News of interest to ARCRA members

American humanitarian and businesswoman, Kate Forbes, was elected the new President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) December 11. 

Kate Forbes's election as President of the IFRC is a historic moment, marking her as only the second woman to hold this position. This milestone underscores the IFRC's continued commitment to diversity and gender equality in its leadership.

Upon her election, Forbes said, “Communities around the world are witnessing the impacts of climate change, geopolitical tensions and health emergencies. We know the challenges of our modern world demand addressing multiple issues at once. Now is the time to lean into our fundamental principles to deliver on our mission and make communities stronger.”

Forbes's presidency marks a pivotal shift towards addressing the complexities of the modern world. A key area of focus under her leadership will be tackling the urgent issues of climate change and migration. Local solutions and community empowerment are at the forefront of her agenda. She understands the critical role local actors play in humanitarian aid and is dedicated to working closely with local leaders to address their most pressing needs.

Additional priorities include youth engagement and financial sustainability. She aims to leverage the potential of young volunteers, acknowledging their crucial role in the organization. Strengthening relationships with governments and donors is a cornerstone of her vision for the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

The role of IFRC President is a volunteer position, one that Forbes is well-prepared for, given her extensive background. She comes with over four decades of experience with the IFRC network, beginning her journey as a local volunteer at the Phoenix chapter of the American Red Cross. These roles include Vice-Chairman of the American Red Cross Board of Directors and National Chairperson of Volunteers, where she managed over one million volunteers.

An auditor by training, Forbes has been a member of the IFRC Board for the past 17 years. She most recently served as Chairperson of the IFRC Audit and Risk Commission. In this role, she increased transparency, implemented stronger financial controls and established safeguarding policies across the organization. Kate Forbes's election as President is a significant step forward for the IFRC, signaling a new leadership ready to focus on integrity and accountability.

Photo Credit: IFRC

Armed conflicts are ongoing around the world. At times it may seem that there are no rules in war. However, there are rules in war, and they make a difference. Even War Has Rules is a dynamic discussion on international humanitarian law (IHL) and how it governs armed conflict. By the end of the class, participants will achieve a general understanding of IHL and will be better able to evaluate the actions of parties to armed conflicts.

Thursday, December 14, 2023 | 11:00 – 12:30 PM (PT) | 2:00 – 3:30 PM (ET)

Hosted by Red Cross instructor, Liz Dietz

Click here for general registration: https://tinyurl.com/EWHRDecember2023

If you are a Northern California Coastal Region Red Crosser, please click here to register: https://tinyurl.com/EWHRDecember2023NCCR

Join our December IHL discussion group to learn more about important current events and IFRC and ICRC responses to conflicts, disasters and forced migration through the people directly involved at locations around the world. Hear about such topics as the state of Ebola, the Syrian crisis, Iran and Venezuela, as well as news from right here in the U.S. 

Thursday, December 14, 2023 | 2 – 3:30 p.m. PT | 5 – 6:30 p.m. ET

Our special guest speaker is Dr. Janet Shriberg. Janet's Red Cross work includes support in both international and domestic responses. Janet's international assignments included her Red Cross work as an International Delegate to Venezuela following devastating mudslides in 1999, being an active member of the Family Links On Call Team (FLOC) & volunteering for a year with the family case management team at the Family Assistance Center in response to the events of 9-11.

Click here for general registration: https://tinyurl.com/IHLDec2023

If you are a Northern California Coastal Region Red Crosser, please click here to register: https://tinyurl.com/IHLDec2023NCCR

 [This event will not be recorded]

Join our November IHL discussion group to learn more about important current events and IFRC and ICRC responses to conflicts, disasters and forced migration through the people directly involved at locations around the world. Hear about such topics as the state of Ebola, the Syrian crisis, Iran and Venezuela, as well as news from right here in the U.S. 

Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 11 AM - 12:30 PM (PT) | 2 – 3:30 PM (ET)

Our special guest speaker is Susanna Soderstrom. Susanna spent over 25 years in the humanitarian and environmental sector, of which 15 within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC and IFRC). She has worked as a freelancer and entrepreneur since 2015. During Covid she collaborated virtually with several National Societies in developing women leaders in GLOW Red. In October, she worked with ICRC Facilitators on their skills using Foresight. She has been based in various countries, such as Lebanon, Croatia, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Click here for general registration: https://tinyurl.com/IHLNov2023 

If you are a NCCR Red Crosser, please click here to register: https://tinyurl.com/IHLNov2023NCCR 

Geneva (ICRC) — "Nothing can justify the horrific attacks Israel suffered last weekend. Our hearts go out to people who lost family members or are worried sick about loved ones taken hostage. We reiterate our call for their immediate release and stand ready to conduct humanitarian visits. But those attacks cannot in turn justify the limitless destruction of Gaza. The parties must not neglect their legal obligations regarding the methods and means used to wage war."

NEWS RELEASE 13 OCTOBER 2023 ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

The instructions issued by the Israeli authorities for the population of Gaza City to immediately leave their homes, coupled with the complete siege explicitly denying them food, water, and electricity, are not compatible with international humanitarian law.

When military powers order people to leave their homes, all possible measures must be taken to ensure the population has access to basic necessities like food and water and that members of the same family are not separated.

Gaza is a closed area of limited size and resources. People have nowhere safe to go and many, including the disabled, elderly, and sick, will not be able to leave their homes. International humanitarian law protects all civilians, including those who remain. Today, it is impossible for Gazans to know which areas will next face attack.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is scaling up to provide life-saving relief. But our teams will require pauses in the fighting to work safely and effectively. With a military siege in place, humanitarian organisations including the ICRC will not be able to assist such a massive displacement of people in Gaza. The needs are staggering, and humanitarian organizations must be able to increase aid operations.

The ICRC office in Gaza City received the same instructions to leave, as did other international organizations. We are extremely concerned for our colleagues in Gaza and their families. We remain committed to doing everything we can to provide humanitarian protection and assistance to the people of Gaza.

October 13, 2023

“The sudden outbreak of violent armed hostilities in Israel and Gaza is devastating for so many. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones and who are suffering as the devastating violence continues. "

The American Red Cross is guided by seven Fundamental Principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. As a humanitarian organization, these principles guide our actions every day and compel us to alleviate human suffering in the U.S. and around the world.  

The global Red Cross Movement serves as a neutral and impartial party to reach and help people when and where it is needed most. Over the past several days, Red Cross Red Crescent societies Magen David Adom in Israel and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society have been responding as the conflict has escalated, providing emergency assistance including health services, ambulance services and other critical needs. To ensure this lifesaving work, Red Cross and Red Crescent officials continue to call for medical transportation, health workers and facilities to be protected.   

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which has maintained a presence in the area for decades, stands ready to provide humanitarian assistance on both sides. Furthermore, the International Committee of the Red Cross underscores the importance of international humanitarian law and adherence to the Geneva Conventions to protect civilians, those detained and those working to save lives.   

In times of crisis, conflict and complexity, the American Red Cross leads with humanity and compassion in a world where we too often find pain and anguish. We remain committed to helping those in need. 

Additional information of note: 

For those trying to locate or get in touch with a U.S. citizen, please contact the U.S. Department of State Overseas Citizens Services Office call 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-641-0131 to connect to the coordinating group.   

During emergencies, the American Red Cross will ship blood products outside of the U.S. following a specific request from the U. S. State Department for U.S. citizens overseas, at the request of the United Nations, or at the request of the affected Red Cross or Red Crescent society abroad. We have not received requests for Israel or Gaza at this time. 

For those who wish to help people affected by the humanitarian crisis resulting from the October 2023 armed conflict in Israel and Gaza, we ask that they write “Middle East Humanitarian Crisis” in the memo line of a check and mail it with a completed donation form to the address on the form or to their local Red Cross chapter. Your donation will be used by the Red Cross Movement where it’s needed most to help all those in the impacted region.

Currently, the American Red Cross and our global Red Cross partners are not accepting donations of in-kind goods such as food, clothing or blankets. These items can be difficult to manage on the ground and divert resources from our mission. Other charitable organizations are better suited to manage such donations.  

For more information about how the global Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is assisting those affected, click here."  

Armed conflicts are ongoing around the world. At times it may seem that there are no rules in war. However, there are rules in war, and they make a difference. Even War Has Rules is a dynamic discussion on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and how it governs armed conflict. By the end of the class, participants will achieve a general understanding of IHL and will be better able to evaluate the actions of parties to armed conflicts.

Note: The webinar is  being hosted on Microsoft Teams so you will need to have access to Teams on your computer.

Monday, October 16, 2023 | 5:00 – 6:30 PM (PT) | 8:00 – 9:30 PM (ET)

This class will be instructed by Jill Hofmann and Kathy Sieu.

If you are a Northern California Coastal Region Red Crosser, please click here to register: https://tinyurl.com/EWHROctober2023NCCR

Click here for general registration: https://tinyurl.com/EWHROctober2023

Join the October IHL discussion group to learn more about important current events and IFRC and ICRC responses to conflicts, disasters and forced migration through the people directly involved at locations around the world. Hear about such topics as the state of Ebola, the Syrian crisis, Iran and Venezuela, as well as news from right here in the U.S. 

Thursday, October 19, 2023 | 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. (PT) | 5:00 – 6:30 (ET)

Guest speaker is Jenelle Eli.

Jenelle Eli is a humanitarian communicator who has spent a decade with the American Red Cross and Red Cross and Red Crescent network offering support during international emergencies. In an effort to amplify the stories of disaster survivors, Jenelle has deployed to crises such as Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas and the Ukraine conflict, as well as two stints aboard refugee rescue ships in the Mediterranean Sea. Before joining the Red Cross, Jenelle worked with organizations advocating for refugees in the US and India.

Note: The webinar is being hosted on Microsoft Teams so you will need to have access to Teams on your computer.

Click here for general registration: https://tinyurl.com/IHLOctober2023

If you are a Northern California Coastal Region Red Crosser, please click here to register: https://tinyurl.com/IHLOctober2023NCCR

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Published in Military.com Sep 14, 2023 by Stephen Ruiz

Sixteen years before she founded the American Red Cross, Clara Barton established the Missing Soldiers Office in 1865. The office strived to determine what happened to Union troops that had gone missing or were captured during the Civil War. (Wikimedia Commons)

A former schoolteacher working as a clerk for the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C., Barton would find it during the Civil War. A week after Fort Sumter was attacked, Confederate sympathizers assaulted a Union regiment from Massachusetts, Barton's home state, near Baltimore. The unit included some of her former students.

Blood donations urgently needed for hospital patients in wake of back-to-back climate disasters and critical summer shortfall

The American Red Cross national blood supply has fallen to critically low levels—dropping nearly 25%-- since early August, and potentially threatening the medical care of patients with an emergency need for blood, or those living with critical conditions such as cancer and sickle cell disease and who depend on lifesaving blood transfusions. Back-to-back months of worsening climate-driven disasters have further strained the blood supply, resulting in blood drive cancelations and reducing much needed blood and platelet donations in affected areas.

Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, and there is an emergency need for platelet donors and type O blood donors to make an appointment to give now to ensure patients across the country continue to receive critical medical care. To make an appointment to give blood or platelets, donors can use the Red Cross Blood App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Red Cross is closely monitoring Hurricane Lee and its potential impact to communities in the Northeast later this week—which may further hamstring the organization’s ability to collect lifesaving blood products during this critical time. Just a couple weeks ago, Hurricane Idalia slammed into the southeastern U.S. causing more than 700 units of blood and platelets to go uncollected. This compounds other challenges experienced by the organization this summer to collect a sufficient number of blood products. Donor turnout in August dropped on the heels of one of the busiest travel seasons on record and back-to-school activities, contributing to a 30,000-donation shortfall in August alone.

“For so many patients living with urgent medical care needs, crises don’t stop with natural disasters,” said Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer for the American Red Cross. “In fact, in some instances the stress of a disaster can lead to a medical crisis for some individuals battling sickle cell disease. The need for blood is constant. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood---an often-invisible emergency that the rest of the world doesn’t see behind closed hospital doors. Now, that urgency has only heightened.”

Right now, blood product distributions to hospitals are outpacing the number of blood donations. Approximately 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country rely on the Red Cross to collect 12,5000 blood donations each day to meet the needs of their patients.

Read more at redcross.org