Background

The International Services Division of the Singapore Red Cross (SRC), was established to further the mission of the SRC. The SRC is developing a plan that will encourage greater resource building and networking with national societies in the region and internationally. In order to achieve its objectives, the International Services Division of the SRC works closely with various organisations and volunteers in meeting the needs of the vulnerable abroad.

International Relief

The SRC has provided relief to victims of natural disasters and conflicts through the generous support of Singaporeans by their financial assistance, skills, manpower support, and gifts of goods or services. SRC has provided relief to various countries, where more recent efforts include the typhoon victims in Philippines (1990, 1995), fire victims in Myanmar (1990), cyclone victims in Bangladesh (1991), victims affected by the severe famine and food shortage in North Korea (1997), victims affected by the economic crisis in Indonesia (1997, 1998), flood victims in China (1998) and the displaced people affected by the crisis in the Balkans (1999), earthquake victims in Sumatra (2000), El Salvador and Gujarat, India (2001).

Joint Projects with Sister Societies

Joint projects and activities organised by the SRC, together with neighbouring sister National Societies, have been largely associated with health missions, relief assistance and distribution, capacity building and developmental projects. Examples of such projects include:

• Operasi Bhakti. Organised jointly with the Batam Chapter of the Indonesian Red Cross, 3 projects have been undertaken since 1995 to provide health and medical relief and medical consultations to the islanders living in the Riau Islands in Indonesia.

• Operation Saonum. Jointly organised with the Lao Red Cross, the National Youth Council of Singapore and Raleigh International (Singapore). Youth members provided manpower assistance in the development of a water system to provide fresh water to a remote village in Laos.

• Humanitarian Medical and Food Relief Mission for the People of Indonesia. Jointly organised with the Indonesian Red Cross Society, 49 volunteers from the SRC worked together with their Indonesian counterparts in distribution food and medical relief and providing medical treatment to needy families. The areas covered during the mission include Bogor, Clincing, Tambora, Bidaracina, Bandung, Sukabumi, Tasikmalaya, 17 villages in the provinces of Central Java, East Java and Yogyakarta, and villages in Bali, East and West Nusa Tenggara and Maluku.

The SRC continues to identify areas of cooperation with other National Societies for mutual benefit.

Meeting National Obligations

• International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Dissemination. The SRC moves towards supporting and complementing the ICRC in raising public awareness about IHL and its underlying principles and the need for an understanding of IHL, even in times of peace.

• Tracing Services. The SRC has been active in the tracing of Indo-Chinese refugees and other displaced families from countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Myanmar and China and continues in maintaining this capability.

How You Can Help

Individual and corporate volunteers with specialised skills and expertise are welcome to help the SRC meet its national and international obligations. The SRC requires medical and nursing professionals, pharmacists and engineers, accountants, logistics management personnel, etc. to lend their time, skills and expertise. Support towards projects could also include sponsorship of food, medical and pharmaceutical items. Opportunities are also available for other Singaporeans to share their time, talents, expertise and interests in helping those in need.