SARCS marks World Red Cross Day in May

The events have been presented live on Radio 104.9Fm each morning since 4 May at 10.40am. Ronnie Lawrence a spokesperson for Red Cross has been calling in live from various community locations where Red Cross is active, to talk about the work of the society in the areas and promoting a fundraising lunch to be held on 8 May at the Northlink College to raise funds for the society's work in the province.

The World Red Cross Day 2009 celebrates the 150th anniversary of the battle of Solferino - the birthplace of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. It also marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as well as celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Convention.

In acknowledging the many challenges our world faces in terms of disasters, health, environment, food security, the financial crisis and so on, the movement is launching the “Our World. Your Move” campaign. It is a call to action to everyone to make a personal commitment to humanitarian concerns. The official launch of the programme in South Africa will take place in Johannesburg on 8 May 2009.

SARCS Western Cape through its branches and local committees serves the various communities in the Western Cape all year round through relief operations responding to mainly fires, floods and other emergencies. It also operates a home-based care programme, and youth programme in vulnerable areas.
SARCS carries out first aid training and disseminates information on its humanitarian values - humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality - to all the beneficiaries of its programmes. Most of the operations in the communities are carried out by Red Cross volunteers from the various areas who are committed to helping others.

In 2008, SARCS Western Cape provided approximately 150,000 meals to refugees temporarily sheltered across 15 stations during its urban violence operation from May to September. In the period of September to December 2008 alone, the society responded to 1794 fires and reached out to a total of 9,432 beneficiaries across the Western Cape. A total of 8979 blankets were distributed and SARCS helped a total of 6500 displaced persons, while 7520 meals were served to flood victims. These interventions continue in 2009 as the cold cape winter sets in bringing more flooding and fires.

The Red Cross was formally established in South Africa in 1921 with the amalgamation of various local entities throughout the country. In 1859, the compassionate Swiss Banker Henry Dunant of Geneva was moved to help the casualties of the battle of Solferino in Northern Italy, “with no thought given to which army's soldiers they were”. Thus the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement was born. Having evolved through war and peacetime, the movement currently has 181 National Societies working closely with governments throughout the world. As disasters become more frequent and new health challenges arise, the Red Cross and Red Crescent calls on everyone to act in response to the humanitarian challenges of today.

SARCS Western Cape works closely with the Provincial and Local Government in carrying out its mandates and receives support from the government as well as the corporates, small business, faith-based organisations, institutions and the general public.