Monthly Update
August 2017

The Pacific and ASEAN: The road to strengthening community resilience

Despite many differences, both Southeast Asia and Pacific regions have one thing in common, they both face unprecedented risk posed by natural disasters and climate change. As such, a learning exchange on the” Development and Operationalisation of Regional Governance Frameworks on Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation” between the Pacific Islands Forum and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), was facilitated by the IFRC in Jakarta, Indonesia from 24 to 25 August 2017. Click here to read more

From the Global Agenda Frameworks into practice at local level

The 2-day regional forum "Demystifying the Global Agenda Frameworks into Practice" was held from 29 to 30 August 2017 in Bangkok. The forum aimed to identify the challenges, linkages, and potential key entry points for integrating the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Agreement on Climate Change Adaptation, and the World Humanitarian Summit towards achieving a common goal of making communities resilient to disaster and climate risks in the Asia-Pacific region. Click here to read the key outcomes

Cross-border contingency planning between Thailand and Laos

With the common border which is highly disaster-prone, Thailand and Laos are working hand-in-hand to prepare for disasters, showcasing a solid peer-to-peer support. The Red Cross societies of Thailand and Laos came together in August 2017, in Nongkhai, Thailand, with their respective national authorities to discuss about common and potential risks, scenarios and develop contingency plans. Click here to read more

Building Urban Resilience in Southeast Asia (ECHO funded)

This month has seen many updates from the regional program, including Youth in School Safety training of facilitators in Laos, innovative public awareness and public education on disaster risk reduction in Vietnam, participatory vulnerability and capacity assessment at schools in the Philippines, and awareness raising activities on preventive messages on storms, lightning and fire in Cambodia. Click here to read more

Asia Pacific Disaster Resilience Center: Embracing innovative technologies and approaches in community disaster resilience

Bringing together different stakeholders from various fields and organizations, the Asia Pacific Disaster Resilience Centre (APDRC) held the '1st Interactive Innovation Workshop' last 11-12 May 2017 in Seoul, Korea. The workshop was attended by 57 participants representing 24 different organizations, including Indonesian and Philippine Red Cross to share their insights and best practices on innovation with Asia Pacific National Societies. This year’s workshop focused on different approaches to innovation, disaster resilience serious games and technology-based experimental learning. Click here to read more

Strengthening Disaster Resilience through 'Extreme Event': a disaster resilience game

As a part of its efforts to strengthen disaster resilience capacity locally in a fun and engaging way, the Asia Pacific Disaster Resilience Centre (APDRC) introduced “Extreme Event” at the Summer Camp Gathering for East Asia Red Cross Youth Members held on 24-28 July 2017, hosted by Mongolian Red Cross Society. 'Extreme Event' is an award winning in-person role-playing game trains skills in prioritizing resources, building coalitions, and adapting to changing circumstances. The game also enhances critical thinking and improves civic literacy related to disaster resilience. APDRC is putting together a pilot Extreme Event training package which will be tested by the Asia Pacific National Societies, and APDRC will be collecting feedbacks for further customization as part of its roll out. Click here for further information or contact apdrc@apdisasterresilience.org  

Red Cross and partners join forces to tackle sexual and gender-based violence

Sexual and gender-based violence tends to be heightened during disasters. In addressing this challenge, the IFRC and Philippine Red Cross organized a Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Emergencies training in Manila, which saw the participation of many Movement partners. The training was then followed by Southeast Asia Gender and Diversity Network meeting. Click here to read more

Singapore: More nurses in humanitarian efforts – locally and abroad

Thai Red Cross provides relief for flood affected communities

Since last July, the northeast region of Thailand has been affected and inundated by monsoons. As of 1 August 2017, a total of 5,366 villages in 43 provinces have been affected. The Thai Red Cross Society provided relief in the flooded areas after the heavy rain by distributing relief kits consisting of food, drinking water and useful daily items were distributed. Click to read more

Thai Red Cross prepares for the care and the support for elderly people in communities

Thailand is currently ranked the third most rapidly ageing population in the world. In 2015, over 10 percent of the Thai population (more than 7 million people), were 65 years old or older. Against this trend, the Thai Red Cross has been piloting two training modules: Elderly self care and elderly care by care givers. Following the series of training, a final evaluation meeting of capacity development for Thai Red Cross Volunteers has been conducted in Petchaburi, Thailand, during 23 to 24 August 2017. Click to read more

Grab taxi drivers training on basic First Aid in Phuket

Phuket as one of the most popular tourist spots in Thailand, saw its Grab taxi drivers trained on basic first aid in Thailand last August. A total of 11 male and 3 female Grab taxi drivers participated in the 6-hour first aid training, which included basic first aid procedures, bandaging hands, feet, head and arms sling, the wounds, choking, stroke, heart diseases, CPR-cardiopulmonary resuscitation, referral and transportation to hospitals which was facilitated by Thai Red Cross. The training is the 6th installation of the 12 basic first aid training course planned for this year. Click to read more

Viet Nam: Translating disaster law to community messages

Laws sometimes get a bad reputation for being inaccessible. But knowing the rights, roles and responsibilities provided in law is crucial, especially when it comes to community-level disaster risk management. Last week Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC), with support of IFRC, progressed the development of community-level dissemination modules through a wide stakeholder consultation of key messages drafted of the 2013 Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Law. Click to read more

Bangladesh: Mobile medical teams reach trapped flood survivors

The Bangladesh Red Crescent team, made up of a doctor, a nurse and two volunteers, is one of 20 working across Bangladesh to treat people in remote communities who have been cut off by flood water or damage to roads. The team travels by any means it can, from three-wheel taxi, to a tiny boat, often crossing bamboo footbridges, and all while carrying a sack of medical supplies. Click to read more

Regional Community Safety and Resilience Forum 2017 Report

The report details the key discussions and recommendations on: Sustainability of National Societies, engagement with ASEAN, 1 Billion Coalition, organizational development, youth and social inclusion, health and care, school safety, cross-border cooperation and global agenda frameworks. It also includes the road map for regional collaboration as an outcome of the forum. Click here to download

Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Disasters in ASEAN project – Progress Report July 2017

Youth Policy (2017)

This policy sets the standard in working with and for young people throughout the IFRC. It serves as a global point of reference to ensure consistency in decision-making and builds on and replaces the IFRC Youth Policy and Strategy (1991) and the IFRC Youth Policy (2011). National Societies are accountable to adhere to this policy by adapting it to their context, aligning their existing policy with it or developing a new policy respectively. Click here to download