue to be processed, with a record of 613 applications, of which 305 were resolved and 308 are in the process of closing. More information: http://www.cruzrojacolombiana.org/ https://www.facebook.com/cruzrojacolombiana
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One year after earthquake, Red Cross Red Crescent has supported thousands of families to rebuild their lives
Ecuadorian Red Cross One year after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck coastal Ecuador, the Ecuadorian Red Cross (ERC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have supported thousands of families to recover and rebuild their lives. The earthquake claimed 663 lives and affected more than 1 million people. Red Cross volunteers were among the first to respond, digging people out from under rubble and providing life-saving and life sustaining assistance in the hours and days that followed. The operation soon expanded, bringing Red Cross personnel from across Ecuador and around the world. “From the start, hundreds of Red Cross volunteers and students were mobilized to provide humanitarian services, including prehospital care and restoring family links,” said Walter Cotte, IFRC Regional Director for the Americas. “The response from the IFRC also arrived immediately. From the outset, several Red Cross National Societies from the region and from around the world offered expertise and support, ensuring the Ecuadorian Red Cross had the resources it needed to do the job that affected communities needed.” As emergency needs were met, the Red Cross operation turned to addressing longer-term recovery needs. This includes water and sanitation services that have provided ongoing benefit to around 600 families, and medical and dentistry care to 59 communities via mobile medical units in the city of Pedernales. Progress has also been made in housing recovery, though needs still remain. Approximately 35,000 homes were destroyed or damaged in the earthquake, with 140,000 people still lacking adequate housing a year on. The Ecuadorian Red Cross with the support of some of their Red Cross and Red Crescent partners, have started a permanent housing project and are providing technical support to affected communities to promote respect and protection of housing, land and property rights. “There is still much work to be done,” said Carmen Ferrer, the Head of IFRC’s earthquake response operation. “There are families that are still living in shelters one year after the earthquake. We need to continue working to ensure the recovery of these families, so they are able to have their homes again and re-establish their livelihoods.” “The Ecuadorian Red Cross has been working with the government in a neutral manner, fulfilling its auxiliary role to the public authorities. This coordination has contributed greatly to the impact it is having at the community level,” said Mr Cotte. “We have a collective responsibility towards those people who had their lives interrupted by the 16 April earthquake. We need to honour our obligations in a transparent manner. This first year of remembrance allows us to be accountable and reiterate our commitment to the people living in vulnerable conditions in the affected areas.”
Psychosocial support activities in Manabi. Vladimir Castro Rodas/Ecuadorian Red Cross
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
VISIT OF THE IFRC SECRETARY GENERAL TO THE AMERICAS 12
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
in pictures
Dominican Republic
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
Haiti
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
Panama
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
In Haiti and the Dominican Republic, IFRC Secretary General highlights effective cooperation and unmet humanitarian needs The Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Elhadj As Sy, has concluded a six day visit to the Dominican Republic and Haiti. He praised the effective cooperation between the two Red Cross societies, and renewed his call for additional international support for communities still recovering from Hurricane Mathew, which devastated western Haiti five months ago. “Five months seems long enough for the impact of Hurricane Matthew to have faded from the global view, but it is nowhere near enough time for families to recover,” said Mr Sy. “In many areas, the damage was absolute. People were left with nothing. They are still living in desperate conditions, and they need our support. We still have a job to do.” In the weeks following the disaster, the IFRC launched an international appeal for more than 28 million Swiss francs to support 147,000 people. To date, only 7.6 million Swiss francs has been raised – about 28 per cent of what is needed. Read the complete note
AMEricas’ clusters meeting From March 13 to 16, the Clusters of the Caribbean, Latin Caribbean, Central America, North America and Andean Countries met in Panama City. During these meetings, Presidents and Secretary Generals of the National Societies of the region had the opportunity to meet with the staff of the Federation Secretariat and the IFRC Secretary General, Elhadj As Sy, to discuss issues vital to the future of the humanitarian action of the Red Cross in the Americas.
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IN PICTURES
100 years of the Panamanian Red Cross On March 1, the Panamanian Red Cross celebrated its 100th anniversary. To commemorate this anniversary, several events were organized throughout the month of March, such as a volunteers event, a photographic exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Panama (MAC), the raising of the flag, a gala dinner and a concert.
Pictures by Panamanian Red Cross
Pictures by City of Knowledge Foundation and the Panamanian Red Cross
Pictures by City of Knowledge Foundation
Picture by City of Knowledge Foundation
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
Americas Region Adopts Its First Disaster Risk Reduction Plan The Americas region has reaffirmed its commitment to building resilience by adopting the first Regional Action Plan aimed at reducing disaster risk and impacts in the Americas. The Regional Action Plan (RAP) was adopted after 3 days of deliberations by the regional governments, which took place at the Fifth Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas (RP17) in Montreal, Canada. The Action Plan encourages the region to respond to the four priorities set out by the Sendai Framework. It makes a strong point of enhancing education and research in disaster risk reduction and promoting a multi stakeholder approach with a focus on exchanging best practices. It also calls for enhanced coordination among Member states and partners, including new options for multi-source financing and sharing knowledge as a means of cooperation. “What has been agreed here in Montreal is the first action plan for the region, by the region, to reduce disaster risk. And disaster risk is not a hypothetical subject. It’s a matter of life, of death and of prosperity,” – said Mr. Robert Glasser, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. As part of the process, Governments and participating organizations and civil society delivered their Declarations over the course of the event. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) read its declaration on March 7, setting out the IFRC position on the challenges and opportunities faced by region in relation to implementing the Sendai Framework. For the IFRC, some of the central themes that need to be addressed by the region are ensuring that individuals and communities are able to participate in the decision-making process and are seen as agents of change in building their own resilience. At the same time, the IFRC strongly encourages the strengthening of local, national and regional coalitions for a more coordinated approach to disaster risk reduction. “We feel strongly that this is a huge step forward for the Americas, towards being better prepared, better coordinated and ultimately more resilient. As the Red Cross, we will continue to work closely with communities and work harder to ensure that their voices are heard, especially those who are the most vulnerable to disasters in our region.” – said Jan Gelfand, IFRC Deputy Regional Director for the Americas. The agreements and declarations from RP17 and the commitments set out in the Regional Action Plan are expected to feed into the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction that will be held on Cancun, Mexico on 22 – 26 of May, 2017. Learn more about IFRC participation in RP17: IFRC Declaration in the Fifth Regional DRR Platform Volunteers as a mobilizing force in disaster risk reduction processes High-Risk Populations Are Agents of Change for Disaster Risk Reduction Ignite Stage: IFRC is putting communities at the center of our work
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Pictures by UNISDR and IFRC
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
Doney Cliram: “My house will be the first one to go if I don’t protect the mangroves”
Doney Cliram knows well the effects of coastal erosion and floods. He has seen how the sea is devouring the land, approaching his home near the Telescope beach where he was born 34 years ago. He says that when it rains heavily, the water rises over the breakwater and covers the distance that usually separates his house from the sea shore. Cliram understands that mangrove destruction is threatening his property and putting his life at risk. And he has not sat back. Instead, he has got down to work and has protected and planted mangroves in the sea shore right in front of his house. “Mangroves protect us. This is why I have planted hundreds of them here. It is the only thing that can prevent the beach from disappearing. If we don’t act, sooner or later we will have to leave our homes,” Cliram said while he stared at the sea. Grenada was originally inhabited by the Caribbean, an indigenous ethnic group that understood the risks posed by sea level rise and built their stilt homes above sea level. Some centuries later, this ancestral knowledge is still alive and the people from Granada build their houses on concrete or wood pillars to keep safe from the tides. Cliram knows that his house is vulnerable because is very closed to the sea shore. “My house was the last one to be built on this road and it will be the first one to go if I don’t protect the mangroves,” said Cliram. He argued that for growing mangroves you need more than good intentions. The strength of the waves when the tide rises pull out the mangrove’s roots. In addition, the goats eat their leaves, and some people who live in the poorest areas take their branches as firewood for cooking. “My friends and I are always alert and we try to protect them. But it is an endless fight,” said Cliram.
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
Even though his mother is from Trinidad and his two sons live in the United States, Cliram does not imagine his life elsewhere. He walks 15 miles a day along the zigzag roads that run from Telescope to St. George, the capital of Granada, to work as a driver for a transnational company. Despite the 90 minutes he spends every day going to work and coming back home, he has never thought about moving to the city. Cliram spends his spare time taking care of the dark sand beach that has not been affected by erosion. “I built this beach hut so that visitors can change their clothes with no hassle. I also try to keep the sand clean. Around 50 people come to the beach every Sunday. It is a beautiful beach and I want everybody to enjoy it,” said Cliram. He tells tourists that the eastern beaches in Grenada are gorgeous but they can also be dangerous. “Rip tides can be very strong here. The same tide that hits the sand and take away our beaches can take away our lives. Four years ago a friend of mine went for a swim when the sea was rough and we never saw him again,” said Cliram. Cliram recognized that during his teen years he didn’t care about the culture or the environment of his country. “When you are young, you don’t pay enough attention to things. But when you grow old you start to understand life and the value of the things around you. Our grandparents spoke Patois and our parents forgot their language. Now we have to learn everything again and by ourselves.” But Cliram would not be able to fulfil his mission of recovering the mangroves all by himself. He receives the little mangrove plants from the Grenada Fund for Conservation (GFC). The GFC works jointly with the GRC and The Nature Conservancy through At the Water’s Edge, a community resilience project aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change in Grenville Bay. This initiative is part of the Caribbean Communities Organized and Prepared for Emergencies (CCOPE) project, supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the European Commission. The aim of the At the Water’s Edge project is to inspire people like Cliram, and many other neighbours from Telescope, Grenville, Soubise and Marquis, to get involved in protecting their environment, their homes and their lives. ÀD—nde
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
Socio-economic costs of Zika virus in Latin America and the Caribbean to reach $7-$18 billion over three years
The epidemic will have a long-term impact, disproportionately affecting the poorest and most vulnerable communities, and could contribute to widening inequalities in the region. The socio-economic cost of the recent spread of the Zika virus in Latin America and the Caribbean will total an estimated US$7-18 billion between 2015 and 2017 according to an impact assessment launched today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The new report, “A Socio-economic impact assessment of Zika virus in Latin America and the Caribbean: with a focus on Brazil, Colombia and Suriname” provides an up-to-date analysis of the socio-economic and human development implications of the epidemic. With research on the Zika virus still on-going, there continues to be considerable uncertainty surrounding the spread and medical conditions associated with the virus. That said, the report clearly concludes that the Zika epidemic will have significant short and long-term impacts in the economic and socials spheres in the Americas. “Aside from tangible losses to GDP and to economies heavily dependent on tourism, and the stresses on health care systems, the long-term consequences of the Zika virus can undermine decades of social development, hardearned health gains and slow progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals”, said Jessica Faieta, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. Zika disproportionately affects the poorest countries in the region, as well as the most vulnerable groups within each country. While there have been concerted efforts by all three focus countries to control the spread of Zika, the report shows that national responses to the virus in the region have faced several challenges, including modest capacity in surveillance and diagnostic systems, prevention efforts, resource allocation and coordination. Persistent social disparities and unequal health service coverage have made it difficult for national responses to reach the most vulnerable groups.
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
The Caribbean is the most affected, with an impact five times that of South America. More than 80 percent of the potential losses over three years are due to reduced revenues from international tourism, with the potential to reach a total of US$9 billion over three years or 0.06 percent of GDP annually. Larger economies such as Brazil are expected to bear the greatest share of the absolute cost, but the severest impacts will be felt among the poorest countries. Haiti and Belize stand to lose as much as 1.13 and 1.19 percent respectively of GDP annually in the high infection scenario. Indirect costs could be substantial. Estimates suggest lost income due to new child-care obligations will potentially reach between half a billion and $5 billion for the region. The impact assessment concludes that regional and national preparedness and response strategies need to be strengthened, and must involve communities. As recently seen with Zika and yellow fever, epidemics spread by mosquitos can quickly expand and governments and communities must be ready to respond. The sizable economic cost of Zika highlights the need to control the Aedes aegypti mosquito in an integrated and multi-sectoral manner, considering that dengue, chikunguya, yellow fever and Zika are all spread by the same mosquito type. Addressing the conditions that encourage vector proliferation can prevent not only Zika, but also other epidemics. In addition, the report strongly recommends that protection programmes and care systems must be adapted and strengthened to reach those most in need, including women, girls and persons with disabilities. The promotion of gender equality and sexual and reproductive health are imperative for any Zika response to be effective. Prevention and preparedness to Zika and other outbreaks will be at the center of the upcoming G20 Summit in July, which will focus on health emergencies and crisis management. *Download the report
Otros enlaces: Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya Prevention Toolkit | Seasonal Calendar for Vector Control in the Americas | Online Zika Training Module (Spanish only) | Online Epidemic Control for Volunteers Course (Spanish only)
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
Launch of the Leadership Development Program of the Nicaragua Red Cross Leadership Training/Nicaragua Red Cross/16th 19th March 2017 From 16th to 19th March, an Induction and Orientation Training for leaders of the Nicaragua Red Cross was delivered to 32 participants, organized by IFRC within the framework of CERA project, funded by Canadian RC. The training course launches the 1-year National Leadership Development Program of the Nicaragua RC. This pilot training and induction course had 3 main objectives: 1. Strengthening the capacities of the leaders in supporting the development of their National Society and its branches. 2. Building individual development plans as a commitment of the participation to the National Program for 1 year. 3. Working towards the replication of the program and the training course at branch level. William Parra, CR Ecuador`s volunteer and expert in leadership development, was the master of ceremony of the training course. Other facilitators external to the Nicaragua Red Cross were participating: Luis Diego Castro from Costa Rica Red Cross, Mario Zendejas from ICRC MĂŠxico, Fernando Casanova and Paula Ameijeiras from IFRC. This was the first National Leadership Development Program in this form initiated in the Region. From 24th26th March a similar program will be launched in Dominican Republic Red Cross, within the framework of CERA project funded by the Canadian Red Cross. With a regional team of experts in leadership development from National Societies, a tool kit has been produced to support other National Societies interested in the initiative. For further information, please contact: Jean-Marc Le Coq IFRC National Society Development Coordinator Jean-Marc.LECOQ@ifrc.org Tel: +507 6550 5289
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
After eight years of uncertainty, family gets in touch again “When my daughter told me: ‘Mom, guess what? I received a letter’. ‘Who gave you the letter?’ I asked. ‘The Red Cross brought me the letter. It’s from my father”. I told her: ‘I don’t believe you’ but when I looked at the signature, it was him. It was amazing”. Eight years have passed since Fatima’s husband left Nicaragua for Panama to find a job. She and her daughter lost all contact with him and even with his family. Like them, thousands of families around the world are separated each year by migration, disasters, armed conflicts and situations of violence. Family separation generates multiple humanitarian consequences that can last for a lifetime, including psychological effects. That is why, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies work together to help restoring contact between families, offering free services, such as phone calls, internet points and Red Cross Messages (open letters), among others.
Salvadoran Red Cross completes case of RESTORING FAMILY LINKS Salvadoran Red Cross provides the Restoring Family Links (RFL) service; on this occasion, working together with the Nicaraguan Red Cross.
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society provides CERT training for the International School of Port of Spain
Security Officers at The International School of Port of Spain (ISPS), located at Westmoorings, practicing their bandaging and splinting skills during a simulation exercise during their CERT training
The Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society (TTRCS) is one of only a few organizations that offer the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designed Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) standard course. The CERT programme educates community residents about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an incident when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies such as the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), Municipal Disaster Management Units, Police Service and Fire Service, by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. Learning Objectives: Upon completion of the course participants will have the knowledge and skills to: • Organize a CERT with a good team structure including a team leader. • Implement the Incident Command System and work with other first responder agencies. • Map hazards within their environment and plot escape routes and muster points. • Understand the basics of fire chemistry and the P.A.S.S. (Pull Aim Squeeze and Sweep) method of using a fire extinguisher. • Conduct triage, set up a medical treatment post, and treat common injuries. • Conduct a scene size-up, evaluate and rank structural damage, make decisions to enter damaged structures and use the cribbing method to extricate victims and move them safely. • Evaluate victims for disaster-related stress and provide simple solutions to stabilize victims. • Understand the mechanisms of terrorist attacks and types and classifications of weapons commonly used, as well as the role of the CERT in a terrorist attack
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean • #5 | March 2017
The International School of Port of Spain (ISPS) contracted the TTRCS to conduct a CERT training for their Security and Maintenance personnel. The four-day training was an exciting, interactive programme that trained fifteen of their staff to be better able to protect their fellow staff and students and save many more lives during times of disaster. History of the T&T Red Cross Society Disaster Training Unit: The Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society (TTRCS) Disaster Training Unit was formed in 2013 to be one of the leading providers of community based and professional disaster management training programmes. We utilize a combination of methodologies designed for adult learners and community based groups to deliver a programme that is both interesting and interactive, participants “learn by doing” in hands on practical assignments. Our facilitators are experts in the field of disaster management, each with years of practical experience responding to some of the largest disasters both locally and internationally. For further information, please contact: Christina Moonoo-Mohammed, Communications Officer Email: Christina.Moonoo@gmail.com Teléfono: 868 623-5071
communication #BeatZika Animation video for Zika virus prevention Community Engagement Tool This video, developed by the Zika Operation in the Americas, was created with the objective of informing, communicating and educating communities about the Zika virus and the main prevention methods, and seeks to generate community dialogues, collect and dissipate the main rumors and doubts which the Zika virus generates in the affected population.
SUGGESTED LINKS www.ifrc.org @ifrc_es @ifrc_es IFRC IFRC
RADIO SHOW
VOICES OF THE AMERICAS Thursday2:00 PM
http://www.amcross.org/radio.html
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ďƒŚ Contact information
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Americas Regional Office Diana Medina, Communication Manager | diana.medina@ifrc.org Diana Arroyo, Communication Senior Officer | diana.arroyo@ifrc.org