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Caribbean Appeal No. MAA49001 Mid-Year Report

Countries
Barbados
+ 5 more
Sources
IFRC
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This report covers the period 01 January 2010 to 30 June 2010In brief

Programme purpose: National Societies in the Caribbean region are implementing efficient, responsive and focused programmes that contribute to improving the lives of vulnerable people. These programmes are aligned with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)? Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the IFRC's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

Programmes summary: The first half of 2010 has been a busy period. The start of the year was impacted by the devastating earthquake in Haiti. This saw many National Societies of the Caribbean occupied with fundraising activities for their sister National Society, the Haitian Red Cross Society. There have been over 3.2 million US dollars in contributions coming from the Caribbean to the IFRC?s Appeal for Haiti. The Caribbean Regional Representation (CRR) was busy supporting the operation through the deployment of five of its staff in this reporting period and numerous media and fundraising events have taken place. The earthquake reminded the region of its increasing vulnerability to natural hazards, which was compounded this year by a drought in the southern islands of the region, increased social and economic vulnerability due to the financial crisis and the downturn in tourism, and the increase in violence, including the civil unrest in Jamaica in May.

In the internal context, a scaling up of Disaster Management programmes to manage these vulnerabilities and increasing attention to developing National Societies? capacities has meant a busy period for both the National Societies and the IFRC; this period has also brought opportunities as a result of increased funding, and growing recognition of the Red Cross, especially as it pertains to its role in building community resilience.