#40 saving lives changing minds - international federation · saving lives, changing minds. 2 / ......

#40April - May

2014Saving Lives Changing MindsThe newsletter of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Pacific Regional Office

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www.ifrc.orgSaving lives, changing minds.

2 /International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiesSaving Lives Changing Minds / The newsletter of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Pacific Regional Office

Solomons in recovery

Long recovery after flash floods

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The banks of the Mataniko River, Honiara

Families are starting to return to their homes in Honiara and surrounding plains after the worst floods in Solomon Islands’ history struck the capital in early April. The floods killed 21 people with more missing, washed away homes and property, and disrupted the lives of more than 50,000 people – 10 percent of the country’s population.

The homes of 2,000 people were completely destroyed by floodwaters and families face months of waiting to know when and where they will be allowed to rebuild. The impact can still be seen at every turn along the Mataniko River and in hundreds of communities affected in the Guadalcanal plains.

Higher ground

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Michael and Stella Okar want to move to higher ground

“The river came up like a monster – everything was gone in about 15 minutes. This place was beautiful, but now it just looks terrible, ” says Michael Okar. Like many around him, Michael and his partner Stella are slowly cleaning up the place where their house once stood on the banks of the Mataniko River, Honiara. Michael and Stella don’t want to permanently rebuild on the land on the edge of the river, which rose up, full of houses, trunks and debris. They ran for safety to their neighbours up the bank and watched their home get ripped from its foundations and break up as it hit the coconut trees 30 metres downstream. “We eventually want to move away to higher ground, it’s just too frightening for us now. Our teenage son won’t live back here again,” Michael said.

Help on the way

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Bethlyn Tororo, with her children, opens a Red Cross box with much needed supplies in Ngalimera village, Guadalcanal Plains.

The IFRC has launched an emergency appeal to deliver humanitarian assistance to more than 60,000 people over the next nine months. It focuses on safe drinking water and sanitation, shelter kits, essential supplies and hygiene kits, disease prevention and health promotion. Red Cross teams are travelling the flood-affected dirt roads in Guadalcanal Plains to truck in clean drinking water and relief supplies, where more than 40,000 people were affected.

3 /International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Saving Lives Changing Minds / The newsletter of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Pacific Regional Office

Solomons in recovery

No place to call home

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Margaret Oma with her family

Still sleeping in an open-air shelter with three other families in the Fopa evacuation centre in Honiara, Margaret Oma has no idea what her family’s future holds. She arrived at the centre with her husband and four children a month ago with only the clothes on their backs: “As the floodwaters rose we grabbed our children and started to carry them through the rising water – we carried two children each and had to cross the streams where the water was up to our necks. The floods took away our home.”

Red Cross teams have:• Treated 1.3 million litres of water for evacuation

centres and affected communities in Honiara, reaching 10,200 people.

• Treated 0.5 million litres of treated water for the most affected communities in Guadacanal Province

• Installed 100 ‘tippy taps’ for hand washing in Honiaraevacuation centres and 50 more in other parts of Guadalcanal

• Provided hygiene kits and hygiene promotion messages to 12,100 flood survivors.

Support for Kerema

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Agnes Guliwa, Ngalimera village, Guadalcanal Plains

“The biggest problem is the loss of our food gardens – they will take at least two to three months before we can harvest our local food again,” says Agnes Guliwa from Ngalimera village. She and her husband John lost most of their belongings when their home was inundated with mud and floodwater: “Everything was floating – even the chickens and pigs were taken away with the flood. Many died but some survived and we found them stuck in the mud in the forest.” says Agnes.

Many food gardens were flooded and water sources contaminated. These are often the only source of food for families across the Guadalcanal plains. Only a third of the 1,770 households Red Cross assessed in Guadalcanal Plains have access to a clean water. While all homes in Ngalimera are still standing, every family has been affected. A Red Cross truck arrived at Agnes Guliwa’s village on April 30, bringing tarps and tools, kitchen equipment, hygiene materials, bedding and mosquito nets to 42 families.


A chance to rise up

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Jackie Kelly finds his voice at an outdoor education program in New Zealand

A new outdoor education program on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island is bringing out the best in quiet kids like Jackie Kelly from Gisborne, who might otherwise prefer to play alone.

“I enjoyed walking to Cooks Cove, riding in the army truck and jumping off Tolaga Bay wharf,” says Jackie, who was one of 26 children aged between 10 and 12 nominated by their schools to take part in the Rise Up – Tairawhiti programme. Started this year, Rise Up is organised by New Zealand Red Cross, New Zealand Police, New Zealand Army and other organisations. It teaches a range of new skills, from problem solving to working as a team. Jackie has already put his name down for the 2015 programme and is excited to see what next year will bring.

Te Wharau school deputy Principal Linda Savage says her students that took part in Rise Up were still raving about their experience: “It’s so good to hear normally quiet children absolutely buzzing and raving about what they’d done. The only negative thing was that the programme had to end.”

School field days in Micronesia

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Volunteers attend to students at the school field day in Utwe, Kosrae State.

School’s out in the Federated States of Micronesia. As students took part in their annual field day events, Red Cross first aid volunteers stood by in the hot sun and pouring rain to help where they could. All six public elementary schools and the high school in Kosrae invited volunteers from Micronesia Red Cross Society’s emergency rescue team to attend events around the island.

For a few of the volunteers, it was their the first time as part of the emergency rescue team. “It is easy to notice their rookie enthusiasm and this is very encouraging for others who are thinking of becoming volunteers,” says Lydon Nena, who has been a volunteer for more than 10 years. Twenty-three volunteers attended to 11 incidences of fainting and applied dressings to 14 people who had cuts and scrapes, as well as attending to other soft tissue injuries.

The Movement in Action

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The Movement in Action

Lifestyle diseases on the rise

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First aid trainees learn to assess community health needs and encourage behaviour change

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and cancer now cause 80 per cent of deaths in the Pacific region, according to an Australian Red Cross review of health vulnerability in the Pacific. While health professionals are vital to treatment and care, experience tells us that Red Cross community health programmes can address a wider range of community health and social issues.

“When the community said they wanted exercise classes, they really wanted them,” says Danny Vakapora from Cook Islands Red Cross. “Everyone turned out. They took responsibility to start up the sessions and they organised a community hall.”

Australian Red Cross’ Pacific Regional Health Program strengthens community-based health programs by training National Society staff and volunteers in health programming. When they know what communities need, Pacific National Societies can design, implement and support programs that encourage behaviour change in a way that is appropriate for local communities.

Complex change takes time

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Fewer one-off programs, more longer-term partnerships: report

In the last ten years the Pacific has moved away from single, one-off programs to longer-term partnerships for development, according to the Pacific Organisational Strengthening Report by the Australian Red Cross.

To better respond to the needs of the Pacific region, Australian Red Cross and its Pacific sister Red Cross Societies have adapted their programming, with teams investing more in reflections, reviews and evaluations to help provide evidence of what approaches work in particular contexts.

In many cases, this approach is leading to stronger partnerships and discussions about organisational development. In some cases, there are constraints and room for improvement: the report provides a critical analysis of what is good and bad for organisational and capacity development. To obtain a copy of the study, contact Donna: [email protected].

What does success look like in the Pacific?The study identified 13 success factors for working in the Pacific:• Long-term engagement• A strategic approach• Flexibility• A holistic approach• A ‘grass roots’ focus• Realistic and joint assessment of capacity• Projects developed based upon the capacities of

supporting partners• Initiatives based upon the comparative advantages

of the Red Cross Movement• Good coordination• Strengthen the capacity of groups, not just

individuals• Provide assets, not just training• Seek flexible long-term funds

Working together

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mailto:dwebb%40redcross.org.au.?subject=Pacific%20Organisational%20Strengthening%20Report


Communities trained in disasters and first aid

A choking demonstration during first aid training in the Federated States of Micronesia

Two communities in the Federated States of Micronesia are better prepared for disaster and more able to offer first aid when it’s needed, thanks to recent training by the Micronesia Red Cross Society.

The mayor of Kolonia, Pohnpei State, hand-picked 13 participants, including government officials, to complete the two five-day training courses. In Sokehs municipality 18 people were selected by the chief magistrate for training. Residents of Nett municipality undertake the course in early June. This is the first time that the National Society has combined training in community disaster response in the same session with first aid. This is an important step toward strengthening this combination of core skills that are often used by staff and volunteers during emergency times.

Family assessments during community disaster training.

Support for tribal conflict area

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First aid training for the Kombia tribe in Sumbura.

People caught up in tribal conflict in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea received much-needed relief items from the PNG Red Cross Society earlier this year. The ICRC also teamed up with National Society staff to deliver first-aid training to Kombia tribe members in Kagua Erave district in Sumbura, and shared information about international humanitarian law.

Bougainville received a visit from ICRC earlier this year, joining with the local Red Cross branch to organise workshops about tracing missing people in Arawa and Buka, to raise awareness about restoring family links.

First aid for corporates in PNG

Inter Oil employees learn about first aid for bullet wounds.Five companies participated in first aid training in Papua New Guinea recently, with 60 participants now skilled in wounds and bleeding and other common injuries.

Working together



Radio training, over

High frequency radio training in Vanuatu

Knowing how to use a high frequency radio can make a difference to vulnerable communities in times of crisis and in ‘peace time’ as well, according to the Vanuatu Red Cross Society. Volunteers and staff now know the basics of high frequency radio, thanks to a workshop run by French Red Cross in May. The radios are used by branches and sub-branches to communicate, particularly during disasters. Staff can now understand and access the special frequencies used during disaster to help with rapid response.

Low cost, low-tech, high reward

Marshall Islands Red Cross finds low-cost ways to get communities involved

Staff and volunteers at the world’s youngest National Society, Marshall Islands Red Cross, have found creative, low-cost, low-tech ways to introduce the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and humanitarian activities to communities.

Taking advantage of the IFRC drought response in Mejit island, local Red Cross staff and volunteers have organised:• A free movie night: to bring people together for fun

and a preview documentary about Red Cross.• Safe water classes in school: which could be more

useful if part of a larger school program.• Wise water use: free biscuits, coffee and t-shirts

were given to community volunteers for help installing new rainwater tanks and gutters as part of the IFRC drought response.

• ‘Did you know’ posters: shared in communities in English and Marshallese.

Working together


Tautu community in the Cook Islands prepares for disasters and climate change

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First activities under the FINPAC project in Cook Islands

The first pilot under the FINPAC (Finnish Pacific) Project was initiated with Tautu community in the outer island of Aitutaki in April. The regionally coordinated meteorological project targeting the adaptation needs of communities to the effects of climate change is a collaboration between the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), IFRC, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, the University of the South Pacific (USP), national met services, national disaster management offices and Red Cross national societies in 11 countries.

In Tautu the activities have focused on community led assessment of vulnerabilities and capacities through mapping; collating assessment findings and defining actions to address risks; increasing awareness about weather and climate information, including short and medium term forecasts and long term climate change information. The community identified that the main hazards they face are drought and cyclones and confirmed that some of the language in weather and climate forecasts is difficult to understand. Some suggestions from the community on simplifying weather information included converting time to Cook Islands time, converting knots to kilometres per hour, listing cyclone strenght.

Tautu community has developed an action plan which includes no and low cost actions that can be taken before, during and after a disaster. There are potential projects within the action plan that could be implemented with additional support and will be targered in the next phase of the project in the Cook Islands. At this point the chosen priority project of the community is the establishment of an emergency operations room.

The FINPAC Project will be introduced to Tuvalu in July and to Tonga and the Marshall Islands later in 2014.

New technologies and the future battlefield From remote controlled drones to robots and soldier-machine interfaces, technologies that were once in the realm of science fiction are now appearing on the battlefield.

The potential legal, ethical and humanitarian impacts of these new battlefield technologies is the focus of a series of forums, which bring together the ICRC, Australian Red Cross and Australia’s defence force and legal community. “As states develop new means or methods of warfare, it’s vital that they comply with international humanitarian law,” said Yvette Zegenhagen, national manager of IHL, Movement Relations and Advocacy.

In Melbourne, panellists discussed some of the emerging issues for the laws of war, such as gene therapy and human enhancement. The panel examined the growing use of virtual training tools in the military, and the opportunities that video games provide for IHL training and education.

Learn moreWatch the discussion about new technologies and the future battlefield:http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/event/2014/06-05-human-enhancement-australia.htm

Asia Pacific Conference coming soonPlanning is well underway for the 9th Asia Pacific Conference in Beijing in October. The agenda is taking shape: The eight workshops themes are partnerships, climate change and urbanisation to community resilience and civil military relations during national disasters.

National Societies are encouraged to include a youth representative in their delegations, for the youth summit that will be held just before the conference and to participate in the conference itself. At the youth summit delegates will discuss the challenges faced by young people in their regions, and will work on a plan of action for use on their return home.

Find out moreFor any questions related to the Asia Pacific Conference, write to [email protected]

Working together Learning together

http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/event/2014/06-05-human-enhancement-australia.htm

http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/event/2014/06-05-human-enhancement-australia.htm

mailto:conference.asiapacific%40ifrc.org?subject=9th%20Asia%20Pacific%20Conference



Keep learning online

The new IFRC eLearning module includes a simulated emergency response.

Red Cross staff and volunteers can learn about public health in emergencies online as the IFRC adds new modules to its Learning Platform. Trainees can find out how to become a mission assistant for emergency health, deepen their understanding of disasters and rapid health assessments, and take part in a simulated emergency response.

More modules in emergency health will be added later this year: water, sanitation and hygiene assessment, psychosocial support and mental health, and sexual and reproductive health. Training in cholera management is also on the way through a partnership with an international organisation.

Take the courseThe first five modules of the eLearning course are available to volunteers, staff and delegates on the IFRC Learning Platform. Follow this link: http://bit.ly/1qafr4m

Eager to learn more?Learn about non-communicable diseases with this toolkit including a facilitator guide and volunteer manual.https://fednet.ifrc.org/en/resources/health/ncd/tools/

Take the new IFRC/Diplo Foundation’s Humanitarian Diplomacy course. http://www.diplomacy.edu/Courses/Humanitarian

Learning together

National Society developmentA new course has been launched for any person responsible for influencing National Society development – from within the society or as a partner. This hour-long training is made up of four episodes that reflect major issues facing many National Societies today, including their identity, their sustainability, and how they interact with partners.

Within each episode the learner, playing the role of secretary general of Normalia Red Cross, addresses a number of decisions, drawing on advice and background documents. The course links to relevant real-life case studies from within the Movement.

Available on the IFRC learning platform: https://ifrc.csod.com/client/ifrc/default.aspx

http://bit.ly/1qafr4m%20%20

http://bit.ly/1qafr4m%20%20

https://fednet.ifrc.org/en/resources/health/ncd/tools/%20

http://www.diplomacy.edu/Courses/Humanitarian%20%20

https://ifrc.csod.com/client/ifrc/default.aspx

https://ifrc.csod.com/client/ifrc/default.aspx


How to influence people

Lessons in humanitarian diplomacy in Vanuatu

Persuading decision-makers and opinion leaders to act in the interests of vulnerable people is easier for the team at the Vanuatu Red Cross Society, after a three-day workshop in humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy from the IFRC. The first ‘Pacific People of Influence’ workshop helped to enhance knowledge of humanitarian diplomacy, advocacy and the National Society’s auxiliary role to government. It was developed by the IFRC’s Pacific Regional Office after a request for more Pacific-specific tools to support National Societies.

The workshop also aims to strengthen the National Society´s focus on grassroots advocacy: working alongside communities, listening to their needs and finding possible solutions through advocacy from the bottom up. Sessions draw upon Pacific experiences, existing traditional ways of interaction, and specific issues that National Societies face in the region. The workshop focuses on how National Societies can build capacity to effectively reflect and advocate for their community challenges and problems to those at both the grassroots and government level.

The Vanuatu Red Cross Society hopes to use humanitarian diplomacy to raise its own profile and strengthen its auxiliary role with government, and inspire public and governmental support and resources for humanitarian action. The French Red Cross funded the workshop with ECHO project funding and the IFRC Asia-Pacific Zone Humanitarian Diplomacy Programme also provided support.

Learn about humanitarian diplomacy

You can use humanitarian diplomacy to bring public and governmental support and resources to the people who need it most in your country. Consider bringing the ‘Pacific People of Influence’ three-day workshop to your community. Encourage partnerships, and get involved in advocacy, negotiation, communication, formal agreements and other types of humanitarian diplomacy.

Designed with Pacific audiences in mind, the ‘Pacific People of Influence’ workshops are dynamic, visual and entertaining, translating key concepts into practical activities and identifying challenges with possible solutions through advocacy.

If you would like to host the ‘Pacific People of Influence’ three-day workshopContact Finau [email protected] or Ismael [email protected] for more information.

Learning together

mailto:finau.limuloa%40ifrc.org?subject=%27Pacific%20People%20of%20Influence%27%20Workshop

mailto:ismael.lara%40ifrc.org?subject=%27Pacific%20People%20of%20Influence%27%20Workshop



What’s on your mind: survey results

The results are in. We asked you what you think of Saving Lives Changing Minds newsletter in a survey earlier this year, and 85 people responded, 10 per cent from outside the Movement: “I can see what other sister National Societies are doing and can ask them for comments, support and recommendations to help support our activities,” says one respondent.

What you like: You say the newsletter contributes to your understanding of the Movement, disaster risk management and health programming in particular. More than 84 percent of respondents say they use the newsletter as a learning tool and like to hear ‘lessons learned’ by others. Forty six per cent of respondents share the newsletter with others.

What you want to see: You said you want to read more about challenges and lessons learned, and how other National Societies overcome them. A number of respondents requested more volunteer and staff profiles. Other suggestions included stories from beneficiaries, letters to the editor, handy hints to print and share with communities and training and events.

What we can do better: Some National Societies find it difficult to share their stories because of time constraints, limited support with writing and not knowing how to submit stories. We will try to find different ways to collect stories from a wider reach of Pacific National Societies, to give voice to smaller, more vulnerable communities.

What we do: Development workWe are well known for our vital relief work in disasters and crises, and the Movement remains committed to being the world’s leading humanitarian actor. However, the Red Cross Red Crescent is present not just during disasters, but also much beforehand and long afterwards.

What does Red Cross development work look like?

National Societies around the world provide a large and long-running range of local and national services. They include disease prevention and health promotion, water and sanitation, blood donor recruitment, food and nutrition, disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, social assistance. National Societies also provide protection for poor, vulnerable, and marginalised groups by promoting social inclusion and a culture of non-violence and peace.

What is the Red Cross and Red Crescent niche?

The Red Cross Red Crescent presence arises from within local communities organised through our National Societies that mobilise local people to respond to their own needs, through local branches and units. These call upon the services of millions of volunteers with many different types of skills. Each National Society has a unique, long-established and legally-defined auxiliary partnership with its government. This gives the National Society a privileged place at decision-making tables and access to resources to address national vulnerability. Red Cross and Red Crescent services are underpinned by the Fundamental Principles and values that we have developed over a long period. We continue to inspire toward the setting of global norms, raising standards, shaping codes of conduct and establishing legal frameworks.

Across the world, the Red Cross and Red Crescent mobilises volunteers to promote safe and healthy communities.


Flood survivor never late for work

“I had to be strong for my family”

During the day, Honiara local Fiona Tafea Tuanisia is a smiling volunteer with Solomon Islands Red Cross, going out into the community to help people who lost everything in the April floods. After work, she returns to the evacuation centre where her two children and her father are still sheltering after the floods swallowed their home.

“If I don’t work, I wouldn’t be helping my family; one of us had to be strong to help my family move on despite our tragic loss,” says Fiona. She always arrives at work on time, despite her difficult situation. She very nearly lost her family forever. When the flood came howling through the streets of Honiara, Fiona was away in West Guadalcanal doing first aid training for Solomon Islands Red Cross. Her father was minding her two children when he heard neighbours shouting for people to run to higher ground. The water was at their doorstep when he picked up his grandchildren and waded to the main road. They escaped only with the clothes they were wearing.

It took Fiona two days to find her family and she also had to wade through flood waters to be with them. Together they relocated to Rove Police Club evacuation centre and they are still there, awaiting government assistance.

A helping hand from Vava’u

Pesa (far left) volunteers with the Tonga first aid service during the Vava’u Intercollege Sports competition.

In three years as a volunteer, Pesalili Tu’a has developed ‘the Red Cross passion’. The 23-year-old from Vava’u remembers becoming a volunteer: “I was nominated by my town officer to attend a district emergency response team training. I said, okay, I will go and attend so I can make new friends and see what is the Red Cross training is all about.”

Since that day, Pesa has taken on increasing responsibility: “I have found joy in participating in a lot of Red Cross activities such as World First Aid Day when we painted the road signs in Vava’u to ensure road safety. I have also been part of a first aid team providing stand by first aid services to sports events and I have been tasked with another volunteer to look after our warehouse”. Pesa also provides training to emergency response team members.

In January this year Pesa was deployed from Vava’u to the island of Ha’apai a day after tropical cyclone Ian hit Ha’apai. During that time he led part of the assessment and distribution team, assessing the immediate needs and dispensing relief items to the affected families in Ha’apai. “I have no plans to stop volunteering, I only have plans to do more. I see the impact of my work especially during a disaster, when I distribute relief items, I see families smiling. So definitely no stopping. I guess I have the Red Cross passion”

Red Cross people



Red Cross people

Welcomes and farewells

In the Pacific we welcome to Cathy Wong, the new President of the Fiji Red Cross. Mrs Wong is the Physiotheraphy Director at Suva Physio Centre.

Farewell to long-serving Australian Red Cross managers Dr Helen Durham, who takes up the ICRC role as director of international law and policy from 1 July, and Rebecca Dodd, national manager of IHL, who is moving to Geneva to lead the Movement-wide fundamental principles project for the IFRC. Welcome to Dr Phoebe Wynn-Pope as director of IHL and movement relations, and Yvette Zegenhagen as the new national manager of IHL, movement relations and advocacy at Australian Red Cross. Welcome Gwen Tovosia to Solomon Islands Red Cross as the dissemination and communication officer.

Goodbye and thanks to Paul Grierson, Disaster Management delegate to the IFRC regional office in Suva. Paul completed his two-year mission. Farewell to Shobi Lata, who served for three years as a finance officer to the IFRC regional office in Suva.

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