Red Cross celebrates 25 yrs of service in Belize

They are always one of the first organisations to respond in times of disaster and on Thursday the millions of volunteers that are the backbone of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies celebrated the birthday of their founder Henry Dunant, who established the organisation in 1863. The movement, which has been operating in Belize for almost a century, was officially accepted as a charity organisation twenty-five years ago. And according to President Karen Diaz, the society has achieved plenty in that short time.

Karen Diaz, President, Belize Red Cross
“First of all, we have countrywide coverage of the Red Cross. So we have a branch in every district. We have volunteers that are trained in very district in disaster response, in first aid training, delivering first aid training as well—not only giving first aid. We have been doing disaster risk reduction activities because it’s not enough to respond, but we also have to be prepared and to mitigate. So we have to reduce the risk that communities are facing from whatever source whether it be low lying or flood or contamination from garbage or for whatever. So we work in a great many communities and I think that really where we have done our best work. We are happy to say that we think that we have a pretty good reputation here in Belize, we are accepted, and we are known wherever we go. There is still work, there is still rural communities, distant communities that we still need to try and get into and do some more work with them and that is our focus right now, especially with regards to disaster and disaster risk reduction.”

In the coming weeks, Red Cross volunteers from all over the globe will be converging in Belize for the Second International Field School, a simulation exercise which is regularly held to prepare the men and women to respond to disasters. The training will take place in several villages in the Toledo District.