Raul, far right, with American Red Cross colleagues Ian O'Donnell, David Dunn, David Schindler, and Michele Devlin, all bound for
the Philippines.
Raul Rivera Nuñez, Greater New York’s regional manager of mass care and logistics, recently arrived in the Philippines for a four-week deployment with the Global Red Cross network, helping those affected by Typhoon Haiyan. We recently caught up with Raul, asking him a few questions about his work, the conditions on the ground, and the resilience of the Philippine people.
Q: Where are you staying?
A: We live in base camp in Tacloban City, over-sized tents co-located in an open field, operated by the Danish Red Cross. We have a work tent, a dining hall tent, sleeping tents, etc. We operate from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm (this includes time for breakfast, lunch and dinner).
Base Camp
Q: What kind of work are you doing?
A: When we first arrived, we jumped right onto making distribution runs. We have handed out hygiene kits, tarps, jerry cans, and food packs (rice, noodles, can of sardines). This is at the request of the Philippines Red Cross. Our target number is 2,000 families per day, and this is done in conjunction with host national society. Now we are in talks with the Philippine chapter to see how we can move into the sheltering phase of distribution (handing out more tarps, tool-kits, nails, CGI's, tents, etc...) Any decision will be made in conjunction with the Philippine Red Cross.
Q: Can you talk about your interaction with the Filipino people?
A: The Filipino people have been amazing. They are very welcoming, and always greet us with a smile. When we do distribution runs you can see the genuine expression of gratitude in their faces. When we take a moment to talk to them between runs, they tell us their how they braved the typhoon. Though their stories can be horrifying, they always keep a smile on their face, and their chins up (keep in mind that many of them lost family members, neighbors and friends).
Q: Are you interacting with the local volunteers?
A: All the time. The Philippine Red Cross volunteers are inspiring. They mostly comprise college-aged volunteers. Since the schools are closed until January, they show up day in and day out, and they spend their whole day doing what needs to be done.
Q: Do you have messages for anyone back home?
A: I would like to send a huge Thank You to Kelly McKinney (Greater New York region chief response officer) and Dario Diaz (regional director, planning, readiness and situational awareness, Emergency Services), for going out of their way to make my deployment possible. I would also like to thank my colleagues Monica, Miguel, Erin and JJ for taking up the extra slack during my absence. For anyone I may have forgotten, and had a hand in making my deployment possible, I also want to send you a big THANK YOU.
Time and again when a major disaster strikes somewhere around the world, images of the Global Red Cross network and its volunteers bringing relief to those in need are brought to the forefront. At the heart of each disaster response is the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (known as “the IFRC” or “the Federation”).
Before Typhoon Haiyan tore through the Philippines a few weeks ago, we sat down with Marwan Jilani, head of the IFRC delegation to the United Nations, to discuss the role of the Federation here in NYC and around the world.
Below is an excerpt from that interview which helps put into context the work of the IFRC in the Philippines as well as its ongoing support of the most vulnerable populations across the globe.
First, here is some background on the IFRC:
The IFRC is the world's largest humanitarian network, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.
Founded in 1919, the IFRC comprises 189 member Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies (of which the American Red Cross is one), a secretariat in Geneva and more than 60 delegations strategically located to support activities around the world. There are more Societies in formation.
Greater NY Red Cross (GNY): What is the role of the IFRC in a large disaster?
Marwan Jilani (MJ): When a large disaster occurs, such as a major earthquake or flood, the Federation intervenes to bring in aid from other Red Cross/Red Crescent National Societies only upon invitation of the National Society in the country or countries where the disaster occurred.
Once this request for assistance is made, the Federation, together with the host National Society, will assess the needs on the ground. Based on this assessment, we will then issue an appeal to all National Societies for assistance.
The National Societies come forward to answer this appeal, when possible, by providing people, funds, supplies, or a combination of all three.
In the affected country [or counties], the IFRC will then coordinate the relief efforts between the different National Societies.
GNY:What role does the IFRC play outside of disaster response?
MJ: In the absence of a disaster, the IFRC works in what we call the development sector. This relates to issues such as health, water/sanitation and disaster preparedness. The Federation coordinates this work with National Societies, many of which are well known for their programs in these fields.
In many instances, the Federation works with a host National Society to determine the needs and best strategies. We then coordinate with the partner National Societies that are willing and able to provide support and want to help.
The solidarity within the Global Red Cross Network is not just evident when a major disaster occurs, but also in terms of long-term programs like helping combat diseases such as malaria, measles or HIV or helping to build the capacity and infrastructure to respond to future disasters.
GNY:Can you explain the IFRC's work in NYC at the United Nations?
MJ: We have quite a privileged status at the UN—observer status. This gives us direct access to the meetings of the UN. It is essentially a direct line to the member countries and provides access to the UN systems, including the Secretary General, his office and his staff.
We speak on behalf of all of the Red Cross/Red Crescent National Societies. We advocate for the issues that are important to us—for example, highlighting silent disasters. The IFRC advocates on behalf of the people who are affected by disasters, bringing the attention of the international community to those disasters that do not garner much media attention.
We also represent the National Societies in terms of our interests and our priorities related to the deliberations in the UN on policies, on standards and on the overall development agenda [i.e., health, water/sanitation and disaster preparedness]. We are very much involved in what is called the Millennium Development Goals and post-2015 Development Agenda.
GNY:How are American Red Cross volunteers here in NYC connected to their counterparts in other parts of the world?
MJ: Whether you are working with the American Red Cross or with the Ugandan Red Cross, for example, the volunteers and staff speak the same “humanitarian language.” They share the same principles, they share the same understanding of the tools and mechanisms involved in responding to disasters, and they share the same values.
That power of humanity unites us all, unites all our volunteers, and unites all our staff all over the world. That strong feeling comes into play because we are a global movement, the largest humanitarian network of workers in the world—13 million active volunteers, according to a study that was conducted two years ago. I like to think that there are many more volunteers than these.
What is unique about the movement is not only the number of volunteers and staff but the fact that it’s almost universal, a National Society in nearly every single country.
Red Cross volunteer Felicity von Sück is helping staff the Greater NY Red Cross Call Center at regional headquarters in Manhattan.
New Yorkers trying to locate loved ones in the Philippines as well as
those coping with the emotional trauma caused by the storm, can phone the call center at 1-877-REDCROSS (877-733-2767) for assistance.
“I’m here to be as helpful as I can to the people of the Philippines who can’t get in touch with each other,” Felicity said. “Hopefully I can help make things a little better.”
David Narvaez (below), another Red Cross volunteer helping out in
the Call Center, said, “I’m from the New York area and I want to make an impression
on the Philippine people that we’re with them, in this crisis. My wife is from
the Philippines so I have an added interest in helping people.”
Canvassing in Woodside, Queens
Sean Mckee (above, right) and Kanhong Lin (above, left) are both emergency responders for the NPRC AmeriCorps program at the Red Cross with Sean Murphy (back left) and Tyrell Tomlinson (back right). They spent part of Tues., Nov. 13, in Woodside, Queens, canvasing in Woodside, Queens, to let the Filipino community know about Red Cross tracing services available to those who are unable to reach loved ones after Typhoon Haiyan.
Sean said, “When we told people ‘We’re here for a way to get in contact with your loved ones,’ people immediately lit up and said they wanted to know more.”
Kanhong Lin added, “It’s good for the Red Cross to be out in the community and show interest and say, ‘We know you have family back home and we want to work with you.’”
