Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies - 16 December 2003
"The International Federation has never before devoted such a significant percentage of its annual appeal to supporting health programmes. This reflects a profound change in the approach of an organization which has built its reputation on responding to natural disasters. Clearly our member Red Cross and Red Crescent societies are more focussed on the fact that around 13 million people die each year from infectious diseases. Last year, 24,500 people died from natural disasters," said secretary general, Markku Niskala.
The appeal aims to channel support to some 100 countries including over 40 countries in Africa where 79.3 million Swiss francs is needed. Scaling up against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa is a key concern for many Red Cross and Red Crescent societies as well as tackling measles and polio. The second largest region appealed for is Asia where 60 million Swiss francs is being sought which includes significant support to health structures in Afghanistan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Guest speaker at the Geneva launch to diplomatic missions, Dr. Massimo Barra, board member of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said: "I have witnessed a major change in the humanitarian world over the last five years. The creation of the Global Fund was an acknowledgement that existing mechanisms to fund and co-ordinate the international community's response to global health emergencies was not good enough. The evolution we have seen in the International Federation's appeal is another positive response to this same realization."
The appeal launch also stressed the importance of risk reduction and disaster preparedness measures in national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies worldwide. "We are seeking major support for disaster management around the world. Fewer people may have died as a result of natural disasters last year but over 600 million people's lives were disrupted," said Abbas Gullet, Federation director of disaster management.
Major funding is also being sought to strengthen national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in the developing world. "Capacity building at national level is an essential part of our work as a Federation and we have seen the importance of having indigenous Red Cross and Red Crescent response mechanisms in places as diverse as the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia," said the International Federation secretary general, Markku Niskala.
For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:
Denis McClean, Head, Media Service - Tel: + 41 22 730 44 28 / + 41 79 217 33 57 Media Service duty phone - Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81
The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
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