KENYA RED CROSS SOCIETY

PRESENTATION FOR NTF

Victoria Mwenda

10th December 2012

WHO WE ARE:

History: Henry Dunant(founder): Solferino recommendations: formation of relief societies in all countries, adoption of international principles and laws to provide basis for the relief societies ( protection of medical staff, ambulances, hospitals etc)

1. International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Born 1865)

Impartial, neutral, Independent organization. Directs, coordinates international relief activities conducted by the movement in conflict situations. Mandated by IHL and states signatory to IHL.

Goal: ameliorate suffering in peace and war time. Has 3 components:

International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC)

National societies ( E.g. KRCS, UGRCS, TZRCS)

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent

Activities: Protection: tracing, family reunification, data systems for tracing and unification

Assistance: surgery, evacuation, transfer of wounded, field hospitals, medical teams, medical supplies, training, orthopaedics, manufacture artifical limbs, medical dbase on war injuries

WHO WE ARE

2. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (1919)

Objective of IFRC: inspire, encourage, facilitate at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by national societies. Unites all RC and RC national societies in a world wide network

Functions of IFRC:

Support establishment of NS, Coordinate NS endeavours, Represent NS in international forum, Coordinate and encourage NS to engage in PH activities, as well as care for sick, elderly, oppressed, and other activities that promote social wellbeing, Assists NS in relief activities and directs international relief actions

3. National Societies : 1 per country (1863 conference) NS exist thru govt legislation as auxiliary to public authorities

Have autonomous status

Respects principles of the movement

Provides impartial assistance to victims of internal disturbance

Conduct activities in the country targeting the vulnerable

Help communities in times of disaster

WHO WE ARE

All three components of the movement are bound by the principles of the movement: impartiality, humanity, neutrality, unity, universality, independence, voluntary service

Principles are the rules of the movement and guide all activities.

KENYA RED CROSS SOCIETYVision: to be the most effective, most trusted and self sustaining

humanitarian organization in Kenya

Mission: work with vigor and compassion to prevent and alleviate human suffering and save lives of the most vulnerable

Humanitarian relief organization created thru an act of Parliament Cap 256 of Laws of Kenya on 21st Dec 1965.

Membership of > 70,000 volunteers, member of the international red cross and red crescent societies since 1967

Present in 8 regions, with 64 branches country wide

Mandate: Provide relief to victims of disasters

Carry on and assist in work for improvement of health, prevention of disease

Provide aid to the sick, wounded and non belligerents in war

Promote junior red cross movement

Propagate ideals and humanitarian principles of the red cross

KENYA REDCROSS SOCIETYActivities:

Disaster management: emergency prepardness, response, DRR, climate change adoptation, early recovery, food and nutrition security and refugee operations

Health and social services: HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Non Communicable diseases, Blood safety, Sexual reproductive health, child health and social services

WATSAN: hygiene promotion, sanitation, water supply, irrigation

Nutrition: MIYCN, Applied nutrition, Early warning, HiNI

Supply Chain: business development, procurement, warehousing, logistics

Organizational development: youth, volunteer development and dissemination

Finance

WHERE WE ARE:

Contingency Plan – KRCS National coverage, from September 2012 – June 2013 [ 10 months]

Conflict trend during and after elections since 2002

Nomadic areas noted to experience chronic conflict due to continued shrinking and competition for natural resources

County structure fueling conflict in ASAL areas due to minority vs majority control related perceptions over natural resources and issues related to administrative boundaries

Proliferation of light arms and weapons from neighboring countries has resulted in increased episodes and severity of insecurity in the ASAL region

Based on Scenario 3 but will be adopted based on the situation

Contingency Plan - KRCSContingency Planning Scenarios

Scenario 1: Smooth General Elections

This scenario will be characterised by the following possible occurrences:

Smooth and peaceful campaigns; voting, little or no incidents of incitements and hate speech. No organised pre-medicated pre-election violence. All parties accept results, smooth transition.

Limited incidents of violence does not create in excess of 5,000 people affected and displaced

Role of KRCS:

Providing First Aid and ambulance service during the electioneering period, providing humanitarian assistance to the people affected and displaced through the respective branches and increased dissemination, emblem campaign and promote peace and conflict prevention.

Contingency Plan - KRCSScenario 2: Smooth Elections with Isolated Violence Incidences

Isolated incidents of violence are reported during the electioneering period but the security mechanisms are in place to quell escalation. Cases of security bias are reported

Election results are contested at county and national level but this does not lead to escalation of violence.

Transition is delayed by need for presidential runoff. This builds tensions in certain regions but the run off takes place with minimal disruptions.

The population affected and displaced by localised violence are up-to 20,000 people countrywide.

Role of KRCS:

Identify, prioritise potential hotspots, preposition emergency relief stocks and personnel in respective branches to administer First Aid on site and ambulatory services. provision of humanitarian assistance to the displaced through the regional hubs. The KRCS will take part in increased dissemination, advocacy for IHL, Promote safe access, conduct emblem campaign and promote peace and conflict prevention.

Contingency Plan - KRCSScenario 3: Regional Disturbances

Widespread violence and conflict before, during and after the elections

Heightened population movements and displacements caused by fear and violence.

The transition is marred by disputes and disagreements on election results mainly in county representation.

The security forces are spread thin and are unable to mount and ineffective response. Up to 400,000 affected and displaced persons

Role of KRCS:

Preposition nation wide, deploy teams to the affected regions scale and to undertake a major Humanitarian and relief operation. The operations include but not limited to Food, Water and Sanitation, Health, Nutrition and Camp Management for the emergency period as appeals and solutions are being sought by the Government and other humanitarian actors.

Contingency Plan - KRCSScenario 4: National Catastrophe

The country is engulfed in widespread violence and conflict bordering a civil war. There is an increased likelihood of external aggression from the neighbouring countries. The security machinery in the country lacks coordination leading to anarchy and a state of lawlessness.

Conflict and violence builds up countrywide towards the elections and spills over to the period after elections ,mass population movements with widespread destruction of property and excessive human rights abuse leads to a humanitarian crisis. Limited humanitarian space further deepens the humanitarian crisis

The population affected and displaced are in excess of 1,000,000 people

Role of KRCS and movement partners: to deploy a national scale relief operation with deployment of ERUs in Relief, Water and Sanitation, Health, Nutrition, Camp Management, promotion of IHL, dissemination and advocacy

Contingency Plan - KRCSKRCS Humanitarian Response Strategy Pillars:

1. Advocacy: entails peace building initiatives, dissemination of the RC/RC Movement Principles and emblem, raising awareness on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) throughout the country.

2. Preparedness entails mapping an operational plan, building the capacity in key branches and regions, networking and coordination, prepositioning of food, Non-Food Items (NFIs), technical expertise and, logistics. 

3. Response involves operationalization of proposed intervention activities at the onset, during and after the emergency

Contingency Plan KRCSPreparedness Strategy:

Re-fresher training of staff and volunteers on disaster management National Disaster Response Teams (NDRT) and Regional Disaster Response Teams (RDRT)

Prepositioning of emergency food, Non-Food Items (NFIs), health and WATSAN stocks, technical and logistical capacity in designated hubs.

Strengthening of Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) as a National coordination emergency centre including monitoring and enhancing early warning systems (HF radio and the emergency line)

Positioning of KRCS (E-Plus) ambulances in strategic areas and in all major rallies to allow for prompt response in case of an emergency.

Sharing and networking with stakeholders to enhance coordination at all levels.

A KRCS national Task force to be established

Contingency Plan - KRCSResponse Strategy

Activation of Red Cross Action Teams (RCAT) during the General Election campaign period, the voting day itself and up to 3 months after the General Election.

Ensuring maximum coverage of all political constituencies and to put in place mobile teams for coverage of far flung and hard to reach areas.

Activation of the Inter-KRCS Incident Command System (ICS) for managing the operation including a 24/7 command post and ambulance service at regional and headquarters level.

Working with the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) and other stakeholders for Advanced ICS.

Operationalize the Mass Casualty Response Plan (MCRP) and follow through with humanitarian assistance.

Contingency Plan - KRCS Incident command system to be used

Graduated at all levels i.e. branch, region and headquarter

Unified structure and clear command and reporting lines at all levels to avoid miscommunication

Contingency Plan - KRCS DISCLAIMER: While it is not within our mandate to judge who is right or

wrong and /or to take sides in a political contest, the humanitarian consequences of any politically motivated violence and displacement becomes our problem and everyone looks towards us for help including those responsible for the problem if and when it happens. For that matter, we are preparing ourselves for humanitarian operations that may be required if situation goes for the worse. The scenarios plotted below are hypothetically formed and are not in any way a prediction for what is to come but have been prepared for planning purposes with humanitarian needs in mind. Any interpretation of any political nature whatsoever is unintended and should be viewed as so. The Kenya Red Cross is a neutral humanitarian organization as provided for in the Geneva Convention and its additional protocols and the Humanitarian Code of Conduct.