Drought in North Korea could exacerbate ongoing hunger issues
An early seasonal drought in North Korea could exacerbate hunger, malnutrition and health problems for thousands of vulnerable people already facing food shortages, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said last week. Flagging the looming crisis, the Mohamed Babiker, the head of the IFRC in North Korea, said the organisation was “particularly concerned about the […]
As risks rise, too little is spent to avert disasters, say UN and Red Cross
Geneva, SwitzerlandThomson Reuters Foundation Governments and businesses are still investing far too little to protect poor communities at rising risk from wild weather and other threats, the heads of the UN disaster prevention agency and the Red Cross said Tuesday. Countries are having to dig deep to bail out crisis-hit communities – as happened after […]
Disease, hunger “alarmingly high” in drought-hit Pakistan, says Red Cross
Thomson Reuters Foundation One of the worst droughts in Pakistan’s history has triggered “alarmingly high” levels of malnutrition and disease in the hardest hit areas where people have been forced to drink salty or contaminated water, the Red Cross said on Friday. Women, especially those pregnant or breastfeeding, and children are particularly vulnerable to diarrhoea, […]
Millions of disaster victims left ‘hidden in the shadows’, says IFRC
Thomson Reuters Foundation Humanitarians must actively seek out millions of people who are hit by crises like floods, earthquakes but are left “hidden in the shadows” and without aid, the world’s largest relief network said on Wednesday. The United Nations estimates some 134 million people will require aid in 2018, but only about 97 million […]
Red Cross plans to fight disasters with fast funding
Thomson Reuters Foundation A fund launched by the Red Cross aims to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid before rather than after floods, droughts and other natural hazards hit, so as to reduce damage and trauma in some of the world’s most disaster-prone areas. The “Forecast-based Action Fund”, set up by the International Federation of Red Cross […]
Cholera kills 40 Congolese in overcrowded Uganda refugee camps
Thomson Reuters Foundation A cholera outbreak in overcrowded refugee camps in Uganda has killed about 40 people and infected more than 2,000 as health workers rush to stem the spread, aid agencies said on Thursday. Nearly 70,000 people from the Democratic Republic of Congo have fled to Uganda this year due to a surge in […]