The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Red Cross

  • Australia pledges additional $5m humanitarian assistance to Northeast

    Australia pledges additional $5m humanitarian assistance to Northeast

    Australia has announced additional five million dollars assistance to address the humanitarian crisis in North-East Nigeria.

    The fund would be delivered by the World Food Programme and Red Cross.

    Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced the assistance through a statement issued by Australian High Commission, Public Affairs Officer, Hope Ayabina.

    The minister explained that the fund was to help meet the needs of over 7 million people at risk of starvation in northeast Nigeria due to ongoing conflict and drought.

    He said that this include 1.4 million acutely malnourished children in the area.

    “This funding supplements Australia’s regular funding to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund and humanitarian organisations to respond to humanitarian crises globally, including in Africa.

    “In 2016 and 2017 Australia contributed a total of 15.7 million dollars for humanitarian assistance in North-East Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.

    “The Australian High Commission in Abuja also supports these larger multilateral efforts through its Direct Aid Programme,” he said

    According to him the High Commission in 2017 is providing assistance to organisations to deliver projects including clean cook stoves and income generating activities for Internally Displaced Persons.

    He said that this also include production and distribution of nutritional supplements.

  • World Red Cross day

    World Red Cross day

    I sat on a sofa in my living room trying to put words together for my article on world Red Cross day but my very busy mind kept failing me. I eventually found consolation by chewing on my pen, lost in thoughts that were unrelated to the subject matter before me.

    A few moments after, i heard the news about a family of five who were involved in a fatal accident; they would have all died if not for the timely intervention of the Red Cross. Hearing this alone was enough impetus for me to put pen to paper.

    World Red Cross and Red Crescent day is an annual celebration of the principles of the international Red Cross movement. It is celebrated on May 8 each year which is a date that tallies with the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant (born May 8, 1828), the founder of the international committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the recipient of the first Nobel peace prize. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Less Known Red Cross Stories”.

    According to history, it is believed that the idea for an annual action that could take hold in the whole world and would be a major contribution to peace was introduced just after the world war 1 and evolved out of the “Red Cross truce”, an initiative that was studied by an international commission established at the 14th international conference in Tokyo in 1934. Two years later, the proposal was adopted and the Red Cross day was celebrated on May 8, 1948. The official title of the day has changed overtime and it became “world Red Cross and Red Crescent day” in 1984.

    It is a day celebrated to alleviate people’s suffering, enhance their dignity, protect their lives from emergencies and other natural disasters including epidemic diseases, flood and earthquakes. It is celebrated by all sections of the Red Cross organizations to help people by keeping at heart all its fundamental principles which are humanity, independence, impartiality, neutrality, universality, voluntary and unity.

    However, Winston Churchill once said that “we make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give”. So, let’s set it aside, any thoughts that only Red Cross can save lives because it is also in our capability to do so if we will. Therefore, let that change of heart begin with you.

    In conclusion, Red Cross is of the belief that the purpose of life is not to be happy at times but to be useful, honourable, compassionate and to make some difference to show that you have lived and lived well; like a saying goes, ‘we all have two hands; one is to help yourself and the other is to help others’. So, wouldn’t you agree with me that these life-savers should really be celebrated?

  • PPA chieftain hails Buhari, Red Cross, over release of 82 Chibok Girls

    A chieftain of Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), in Enugu state, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari, Red Cross and Non-Governmental Agencies for the release of 82 Chibok Girls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Boko Haram members in 2014 abducted more than 200 secondary school girls of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno.

    Twenty one of the girls were released in October 2016, while President directed the security agencies to continue the search until all of the affected girls were released and re-united with their families.

    Ezeemo told NAN in Enugu on Sunday, that the release would help to check the emotional trauma the parents of the released girls might be facing for over three years.

    He noted that the release of this “massive number’’ was an indication that the Federal Government and its partners had the capacity to release the remaining girls.

    “I am overwhelmed with joy when I heard about the news.

    “It is a good development, coming, timely, before emotional trauma sends the parents of these girls to their early graves.

    “It is going to bring a lot of emotional and traumatic relief to these families that had anticipated the return of their daughters,’’ he said.

    According to him, the release will also give Nigeria commendable respect in the international circle, once more.

    Ezeemo, also a leading industrialist, commended the government of Switzerland for its special interest in ensuring a fruitful negotiation with the insurgents.

    “I urge other countries and friends of Nigeria to follow the example of government Switzerland in helping Nigeria, practically, in solving its national challenges.”

     

  • Red Cross advocates first aid training for employers

    Red Cross advocates first aid training for employers

    The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has advised employers to provide adequate first aid training to employees on handling small incidents to emergencies that could occur at work places and the environment.
    NRCS National First Aid Trainer Mr Bashir Dan-Illela gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) to commemorate “World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2017’’ in Abuja.
    NAN reports that, World Day for Safety and Health at Work’’ is commemorated annually, on April 28, to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally.
    Dan-Illela said the knowledge of first aid management could help reduce the number of health challenges and causalities recorded in work places and the environment.
    He said: “No matter how safe an environment is injuries and accidents must occur, that is why preparation is very important and everyone must be prepared for such emergencies.
    “Preparation happens when people or employees are adequately trained on basic techniques of first aid thereby educating them on types of intervention to administer when emergencies occur.
    “It is not about taking medication or giving treatment , rather applying simple techniques that will promote recovery, ensure lives are saved, and injures sustained is not aggravated or become life threatening.
    “First aid indeed helps to save lives, we may have the intention to help, but without the knowledge of first aid, we may cause more harm to the causality.”
    Dan-Illela said the first hour in any emergency intervention was called “The Golden Hour”, stating that time management was crucial and if delay occurs, the effectiveness of the response may not be achieved.
    He urged oganisations to create a stimulation exercise after training to ensure employees have the competence in responding to emerging situations.
    “This is done by creating a false alarm to see how they will respond and to know the impact of the training they have received as such will bring the reality out of them.
    “Organisations should also put in place first aid kits because such materials would assist trained employees respond to emergencies more effectively and efficiently without improvising,’’ he added.
    The expert also advised management that health records must be kept for all employees under health surveillance.
    Records, he added are important because they allow links to be made in emergencies.
    He added that channels of contact with various hospitals of members of staff could also be created to make emergency response more effective at work places.

  • Red Cross donates relief materials to 516 IDPs in Kano

    The Kano State Chapter of Red Cross Society on Sunday distributed relief materials worth millions of Naira to 516 Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs) in the State.

    The Red Cross Chairperson in Kano, Dr. Urrata Balla, presented the materials to the IDPs at Hotoro in Tarauni and Gaida in Kumbotso Local Government Areas of the state.

    Balla said the gesture was necessary due to the condition IDPs found themselves.

    “Red Cross cannot compensate the IDPs over what they have lost but will continue to do everything humanly possible to assist them so as to make them feel and have sense of belonging.

    “I also want to call on philanthropists to assist in one way or the other so that everyone should live in a good condition”.

    Balla urged IDPs to always monitor the movement of their children when they return to their respective homes to prevent them from associating with bad people.

    She said the spread of insurgency that brought about the IDPs was as a result of negligence of some parents to monitor and watch over their children.

    Speaking on behalf of the IDPs in Hotoro, and Gaida, Malam Abubakar Mustapha and Malam Magaji Halliru respectively commended the Red Cross for the gesture.

    “Mustapha described the gesture as commendable, especially with the current economic challenges in the country.

    He called on wealthy individuals in the society, government and private organisations to continue to assist them with a view to alleviating their sufferings.

    Mustapha commended President Muhammad Buhari for his efforts towards restoring peace in their areas affected by the activities of insurgents.

    “We are also appealing to the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency do everything possible to rebuild our houses for us to go back and continue with our normal life,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items distributed include clothes, shoes, blankets, bed sheets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, plastic buckets, soap and other other essential commodities.

  • Red Cross to spend $138m in Lake Chad region

    Red Cross to spend $138m in Lake Chad region

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has budgeted 136 million Swiss francs (about $138 million) for humanitarian services in the Lake Chad Region in 2016.

    ICRC’s President Mr. Peter Maurer stated this in a statement by ICRC’s media unit, yesterday.

    He said the organisation conducted substantial humanitarian activities throughout the region in the year, adding that it delivered food to hundreds of thousands of displaced people.

    “Over the first half of this year, the organisation delivered food to over 500,000 displaced people. Its overall budget allocated to the region in 2016 amounts to 136 million Swiss francs,” he said.

    Maurer called on the international community to address “the vast human tragedy” around the world, especially in the region, even as he called for more sustained and long-term international effort to address the massive needs in the four countries affected by violence in the Lake Chad area.

    The ICRC president expressed concern about the deplorable condition of 30,000 displaced people in Garin Wanzam in Niger Republic, and noted that the displaced persons were still afraid of returning home.

    “Garin Wanzam is just one example of the vast human tragedy playing out across the entire Lake Chad region, where some 2.6 million people have been driven from their homes.

    “Over six million people are caught up in a daily struggle to put food on the table,” Maurer said.

    He called on parties involved in the regional conflict to protect and respect civilians, detainees and the injured, based on their obligations under International Humanitarian Law.

  • Lagos stops Lekki garden’s construction

    Lagos stops Lekki garden’s construction

    The Lagos State Government has expressed its condolences over the death of construction site workers who lost their lives on Tuesday as a result of the collapse of a five-storey building under construction on Kushenla Road, Ikate Elegushi, Lekki.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde.

    According to the Lagos State Government, based on preliminary reports and investigation, it was discovered that the collapsed building was served contravention notice for exceeding the approved floors and thereafter sealed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency.

    Similarly, the Commissioner said that the state discovered that in a brazen act of defiance and impunity, the owners of the building, Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, the promoters of the Lekki Gardens, criminally unsealed the property and continued building beyond the approved floors until the unfortunate incident of Tuesday which has led to loss of lives.

    He further added that arising from the Lagos State Executive Council meeting decision on Wednesday, the State Government will no longer tolerate the action of unscrupulous owners and builders who challenge its supervisory control, thereby endangering the lives of Lagosians.

    The State Government has consequently directed the suspension of work at the site and ordered the Lagos State Police Command to cordon it off as it is now a crime scene.

    The government also directed further integrity tests be carried out on every other construction project which has or is currently being handled by Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited in the interest of public safety.

    Furthermore, the release quoted the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as saying that all directors of Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited are strongly advised to submit themselves to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police within the next twenty four hours in their own interest or face immediate arrest.

    The statement also commended the timely response and remarkable intervention by the combined men of the Lagos State Emergency Authority (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Red Cross, National Emergency Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Building Control Agency and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

    The Lagos State Government also warned that it will no longer be business as usual stating that any developer either on existing or new building projects who fails to comply with building and construction regulations or attempts to subvert the law will henceforth face criminal prosecution.

  • Building Collapse: Lagos halts Lekki Gardens’ construction

    …Asks directors to report to Police within 24hours

    The Lagos State Government has halted construction on Lekki Gardens’ site, following the death of 25 construction site workers who lost their lives on Tuesday as a result of the collapse of a five-storey building under construction.

    The State Government has consequently directed the suspension of work at the site and ordered the State Police Command to cordon it off as it is now a crime scene.

    In a press release issued on Wednesday and signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the Lagos State Government also announced that based on preliminary reports and investigation, it was discovered that the collapsed building was served contravention notice for exceeding the approved floors and thereafter sealed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency.

    It added that it has also been discovered that in a brazen act of defiance and impunity, the owners of the building, Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, the promoters of Lekki Gardens, criminally unsealed the property and continued building beyond the approved floors until the unfortunate incident of Tuesday which has led to loss of lives.

    The statement added that arising from the Lagos State Executive Council meeting decision on Wednesday, the State Government will no longer tolerate the action of unscrupulous owners and builders who challenge its supervisory control thereby endangering the lives of Lagosians.

    The government also directed further integrity tests be carried out on every other construction project which has or is currently being handled by Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited in the interest of public safety.

    Furthermore, the release quoted the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as saying that all directors of Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited are strongly advised to submit themselves to the State Commissioner of Police within the next twenty four hours in their own interest or face immediate arrest.

    The statement also commended the timely response and remarkable intervention by the combined men of the Lagos State Emergency Authority (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Red Cross, National Emergency Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Building Control Agency and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

    The State Government also warned that it will no longer be business as usual stating that any developer either on existing or new building projects who fails to comply with building and construction regulations or attempts to subvert the law will henceforth face criminal prosecution.

    The State Government however expresses its condolences on the death of the victims.

     

     

  • 32 killed in Adamawa market blast

    A blast struck a market in Yola, Adamawa, on Tuesday evening, killing 32 people and wounding 80 others, both the Red Cross and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said.

    The explosion occurred at a fruit and vegetable market beside a main road in the Jimeta area of Yola at about 8:00pm (1900 GMT), Reuters reported.

    There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the blast bore the hallmarks of the Boko Haram sect which has killed thousands over the last six years in its bid to create a state adhering to strict Sharia law in the northeast.

    “32 people were killed and 80 have been injured,” said a Red Cross official who asked not to be named.

    NEMA regional spokesman, Alhaji Sa’ad Bello, later gave the same casualty figures.

    Suspected Boko Haram militants have carried out attacks in neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon in recent weeks but have not struck northeastern Nigeria since late October when bombings in Yola and Maiduguri left at least 37 people dead.

    “The ground near my shop was covered with dead bodies. I helped to load 32 dead bodies into five vehicles,” an eyewitness, Alhaji Ahmed, who owns a shop in the market, told Reuters.

    A Reuters witness said he saw eight ambulances being used to carry casualties away for treatment.

     

  • Blasts kill seven in Maiduguri

    Blasts detonated by three suicide bombers in Maiduguri, Borno State, killed at least seven people on Tuesday, the Red Cross and a vigilante group member told Reuters.

    Explosive devices were detonated at Sajeri, a community on the outskirts of the city centre, at about 8:30pm local time (1930 GMT), said Ba’ana Musa, a member of a youth vigilante group that helped to evacuate people.

    “Seven dead bodies have been evacuated from the scene of the blasts,” said a Red Cross official.

    Maiduguri is the birthplace of the Boko Haram sect, which has killed thousands and displaced 2.1 million people since 2009 in its attempt to create a state adhering to strict sharia law in the northeast.

    The explosions are the worst attacks on the city since 54 people were killed and 90 injured in bombings three weeks ago.