In Ethiopia, the rainy season has just begun. It is at this time that the members of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) actively engage in humanitarian activities and voluntarism.
Solomon Ali, Head at Humanitarian Diplomacy Communication and Governance Affairs in ERCS, told The Ethiopian Herald that ERCS finalized preparation to support vulnerable communities who are affected by man-made or natural disaster through voluntarism.
“We are organizing voluntary services with stakeholders. Austria, Qatar, Spain, China, Canada, Denmark, Netherland and Finland are providing financial support to ERCS for its voluntary services,” he said.
ERCS has been organizing its activities as per the principles of the Geneva Conventions which are set to protect human beings’ dignity in times of crisis. Universality is the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide.
It has been delivering humanitarian services to vulnerable communities through coordination with stakeholders in the principle of universality. Hence, humanitarian services must be open to all. As to him, professional voluntary service and financial support are key to implement the aim of the ERCS.
Solomon said ERCS is working hard to contribute its part in creating a resilient community through the implementation of various development projects at selected places in the country. The projects implemented mainly include community resilience, food security, and water sanitation and hygiene-related activities.
The ERCS provides free ambulance emergency services and initial medical assistance or first aid assistance for more than 500 thousand citizens every year. And in the last three and four months, 50 million birr of aid has been donated to 345000 displaced citizens in the areas of Guji and
Amhara.
In addition to this, annually, Red Cross Drug Stores are providing or supplying four million citizens with access to basic medicines at low cost. “Again, annually, ERCS is providing support of 500 million USD to one million vulnerable citizens due to natural and manmade disasters,” said Solomon. “Besides the financial support, it is also providing psychosocial support.”
ERCS is selling tickets worth of 1000 to 2000 birr and the income will be used to support to increase the number of people who are involved in voluntarism.
Mohammed Deda, Volunteers, Branch and Development Department Head at ERCS on his said as the rainy season is starting, ERCS has been registering volunteers to provide humanitarian services starting from July 1.
It is expected that one million volunteers would be registered online and take part in humanitarian activities. The volunteers would extensively take part in educating street children, taking care of elders, and delivering urban hygiene, ambulance, and environmental protection services and so on.
“We will deploy volunteers into various voluntary service especially vulnerable communities who are displaced from their homes due to political issues.”
ERCS has 11 regional branches, and currently, it is composed of 34 Zonal and 190 Woreda branches as well more than 680 Red Cross Committees. Using these branches, ERCS is organizing local youths so that they support their communities.
Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) is members and volunteers based humanitarian organization. Currently, ERCS has 5.5 million members and 47,000 volunteers.
The Ethiopian Herald July 4/2019
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
