World Humanitarian Day—The World Needs More

by Suzanne Wiley, volunteer contributor

"Things just started to fly. I heard an explosion and everything was upside down. I don't know, I don't know where they all are.''

This is Mahal al-Khatib’s answer to a journalist’s inquiry immediately after a car bomb exploded outside a converted hotel serving as the United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad Iraq. Mahal al-Khatib was a secretary working for the UN along with hundreds of other aid workers helping to find homes for displaced Iraqis, distributing food, repairing electricity and defusing land mines scattered around the country. 

On August 19, 2003, a cement truck packed full of bombs exploded underneath a window of the office of Brazilian UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello. The terrorist attack—the worst attack on the UN in history—killed 22 people and injured at least 100 more. 

One month later, another car bomb exploded in the UN’s parking lot, killing two and wounding 12. On October, 27, 2003, just a little over two months after the devastating attack on UN headquarters, a series of car bombs injured over 220 people all over Baghdad, including an attack on the International Committee for the Red Cross office. It was the first time for a suicide bomber to attack the Red Cross. Fifteen people were killed when an ambulance sped into the Red Cross compound, exploding at its entry gate. 

The rush of attacks drove the United Nations to create World Humanitarian Day. Every year, on August 19, the United Nations encourages everyone to not only honor and remember humanitarian workers from around the world who have died while serving and helping others, but also celebrate those dedicated to responding to the needs of victims of disaster and war worldwide.

“More People Than Ever Before Need Our Help”

The World Humanitarian Day 2014 theme is “The world needs more…” The United Nations is asking everyone to step up, become a humanitarian, and join the Messengers of Humanity community to stand up and make a difference in the world. Becoming a humanitarian does not cost money, or time, nor do you need any type of specialized training. In fact, you might just be a humanitarian already. The definition of humanitarian is 

1. Having concern for or helping to improve the welfare and happiness of people
2. Involved in improving people’s lives and reducing suffering

When I asked my 200 plus Facebook friends what the world needs more of, I received these responses:
• Love
• Compassion
• Understanding
• Empathy
• Tolerance
• Acceptance
• Hope 
• Kindness 
• Peace

These reasons why we have World Humanitarian Day—we believe in the human spirit and passing these positive qualities to others. To help others in need during a crisis surely requires patience, compassion, humility, kindness, and love. You might be thinking you are too busy, too tied down, not financially able or too frightened to drop what you are doing and travel overseas to help. However, what the United Nations emphasizes is that humanitarians usually serve in their home countries. World Humanitarian Day starts right here. In our backyards, in our neighborhoods and in our surrounding communities. It is as simples as offering a hug or a warm blanket to someone who just lost their house in a fire, or as far reaching as Fort Worth doctor, Kent Brantly working for Samaritan’s Purse who responded to the needs of thousands suffering from Ebola in West Africa. World Humanitarian Day honors those who have lost their lives in the line of duty—not because they were paid to be there, but because of their love, compassion, understanding, empathy, tolerance, acceptance, hope, kindness and peace. 

The world needs more… volunteers. Won’t you start becoming a Messenger of Humanity today and sign up? There are many ways to volunteer. After all, more people than ever before need our help.

What do you think the world needs more of? Add your hashtag below!

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A Symbol of Hope – The Work of the Red Cross in Israel

by Sydney Holt, American Red Cross volunteer contributor

T.D. & MDA Director
Chaim Rafalowski 

A simple symbol can say so much. For National Boss Day, I caught up with our boss, American Red Cross North Texas Region CEO, T.D. Smyers, about his recent trip to Israel for a joint leadership gathering with Magen David Adom, otherwise known as MDA, the Red Cross society in Israel. MDA has been officially recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as Israel’s national aid society since 2006.

Smyers was one of a select group of CEOs invited to travel to Israel for an information exchange with our counterparts on the other side of the world. The relief workers in Israel were interested to hear from Smyers and the other CEOs about responses to catastrophic emergencies in major US urban centers. His biggest take-away from the experience: “Different symbols, same principles.” 

This short, but profound statement from Smyers as he recapped his experiences perfectly describes Red Cross’ efforts abroad. “Regardless of religious or political affiliation, socio-economic status, race, age or gender – Red Cross is in the business of helping people,” said Smyers. “And although our symbol differs from the MDA’s it represents the same in any disaster situation – hope.”

More about the efforts in Israel – 

• The Red Cross symbol as we know it was the original protection symbol declared at the 1864 Geneva Convention – it’s purpose being to introduce a uniform and neutral protection symbol
• The “cross” is not a Christian cross, but the inverse of the Swiss flag
• Two other largely recognized symbols throughout the world are the Red Crescent and the Red Crystal – these symbols are used in countries where the appearance of a cross may alienate some, such as majority Muslim populations

• MDA’s two main focuses are to provide emergency medical and blood services – they provide 99% of civilian and 100% of the military blood supply
• MDA has a very developed, robust disaster response force that leverages the use of newly-developed technologies such as personal communication devices with geo-location aiding volunteer response and mobile apps for the general public

Upon returning from Israel, Smyers is excited to share the lessons learned with Red Cross workers here in the states. 

To learn more about the ICRC and the American Red Cross's International Services, visit RedCross.org.

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Working at Peace: How Red Cross Volunteers Bring Hope to the World

by Carmen Wright, volunteer contributor

Social Activist and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt once said in a national broadcast given on Armistice Day: 

“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”  

Today, we celebrate the International Day of Peace and the Red Cross volunteers around the world who work tirelessly to bring peace to war-torn countries through their actions and compassion. 

The Middle East

Headlines about Syria have been filling newspapers for several months, but amidst the stories of destruction there are also ones of hope, particularly the success the International Committee of the Red Cross, with the help of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, has had in helping civilians when other foreign organizations have been forced to leave Damascus. The ICRC and SARC repair infrastructure, provide shelter for the displaced, and distribute clean drinking water and food to millions of people. 

Today we honor these volunteers not only because they work towards peace by providing aid regardless of how the conflict unfolds but also because they sacrifice so much in doing so. SARC lost twenty volunteers in the conflict, and those who cross the front lines face rocket fire, sniper fire, and roadside bombs. Nonetheless their focus remains on providing humanitarian aid and their main concern is not being able to reach the wounded who are in the most dangerous areas of Damascus. 

Africa

Working with local Red Cross organizations, the ICRC has also made significant contributions to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Sudan, Somalia, and the Central African Republic. They help those who suffer from internal violence by providing medical attention, reuniting families, providing clean water, and visiting detainees in prisons. Many of these organizations have been operating in these countries for many years. The Red Cross has been in Sudan since 1978 and has helped carry its people through struggles by doing something as simple as delivering messages between family members to providing aid to victims in Darfur. 

South America

Colombia has suffered one of the longest armed conflicts in the world, and ICRC has been there for the past 40 years to help people in rural areas where violence is most prevalent. With the help of the Colombian Red Cross, the ICRC provides medical aid, rebuilds infrastructure, offers projects to promote self-sufficiency, and renovates schools and sanitation centers. In an effort to maintain humanitarian laws, the ICRC also addresses breaches to laws with security forces and negotiates with armed groups so they can safely provide medical attention to victims. 

These are just a few examples of the commitment of volunteers. There are many more stories from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Mexico, the Balkans, and other countries around the globe. Regardless of the location, their commitment to humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and universality in the midst of violence inspire us to believe in peace so maybe we too can transform that faith into action. 

To learn more about the American Red Cross International Services, go to RedCross.org.

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Red Cross Connects Cousins – 76 Years Later

Elizabeth "Lily" Farkas was one of millions of people separated from her family amid the chaos and confusion of World War II. But thanks to a Red Cross search across international borders, she and a cousin connected after many decades.

Lily, who now lives in Sarasota, was a teenager in Hungary during the war, and recalled those as "God awful" times.

In 1945, the Russians came in to liberate Hungary from the Nazis, but when the Communists took over in 1949, liberation became domination and the Hungarian government was subordinate to Soviet control.

Hungarian students began demonstrating against the Communist government in 1956 but the Soviets sent in tanks and troops and defeated the Hungarian freedom fighters.Thousands of people died, more than 26,000 were put on trial, about 13,000 were imprisoned and about 300 were executed. Nearly 200,000 refugees escaped into Austria or Yugoslavia and eventually started new lives in other parts of the world.

Lily participated in the Hungarian Revolution and worked underground. She served 2 1/2 years as a political prisoner in Budapest and a prison in northeastern Hungary. Her husband, Imre, was sentenced to death but his sentence was later commuted to life in prison.

In 1956 Imre and other prisoners broke out of an infamous political prison in Vac, Hungary, three days after the revolution started. Imre and Lily were reunited in Budapest and arrived in the United States on Christmas Eve 1956. They have since had two daughters and three grandchildren who live in Holland.

Although Mrs. Farkas lost touch with her family in Hungary, a second cousin – Judit Bojthy Hajda – contacted the Red Cross to help locate her long lost relative after 76 years.

Cindy Desmond, Director of Volunteers, Client Services and Training for the Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross, spoke with Lily to inform her that her second cousin wanted to connect with her. Red Cross family tracing services help reconnect families who have been separated internationally by war and natural disasters.

"At first, Lily was hesitant," said Cindy. "Then the memories started to come back."

Now Lily corresponds with her second cousin, talking on the phone and sending photos to each other over the internet.

There are American Red Cross caseworkers at local chapters around the United States helping families locate missing relatives by working with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations in nearly every country around the world.

Once a family member is found, the Red Cross helps them reconnect. In the past year, the American Red Cross helped reconnect more than 4,200 families – bridging years of separation to renew critical links between new communities in the U.S. and their families around the world.

Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center
Holocaust Tracing, Family Searches and Wartime Documentation

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How To Find Loved Ones In Japan

With thousands of missing people in the wake of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, families are anxiously looking for information about their loved ones. Unfortunately, the list of unaccounted keeps getting longer and longer. The Kyodo News Agency is reporting today that over 10,000 people are dead or missing, and many officials believe that estimate is too low.

You can turn to several Web sites for information on missing people:

ICRC Family Links: Register on this Web
site from inside or outside the affected areas if you're looking for a
relative or if you want to inform your relatives that you are alive. This is
a free service and is available in various languages.

Google People Finder:
Search for someone or leave information about someone. This is a free service and available in several languages.

Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens living or traveling in Japan should be referred to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 or 202 647-5225.

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