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CALLANGES AND SOLUTIONS FOR A SAFER EUROPE. Plenary Session: ‘stakeholder involvement’ The role of voluntary organisations. Ulrich Cronenberg, German Red Cross, on behalf of the Red Cross/EU Office. Why involve voluntary organisations and communities?.
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CALLANGES AND SOLUTIONS FOR A SAFER EUROPE Plenary Session: ‘stakeholder involvement’ The role of voluntary organisations Ulrich Cronenberg, German Red Cross, on behalf of the Red Cross/EU Office
Why involve voluntary organisations and communities? • part of infrastructure, in some countries • public health emergencies over-stretch resources • no single actor can resolve all issues • voluntary organisations are part of local communities • a massive disaster requires a massive response
Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement • largest independent humanitarian network in the World • more than 100 million members • made up of 183 National Societies • National Societies are considered to be ‘auxiliaries of the public authorities in the humanitarian field’ • range of Red Cross activities/services undertaken differs in each country and depends on national context
Red Cross/Red Crescent experience • do not make distinction between responding to emergencies and development • build resilience by preparing communities to deal with and adapt to disasters • top-down interventions are often less effective than local responses • response best if integrated, combined and co-ordinated
Focus on capacities, not just needs • dispel myth of helpless victims • assess local strengths and priorities – not just vulnerabilities and needs • build on the resources and resilience found in the community
Relationships and co-ordination • EU Civil Protection Mechanism • UN OCHA • ECHO • voluntary organisations • private sector • military
Best practices/life support kits for EU citizens in an emergency • EU funded project led by French Red Cross, assisted by RC/EU Office • project began Spring 2004, ends June 2006 • workshop held 25-26 October 2005 to identify citizens’ practical needs and lead to production of kit
European guidelines for first aid training for the population - reference for local first aid training manuals • EU funded project led by Belgian Red Cross, assisted by RC/EU Office • project began January 2005 ends December 2006 • will include workshops, collection and analysis of practices, regulations and constraints, and lead to a reference document representing guidelines for training
Involving citizens in civil protection • EU funded project led by British Red Cross, in partnership with Austrian, Estonian and French Red Cross, assisted by RC/EU Office • project began January 2006 ends December 2007 • promote contribution of citizens to civil protection arrangements, by sharing experience and good practice and suggesting how to support and benefit from volunteering
Involving citizens in civil protection - cont • partner network: UK, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, Netherlands • UK-based seminars in May 2007 • pilot project in UK in 2008
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Ulrich Cronenberg, German Red Cross, Head of Emergency Services, NHQ, Email cronenbu@drk.de