Across the world and around the corner


Preparedness pays off in cyclone
Last year in Lifeline we reported on how, in Bangladesh, the Red Cross is helping to protect people against natural disasters by building cyclone shelters and making plans to evacuate people from areas threatened with flooding. Now we are glad to report that, when Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh last November, this planning and preparation proved its worth.
Following a government warning of the approaching disaster, local Bangladesh Red Crescent volunteers travelled to remote villages to bring them the news, and helped to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people before the cyclone struck. Many were able to take refuge in the cyclone shelters, and this undoubtedly saved many lives.
Then, as Cyclone Sidr struck, a massive operation began to help people caught up the disaster. Volunteers provided vital food and medicine, and building materials were also distributed to help people to begin to rebuild their homes.
As climate change advances, Bangladesh is likely to become even more vulnerable to floods and cyclones. But through our work in hundreds of communities we are letting people know how they can protect themselves and their families. And with your support, we will go on working to help people to prepare for and survive disasters.


You’re never too young
You never know when first aid skills are going to come in useful – and maybe even save a life. And that’s just as true for children and young people as it is for adults. Recognising how important it is for children to be prepared to deal with accident or illness, we delivered specialist first aid training to hundreds of thousands of young people in our biggest campaign ever of its kind.
Thanks to the support of people like you, we have been able to achieve so much with our Don’t be a Bystander campaign. From 2004 to 2007, it enabled us to teach first aid skills to 259,000 young people across the UK. We will be building on the success of this campaign with a new three-year programme to teach thousands of vulnerable young people life-saving road safety skills. The campaign proved that you’re never too young to learn first aid. One of our trainees was Amy, aged just nine. She told us: “It was good fun – and now I can help my family and friends if they ever need it.”


Global response to China quake
The earthquake that hit central China in May was the worst for 30 years. More than 70,000 died, 350,000 were injured, and more than five million people were left homeless and at the mercy of continuing aftershocks.
More than 35,000 Chinese Red Cross staff and volunteers went into action immediately, providing food, water, tents and blankets to the survivors. They also gave emotional support to those who lost everything and help to worried families who were desperately trying to trace missing relatives. “It was truly moving
to see Red Cross volunteers comforting survivors,” reported one
Red Cross official.
Meanwhile, around the world, the Red Cross moved quickly to mobilise relief workers, and provide equipment and supplies. This global response brought practical support and comfort to many thousands of people.
Since the earthquake, the Red Cross relief effort has continued, with the work focusing on reconstruction, including restoring clean water supplies, rebuilding health centres, and rebuilding homes and schools.

With your help we’ll be able to respond as soon as the next call for help comes
http://www.redcross.org.uk/donatesection.asp?id=77029

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