BY STYLE REPORTER
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) yesterday joined the global Red Cross family in commemorating World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.
The celebrations are being commemorated under the theme Together we are #unstoppable.
It is a day dedicated to staff and volunteers of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement that are reaching and supporting people affected by disasters.
Amid the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, ZRCS staff and volunteers have been supporting communities during food insecurity interventions, cyclone-induced floods, water and sanitation, emergency preparedness and response, youth sexual and reproductive health rights advocacy, schools safety programmes, first aid and health care, among others.
“In this past year, Covid-19 has brought fear and disruption into the lives of people across the world and Zimbabwe has not been spared. This has changed the lives of people who were already affected by food insecurity, floods and limited access to quality but affordable medical services,” Elias Hwenga, ZRCS secretary-general, said.
Hwenga applauded the work done by the volunteers describing their commitment as “unstoppable”.
The movement is comprised of 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies with 160 000 local branches and around 14 million volunteers worldwide, the presidents of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
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Francesco Rocca, president of the IFRC, said: “There are many serious global challenges to address, such as Covid-19, the climate crisis, and support for people on the move.
“But today we have some 14 million reasons to celebrate: our unstoppable volunteers. Every individual act of kindness and support matters – regardless of how small it may seem. This collective local action has a massive global impact every day.”
Peter Maurer, (ICRC), said: “Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers are on the front line of every crisis, sometimes at risk to their own safety. They work relentlessly, with and for communities to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the worst of situations, in armed conflict, disasters and other humanitarian crises.
“World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is our opportunity to pay them tribute, they are making a difference all over the world every day and ensure no one is left behind.”
