The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Anambra State branch, has restated its commitment to disaster management in the state and called for support to strengthen humanitarian interventions.
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The state chairman, Professor Charity Ifeyinwa Emelie made the statement at Red Cross state headquarters in Amawbia, Awka the state capital, during a press briefing to mark the World Red Cross day.
According to Emelie, “This year’s commemoration event is themed: “Keeping humanity alive” which simply means understanding and kindness towards to other people and keeping hope alive.”
She listed the fundamental principles of Red Cross to include humanity, impartiality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality, which summed up its movement ethics and core mission.
Professor Emelie also stressed that the society as a first time responder to disaster management had carried out emergency management, both in cash transfers and humanitarian efforts in communities in Anambra West, Orumba, Anambra North, Ogbaru and Awka North local government areas of the state.
She said, “The mission of the Nigerian Red Cross is to alleviate the situation of the vulnerable people which include those affected by disaster, epidemics, armed conflicts and the poorest communities in both urban and rural areas among whom are women, children, aged, displaced and vulnerable people.
“It is the world Red Cross Day which is done in commemoration of the birth of the founder, Jean Henry Dunant, a Swiss citizen born on May 8, 1928 in Geneva, Switzerland.
“The theme for this year is “Keeping humanity alive” Humanity simply means understanding and kindness towards other people. Alive means still in existence or to keep hope alive. This is exactly what we do in Red Cross and Red Crescent.
“Summarily, we prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. The theme is a cumulative appraisal of the entire activities of the Red Cross Movement in a precise and concise format. On this note, we are drawing the attention of our dear governor, patron and father to rural and disaster prone areas of the state where necessities of life which will keep humanity alive are not all availed to the people.”
On the issue of flooding, she said the Red Cross was fully prepared to offer humanitarian and operational interventions to mitigate flood disasters in communities affected by flooding in the state.
“We are committed to flood disaster prevention and management in the state even as the rainy season approaches. Highlights of our operations in the state include emergency response to every emergency with a strategic and professional approach to every situation. Assessment of situations like flood, danger and level of vulnerability within our communities.
“Distribution of relief items to households affected by flood communities in the state. Renovation of houses for flood affected victims in Ogbaru, Anambra East and West.
“We sensitise and do advocacy for the people in flood prone communities with the aim to mitigate flood disasters. We provide relief in times of disasters/emergencies, we reconnect families separated by crises, we help to rebuild communities devastated by disasters, we promote health and care of the vulnerable people and communities,” she added.
The Red Cross state chairman appreciated governor Soludo and his wife for their numerous support and called on individuals and organisations to support the Red Cross to effectively touch lives of the vulnerable.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the state executive secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross, Engineer Kingsley Okoye, appreciated the stakeholders for always supporting the Red Cross Society and urged them to do more.
Cutting of the commemoration cake by Red Cross state chairman, some of her executives and various stakeholders, climaxed the occasion.
