ReliefWeb

Period covered: January to December 2013

Overview

East Asia Regional Delegation

The IFRC’s East Asia regional delegation (EARD) serves to support and build capacities within the national societies (NSs) of the East Asia region. The region includes China, Mongolia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, and Japan. The IFRC supports all five national Red Cross Societies in the region and additionally has long-term planning frameworks specifically for the NSs in China, Mongolia, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

In 2013, the IFRC EARD has continued to support the five NSs on both long-term development programmes as well as emergency response. The East Asia regional team is providing direct support to and training opportunities for NS personnel in building up their capacity and skills. The team has also represented the East Asia region at various Asia Pacific and global meetings to contribute to and coordinate resources and knowledge sharing in Asia Pacific region.

China – Earthquakes, heavy rainfall/floods, landslides and typhoons are the main natural disasters which affect China. In 2013, these disasters left 1,851 people dead, 388 million people affected and caused CNY 580.84 billion of economic losses. With the support of IFRC, the National Society responded to the disasters in a more efficient and systematic way. The emergency response teams of the RCSC, with the support of the IFRC regional delegation, have been mobilized more often with greater effectiveness.

DPRK – The first half of 2013 proved challenging for the humanitarian organizations in DPRK as well as the country itself, due to the financial sanctions against the country and the tension prevailing on the Korean Peninsula. The Bank of China had refused to transfer funds to DPRK since March 2013, affecting all of Red Cross activities. Flooding in July 2013 has also impeded some of DPRK RCS’ annual plans, during which over 3,385 Red Cross volunteers were mobilized for evacuation, search and rescue, first aid, and distribution of relief items to flood-affected people.

Mongolia – The Mongolian Red Cross Society (MRCS) made a decision to change its organizational structure. As an initial step to start the change in the MRCS, the National Council meeting was held in November. The main outcomes of the National Council Meeting were positive towards the upcoming change in MRCS and approved dates for the National Assembly of the MRCS and topics to be covered during the National Assembly including the revision of the Statute and Strategy 2020 of the MRCS.

Working in partnership

The IFRC’s EARD works closely with the NSs in the region, their governments, and local communities. Other partners include the American Red Cross, Australian Red Cross/Australian government, British Red Cross/British government, Canadian Red Cross/Canadian government, the Chinese government, Danish Red Cross/Danish government, Finnish Red Cross/Finnish government, German Red Cross/German government, Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS), Netherlands Red Cross/Netherlands government, Norwegian Red Cross/Norwegian government, Spanish and Swedish Red Cross/Swedish government. The United Kingdom Department of International Development (DFID) is also a supporter in the region. Close coordination with other Movement partners, such as the ICRC, the IFRC reference centres (i.e. psychosocial support (PSS), climate change, livelihoods) and the Asian Red Cross Red Crescent Network on HIV (ART) is a key element of our work. Maintaining and building relations within the United Nations system continues to be important, especially with partners such as UNDP, WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNFPA and other international and non-government organizations. Furthermore, the regional delegation works with international media agencies and other partners to promote the work of the Red Cross NSs in the region and the IFRC. The NSs in the region have many Red Cross partners engaged in both bilateral and multilateral projects. The IFRC supports the NSs in their coordination with partner national societies.