emergency relief and Belgian Red Cross-Flanders

Between February and May 2024, Burundi was hit by heavy rainfall, amplified by the El Niño weather phenomenon. This led to devastating floods, rising water levels of Lake Tanganyika and landslides.

Currently, 1,000 families are still in temporary shelters, while 500 are without shelter. As Burundi enters its second rainy season of the year, the challenges for these vulnerable families remain high. 

Auxiliary Ter Plaatse

The Burundi Red Cross took immediate action to support those affected. Volunteers helped evacuate families in high-risk areas and installed emergency shelters. The heavy rains destroyed several water supplies, so water reservoirs, also known as "bladders," were installed. These reservoirs can store 10,000 liters of water and have faucets so people can fill their buckets or water bottles.
In addition, hygiene and sanitation facilities such as showers and toilets were built to ensure the basic needs of the affected population. The Burundi Red Cross also trained volunteers to prepare them for emergencies, including dealing with diseases such as cholera and psychosocial support.
It also arranged for the procurement and distribution of emergency relief supplies, such as tents, mouth masks, gloves, hygiene kits and other essential items.

How did Belgian Red Cross-Flanders help?

Belgian Red Cross-Flanders released 300,000 euros to support the Burundi Red Cross in emergency relief efforts. Among other things, these funds enabled the Burundi Red Cross to install five large water tanks and deliver 580,000 liters of drinking water to the hardest-hit areas. In addition, 1,800 hygiene kits were purchased and distributed to affected families. Also, 40 toilets and 8 showers were installed in shelters to ensure the basic needs of the displaced.

Thanks to your support, more than 2,300 families were able to receive needed support in the past six months. Although much good work has been done, the situation remains worrying. Especially now that the second rainy season of the year has started and the country is also affected by the Mpox epidemic. The Burundi Red Cross remains committed to saving lives and enabling reconstruction in the affected areas. 

On Sunday, Sept. 10, Libya was hit by Hurricane Daniel. The country's extreme rainfall led to the rupture of two dams and caused disastrous flooding in northeastern Libya. The hardest hit areas included the city of Derna, where entire neighborhoods were swept into the sea. The heavy flooding affected several coastal towns such as Benghazi, Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar, Al-Marj, Batah, Bayade, Albayada, Shahta and Sousa, causing many casualties and massive damage to infrastructure. More than 45,000 people are estimated to have been displaced, 4,352 people died and 8,000 are still missing. A total of 284 educational institutions were affected and 128 health facilities. There is extensive damage to roads and shortages of water and electricity.

A massive 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco on Friday, Sept. 8. The most affected provinces are Taroudant, Marrakech, Chichawa and Al Haouz, located in central Morocco about 75km from the city of Marrakech. The affected areas are mainly in the High Atlas mountains, making accessibility difficult. As a result of the severe destruction caused by this earthquake, some 3,000 people were killed and 3,500 injured. In all, 60,000 homes were destroyed and 500,000 people were internally displaced. Some 530 schools were also damaged by the earthquake, affecting some 100,000 children and youth. 

1 year after the earthquake in Morocco

A year ago, Morocco was hit by a devastating earthquake. Thanks to the immense solidarity of Flemings, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders was able to raise more than €900,000 for relief efforts in the affected area.
These funds were transferred in cooperation with the German Red Cross to the Moroccan Red Crescent, which went into action immediately after the disaster with search and rescue operations, medical aid, emergency relief and shelter for more than 23,000 severely affected people.

Last year, Marie from Belgian Red Cross-Flanders went to Marrakesh to strengthen coordination on the ground. Despite the progress made, challenges persist due to remoteness and extreme temperatures.  

However, our mission does not end. Belgian Red Cross-Flanders remains committed to long-term support, with a focus on capacity building, disaster preparedness and basic health care in affected regions. 

Will you help make a difference for people in need?

A gift to our Emergency Relief Fund allows us to jump right into action in the next global disasters and help where and when it is needed. Even in silent disasters that don't make the news. Because every second counts ...
Make a donation to BE53 0000 0000 5353 with the mention 'Emergency Relief Fund' and help people in need.  

The conflict in Sudan broke out in April and has taken a heavy toll on the population. 8.2 million people have fled, of whom 6.5 million are internally displaced and 1.76 million have sought refuge in other countries, mainly Chad, Egypt, South Sudan and Ethiopia. This situation is compounded by the pre-existing challenges facing Sudan: economic instability, climate change and persistent drought, leaving 24.8 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

Belgian Red Cross-Flanders released 150,000 euros from the Emergency Relief Fund in June 2023 for life-saving humanitarian support in Sudan. The money will be deployed through the International Red Cross, which supports the Sudanese Red Crescent in their relief efforts. The priorities are medical support and supplies on the one hand, and distribution of potable water and food on the other.

With the passage of Storm Freddy in Southeast Africa, the situation on the ground is alarming. After 3 weeks of storms, there are already nearly 600 deaths, some 400,000 displaced people and enormous material damage. In addition, about 100,000 hectares of farmland have been affected, threatening food shortages. That is why Belgian Red Cross-Flanders is releasing 100,000 euros from the emergency relief fund for humanitarian support. In addition, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders has permanent staff in Mozambique, working with the local Red Cross there to coordinate emergency relief .

The effects of storm Freddy are greatest in Malawi, but there is also a lot of human and material damage in Mozambique. Moreover, the situation is extra precarious because this crisis comes on top of two other crises: there were already heavy floods in southern Mozambique at the beginning of February, and there is a major cholera outbreak, particularly affecting Malawi. This new heavy rainfall from storm Freddy, resulting in new flooding, ensures that the cholera outbreak will continue to spread.

On Monday, Feb. 6, parts of Turkey and Syria were hit by severe earthquakes. The material damage is enormous and the human toll is also high.
The Turkish Red Crescent and the Syrian Red Crescent have been on the ground from the start of the disaster, providing the most acute assistance there, ranging from rescue operations in the affected areas, to providing medical aid, to providing housing for the victims who no longer have shelter.

2 years after earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

Two years ago, a devastating earthquake hit Turkey and Syria.

Thanks to the immense solidarity of the Flemish people, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders was able to collect5,359,936 euros for relief efforts in the affected area.  

With this support, we donated 219 tents to the Turkish Red Crescent, among others, and helped the Syrian Arab Red Crescent purchase and distribute 11,811 food parcels, serving some 61,085 people. 

The current situation remains critical. In Turkey, the majority of the affected population is currently still residing in container villages or emergency shelters. In Syria, the earthquake combined with 13 years of lingering crises has left most major cities completely in ruins, with barely functioning infrastructure and a lack of resources for reconstruction.  

Both the Turkish Red Crescent and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are still fully committed to supporting earthquake victims today. For example, the Red Cross continues to provide psychosocial support.

In addition to this psychosocial aftercare, the Red Cross helps people rebuild their lives. In the last two years, for example, several vouchers have been distributed to support families in their basic needs. In addition, there are ECOSOC (=economic security) projects to support individuals individually to recover and rebuild their incomes. Thanks to your support, our colleague Marie was also able to participate in one of those projects and supported the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) teams.   

"Together with my team (ICRC and SARC), we worked to restore and improve local agricultural and livestock production, by distributing sheep or plant seeds, for example. In addition, we assisted people in restarting local economic activities, for example, opening a store or barber store. Our efforts help increase production for local markets, allowing people to regain income and improve their standard of living. The needs of the population are still pressing even after all these months, but our actions demonstrate the importance of the recovery phase and provides long-term solutions for the population. " says Marie 

Will you help make a difference for people in need?

A gift to our Emergency Relief Fund allows us to jump right into action in the event of subsequent global disasters and help where and when it is needed.  

Make a donation to BE53 0000 0000 5353 marked "Emergency Relief Fund" and help those in need. 

The situation in Pakistan following floods is very worrying. The Pakistani government already declared a state of emergency last week. And on Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared the highest level of alert. There are already at least 1,100 dead and 3,600 injured. The needs on the ground are enormous. That's why Belgian Red Cross-Flanders is releasing 250,000 euros from the emergency relief fund. Initially, that money will be used mainly to distribute food parcels and hygiene kits to the victims.

The funds are deployed through the German Red Cross, as they have been active in Pakistan since 1983 and are also present on the ground today. There they are providing much-needed support to the Pakistan Red Crescent, the main humanitarian organization in the country. Initially, the funds will primarily be used to distribute food parcels and hygiene kits to the victims.