Always Red Winter 2012 - Final

7/18/2019 Always Red Winter 2012 - Final

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No limits Giving youth a little nudge to unlock their potential

Women and warThree women, three stories about war

A hunter’s paradise why more people are choosing second-hand shops as their fashion destination

WINTER 2012 VOLUME 2



Welcome to the second edition of

Always Red, and the first for 2012.

The year may have only just begun,

but it has been full of milestone one-year

anniversaries with the Australian floods in

January, Christchurch in February and Japan

in March.

These natural disasters and our support toother national societies in their response has

stretched our resources at an unprecedentedlevel. Domestically the scale of the disasterin Christchurch and the unique and evolvingdemands of recovery has provided us with anopportunity to learn, grow and change.

Recovery is new to New Zealand Red Crossand has become an important facet of what wenow do. Our commitment to Canterbury and therest of New Zealand is long-term. We will helppeople better prepare for future events, strengthencommunity resilience and invest in recoveryactivities that are relevant and effective.

We strive to be more responsive, flexible,innovative, and consultative in our work withcommunities. We aim to do this through ourrecovery work and the development of a suite ofnon-traditional community programmes that havethe potential to be rolled out nationally.

Our understanding and practical experiencetells us we need to make sure we are preparedfor, and able to respond to these challenges andsupport people in need. As Red Cross this is whatwe do and will continue to do.

John R. WareChief Executive



NEW ZEALAND RED CROSSALWAYS RED

Official National Newsletter ofNew Zealand Red Cross

ISSN 2253-2250 (Print)

ISSN 2253-2269 (Online)

Winter 2012 Volume 2

National PresidentPenny Mason

Chief Executive John R. Ware

New Zealand Red Cross and 188 other National Societies are members of the

International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies. Together with theInternational Committee of the Red Cross, they make up the International Red Cross andRed Crescent Movement. It is an independent humanitarian organisation based on thefundamental principals of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, VoluntaryService, Unity and Universality.

New Zealand Red Cross is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable people bymobilising the power of humanity and enhancing community resilience.

The only limit is yourself Giving youth a little nudge tounlock their potential

Bargain hunter’s paradise Bargains, originality and the thrill of thehunt, why more people are choosing second-hand shops as their fashion destination

Covering the gaps afterearthquakesThe mental scars in Christchurch after

repeated earthquakes. What worksnow and what is the priority?

Women and WarThree women, three stories about war

Inside SyriaThe ICRC president returns to Syriaagain to expand access

A walk down memory laneRakaia Red Cross has a history itshistorical society is putting in a book

2.

4.

7.

10.

19.

20.

NATIONAL OFFICE

PO Box 12140, Wellington69 Molesworth Street, Thorndon,Wellington 6144Phone: 04 471 8250Fax: 04 471 8251

Email: [email protected]: www.redcross.org.nz

Editor: Justine TurnerEmail: [email protected]

Design & Print: MakeReadyEmail: [email protected]



Keonte Ngatai giving it his all during one of the challenges.

IS

ONLY LIMITTHE

YOURSELF2 NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS



Keonte Ngatai was a shy, withdrawn 11 year old

boy. His family had recently moved to Manaia, a

peaceful rural town of about 1000, situated on the

coast at the foot of Mount Taranaki’s southern slopes.

“The move was a bit of a culturalshock for him,” his mother Donna says.

“He began to lack confidence in hisability in discussions and leadershiproles, shying away from taking thelimelight.”

Keonte has recently completed NewZealand Red Cross’ No Limits youthprogramme, designed to empower10 to 12 year olds through personal

development and positive integrationto reach their full potential.

Donna says Keonte feels importantagain.

“He is more confident in tryingsomething new, especially individually,he is not shy to stand out and shinenow!”

No Limits selects students who, dueto socioeconomic, family situations,bullying, shyness or social isolation,would not normally get an opportunityto attend a development programme.Students are initially nominated byschools, police youth aid, big brothersbig sisters, youth organisationsincluding Whanau Ora, Barnardosand Child Youth and Family to partakein the three day programme. Onceselected Red Cross then invites students(with caregiver consent) to participate,at no cost.

New Zealand Red Cross TaranakiArea Manager Karen Lawson says theprogramme, which has been runningsince August 2010, is a communitypartnership designed to make childrenbelieve in themselves again.

“This is not a programme for childrenwith serious behavioural problems

fresh, attractive and

relevant to children’s needs

today they can do and arecapable of, anything.

instead it is for those who need a littlenudge to unlock their potential.

“The programme is never exactlythe same each time we run it, so itremains fresh, attractive and relevant tochildren’s needs today.”

The course combines a unique mixof outdoor education skills, activitiesand educational modules provided bypolice, army, fire service, Department

of Conservation, surf lifesaving,dieticians and chefs. It is designedto help students acquire and developskills including problem solving,decision making, communication,planning and teamwork as well asexposing them to a range of positiveroles models.

One parent says of her child: “Alexis home from the first day of theprogramme and we can’t get him tostop talking about it.”

The programme is facilitated by youthleaders, known to the students as“besties” who have been selected fromhigh school leadership programmesthroughout the region. Lawson saysby getting students to help, theprogramme instils the idea that whenthe younger ones grow up, they canreturn in their final years of high schoolto take on the role of a “bestie” for thenext generation.

Youth leader or “bestie” Shaun Leuthartsays the young students look up tothem. “I think our presence as youthleaders had a positive effect,” he says.“They were able to socialise and talkto us because of our age.”

While another youth leader Ricky

Riccitellis says “No Limits created abonding experience for these kids. Itbuilt their self-confidence throughoutthe three days and they learnt andcooperated together as a team”.

Although the programme runs overthree days, children do not stay

overnight. Regional Lions Clubsprovide drivers to pick up and drop

home participants to ensure everyonewho wants to can attend. Children arealso feed during the day.

“Parents and caregivers are notaware of programmes contents priorto a session in order to promoteconversation and prevent students frombecoming frightened or nervous,” says

Lawson.“The programme has a lasting effecton participants. It teaches them thatthey can do and are capable ofanything. The only limit is yourself.”

The programme has been developedin consultation with trained councillors,aid workers, New Plymouth DistrictCouncil community development,police, youth aid and Taranaki outdooradventures. It is aligned with thecountry’s Youth Development Strategy

Aotearoa.New Zealand Police Taranaki youthservice coordinator Constable AndrewRoss says the youth become immenselyengaged with Red Cross’ No Limits.

“The whole idea to push them alittle and open their eyes to what’sout there, the youth I spoke to wereimpressed,” he says.

And so is Donna.

“Keonte loved his adventure. Keonte

has changed and I thank No Limitsfor giving my boy the confidence hesometimes lacked. I found the teamawesome; I wish I could send all mychildren.”

Ledgin Wetere rides his board.

ALWAYS RED 3



Bargains, originality and the thrill of the hunt, are some of the reasons why more people are

choosing second-hand shops as their fashion destination. Once viewed as daggy, musty and just

plain old, second-hand clothing is now very much on trend. The younger generation are heading

to second-hand shops, such as Red Cross, to find unique vintage items not available in mainstreamfashion stores and at prices they can afford.

Bargainparadisehunter’s

“The popularity of vintage and retro has really re-defined how many second-hand retailers operate, items that mayhave previously been viewed (and priced) as daggy and old fashioned, are often the items the young hipsters are

looking for” says Renee Ramakers Red Cross Retail Manager Lower North Island. “This has all been greatfor Red Cross shops, as our profile, customer numbers and sales have all increased with this change in

customer expectation.”

For university student Hayley, it is the thrill of finding a “gem amongst the piles ofquestionable fashion” that keeps her shopping second-hand. Hayley has beenshopping at second-hand stores since deciding to “rock the 80s” with a groupof friends. At the time 80’s and vintage inspired outfits had yet to hit mainstream

fashion stores. Therefore the place to go was second-hand shops, home of dresses,jackets and pants donned during decades of the past.

Many of the well-constructed brands, fabrics and styles last the distance.For others, a little love, care and sewing skills can transform them to new

again. “You have to troll through racks, look for potential ‘in’ items that you could alter,” Hayley says. “[I love] that challenge and potential

to make something personalised...not to mention the thrill youget knowing you’re not likely to run into someone on the streetwearing the exact same dress.”

There is always the chance of finding something unique andoriginal at Red Cross as new items are donated every day.“Certain times of the year see an influx of donated goods,

season changes and over Christmas we are usually verybusy sorting donated goods” says Renee. Red Cross hasalso gained support from big brands such as CountryRoad and Pumpkin Patch who donate old stock and extrainventory.

Whether it is an original piece of vintage clothing orexclusive brands the customer is after, they have thechoice when shopping at one of Red Cross’ shops.

“Many second-hand shoppers visit their favourite storeson a regular basis” says Renee.

“We have customers that visit us every day, to see

what is new”.Regular second-hand customer and fashion lover Joy has two very good reasons why she keepsgoing back. Second-hand shops are “neverthe same as the previous day” says Joy. “Not

BY LISA DUFF

4 NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS



to mention the bargains”. Whenasked to name her favourite second-hand buys Joy is quick to answer.“A $3.50 leather clutch and blackleather boots with fur trim” she replies.Understandable, as there are notmany places where you can purchasegenuine, well quality fabrics for afraction of the original price. “I lovecoming home with bags of stuff thatonly cost $5” says Joy.

It is not only clothing Joy haspurchased from charity shops, sinceshe began bargain hunting at schoolgalas at the age of six. “Anything andeverything! Furniture, knick knacks,toys, books, clothes, housewares,basically anything you can buy froman everyday store” says Joy.

“The most common donation that wereceive is clothing, homewares andmanchester,” says Bronwyn TubmanRegional Retail Manager Midland

Region. “Areas such as Hamilton andTauranga stock and sell a large rangeof homewares and furniture.”

These have become popular items topurchase at Red Cross shops as “tobuy second time around is a moresustainable choice, it makes goodfinancial sense [to buy] at a lesserprice” says Bronwyn. At a lower priceshoppers can also find unique piecesof retro furniture, which like clothing ison trend.

New customers are walking into RedCross shops to check out the wideselection of clothing and house warebut regular customers are coming backfor “the personal experience that the

shops provide” says Renee. “We knowmany by name and know what itemswe have they would love. The regularcustomers will “constantly complimentus on the layout, display andmerchandising in store” says Renee.

You can see why when walking intothe newly opened shop on Tawa’smain road, now the fifth Red Crossshop to open in the Wellington Region.

On a busy Saturday morning, thereare several shoppers trolling throughthe racks. The fixtures are clearlyspread out so finding a vintage gemis made that much easier. Eveningbags and shoes are merchandisedalongside the women’s dresses so

customers can pick out a whole newoutfit.

This is a fine example of how RedCross shops have evolved over the

years focusing “attention on creating ashopping experience for the customerparallel with high street/commercialretail” says Renee. This attracts thosepeople once afraid of “dingy” pre-loved items, to venture into the worldof second-hand shopping.

So what is it that makes people

choose Red Cross as their second-hand shopping destination? “Wefocus a lot on ensuring our 1100volunteers are retail-trained so thecustomer has a warm, friendly andinviting experience with Red Cross”says Renee. “Our volunteers are anamazing group of people, who arethe face of Red Cross in each suburb/town we operate in”.

For Joy and Hayley the answer is asimple. “I like to go to the charity ones

because I like that the proceeds goto good causes” says Hayley. Andgood causes they do, with all theprofits from the Red Cross shops goingdirectly to the charity. “Our shops havebecome destination stores for thoselooking for something different, wherefifty bucks can stock up their wardrobeand a friendly face ensures a fantasticshopping experience” says Renee.

gem amongstthe piles of

questionablefashion never

the same as theprevious day

Hannah a volunteer at Red Cross Newtownshop in Wellington.

Customer browsing the racks at Red Cross’Newtown shop in Wellington.

ALWAYS RED 5



LONG ROAD

But progress in the hardest-hittowns is slow. Large scalerebuilding of permanent

homes has yet to begin, and survivorsare anxious about the lack of clearreconstruction plans, particularly thosefamilies who were evacuated followingthe Fukushima nuclear accident whoare also anxious about the possiblelong-term health effects of the disaster.

The Japanese Red Cross Society,which deployed nearly 900 medical

teams and hundreds of psychosocialworkers to support the relief operation,is now focused on addressing theneeds of more than 300,000 peopleliving in temporary accommodation.

“We are doing our utmost to makepeople comfortable, even though theconditions are cramped and cold inwinter. We are also helping to preventmany elderly survivors from fallinginto emotional isolation and physicalinactivity,” said Tadateru Konoe,

President of both the Japanese RedCross Society and the InternationalFederation of Red Cross and RedCrescent Societies (IFRC).

Red Cross has provided more than125,000 families in temporaryhousing with a set of six electricalappliances – including a television,fridge, rice cooker, hot waterdispenser, microwave and electricheaters – have been distributed tomany of the most vulnerable to help

them stay warm amid sub-zero wintertemperatures.

Psychosocial teams have shifted theirfocus away from the evacuationcentres – now virtually empty – to

temporary housing settlements wherethey organise activities, such as teaparties and massage sessions forelderly residents.

“People have lost not only their homes,but also their jobs,” Sachiko Abe, aRed Cross psychosocial coordinatorin Iwate Prefecture, said. “What theyhave lost is so great that it’s difficultfor them to comes to terms with it andmove forward; so I feel they reallyneed psychosocial support.”

In practice wellness is made up of bothphysical and psychological factors.

That’s very much the thinking behind

the decision to set up the Smile Parkproject, an indoor playground aimedat the many children in Fukushimawhose families don’t feel it’s safe forthem to play out of doors.

“Today I feel very grateful to the Red

Cross for creating an indoor playarea like this; my two kids look veryhappy, and they don’t want to gohome,” says one mother, TamamiMorino. “We initially registered themfor two hours, and then extendedtheir stay for four hours.”

It’s clear that the Red Cross willneed to play a continuing role insupporting the needs of communitiesinto the future. Also central to theNational Society’s response is the

conviction that people must havemore information and be betterprepared for eventualities like this.

Global donations have allowed theRed Cross to make a real differencein helping survivors of the tsunamito regain More than $781 millionhas been donated through nationalRed Cross Red Crescent societiesworldwide. These funds are helpingto make residents in temporaryhousing more comfortable, as well assupporting the most vulnerable, suchas the elderly and children. They arealso going towards the constructionof temporary hospitals and clinics.

ONE YEAR AFTER JAPAN’S WORST RECORDED NATURAL DISASTER,

the area hit by the March 11 2011 earthquake and tsunami is showing clear signs ofrecovery. The tsunami caused devastation along a 700km stretch of coastline on thenorth east of Japan’s Honshu Island. Now, almost 70 per cent of the estimated 22million tons of debris has been painstakingly cleared, electricity and communicationshave been restored and local businesses are slowly re-establishing themselves.

As part of its psychosocial support, Japanese Red Crossorganises Smile Smile health classes for the elderly”. C

r e d i t : P a t r i c k W a

c k J a p a n e s e R e d C r o s s

RECOVERY

THE

TO




New Zealand Red Cross atone year Christchurch earthquakecommemorations.

Co vering the gaps af ter the ear thquakes

What works now – and what is the priority in six months? The

mental scars in Christchurch after the repeated earthquakes are

moderate to severe, but the authorities, agencies are trying to

address them, and learn from their work to build up.

From September 4 2010 to June2011 the town of Christchurch andthe surrounding Canterbury regionof New Zealand experienced threemajor earthquakes and numerousafter-shocks. The second big quake inFebruary killed 181 and the shocks stillcontinue. This on-going disaster is thesecond most deadly in New Zealand´shistory and by far the costliest naturaldisaster ever.

New Zealand Red Cross and manyother organisations were quickly onthe spot to help the injured and thesurvivors. However, as often occurs,dealing with loss, injuries, sorrow andgrief over long period also affected the

helpers. This was acknowledged andsupport for them was organised.

At Massey University, Wellington, the

Disaster Research Centre establisheda psychosocial advisory group,made-up of experienced academics,who could reflect on strategy andsignpost relevant evidence-informedresearch findings to be shared with theMinistries and local councils. Findingswere also shared with grass-rootgroups operating in the field.

The idea was to be available, flexibleand provide evidence informedmaterial to all who needed input,and the advisory group contributed toboth strategy, training and monitoringmaterials.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS?

The Ministries leading the recoveryand local responders asked: Whatworks? What is the priority right

now - and in six months? What arethe costs of psychosocial and mentalhealth interventions or, what wouldthe cost be if these activities were notbudgeted?

The questions were legitimate andserious as they had consequences foran affected population in distress andan entire region’s well-being. So, howdid we respond? We worked togetherto bring the strands of our knowledgeand study into a holistic response toprovide interventions that reflectedwhat had been shown to be the mosteffective.

To this day, the group discusses

relevant research literature, from theviewpoint that psychosocial recoveryinvolves easing psychologicaldifficulties for individuals, families and

ALWAYS RED 7



MOST CAN COPE

Often resources are initiallyoverwhelmed and then under-budgetedfor the long-term effort that recoverydemands. The advisory group isworking to ensure that these long-term needs are acknow-ledged andwill be met by agencies as evidencedoes show that most of an affected

population will manage to cope ifsome support and practical help is onhand. Also community empowermentthrough participation in the recoveryprocess needs to be continuallysupported as it is a vital aspect ofrecovery design on all levels.

This immediate support and helpneeds to be effective, organisedand budgeted. Raphael as far backas 1986 defined this immediatesupport as being: ‘Basic, non-intrusive

pragmatic care with a focus onlistening but not forcing talk; assessingneeds and ensuring that basic needsare met; encouraging but not forcingcompany from significant others; andprotecting from further harm.’

Although most of an affectedpopulation will recover over time,a percentage will need specialisedfollow-up. This too needs to beorganized in the recovery effort.

RELOCATE WITH PARTICIPATION

The advisory group underlined andsupported the five effective elements.However, it is necessary not onlyto promote these elements, once

the immediate response phase haspassed, but to establish monitoring andevaluation of what works. Likewise,it is necessary to anchor on-goingactivities in local ownership to enhancesustainability in the response.

The way that practical issues such

as post-disaster financial problems,housing and schooling are addressedcan have real impact on recovery.Because some suburbs had beenbuilt on swamp land which has nowliquefied, schools, neighbourhoods,businesses, must now relocate andland use is a core question. A centralbody has been set up to re-planareas of the city and a real attempt atcommunity participation is underway-at the moment, several community

workshops are taking place wherethe “new Christchurch town” plan isopen to suggestions from the localpopulation.communities - as well as building and

bolstering social and psychologicalwellbeing. We have produceddocuments and inputs on national andlocal strategies.

INITIATIVES MUST EVOLVE

Our standpoint is that all psychosocialrecovery is situated in the contextof many interconnected dimensions

of recovery that include cultural,psychological, social, economic,ecological and physical dimensions– all of which are part of communityregeneration.

As the psychosocial recoveryprocesses develops over time, initialpsychosocial initiatives should evolvewith needs and cover any gaps in theresponse structure. For example, localsupport centres had mushroomed butthe staff needed added training to

give the necessary multi-dimensionedpsychosocial support to families andindividuals dealing with on-goingissues.

It became clear that managers neededon-going support and respite as theyhad additional demands to deal with,longer hours and difficult workingconditions; children at risk had oftenbeen forced to relocate and it wasvital that agencies could follow-up andsupport them.

To cater for this, planning needs to belong-term, including on-going supportand appropriate job design in allthe teams, groups and local humanresources.

Roger Young from Wainoni receiving his torchradio from outreach volunteer Steve Guyatt.

WHAT IS THE

PRIORITY RIGHT

NOW – AND INSIX MONTHS?

PSYCHOSOCIAL

RECOVERY

INVOLVES EASING

PSYCHOLOGICAL

DIFFICULTIES FORINDIVIDUALS,

FAMILIES AND

COMMUNITIES




EXPLAINING IS NOT ENOUGH

A holistic approach to recoveryrequires that leading agencieswork together across many levels ofexpertise: economic, construction,environmental, education, health andinfrastructure engineering. Psychosocialrecovery would benefit from the abovedomains taking into considerationthe community and individual factorsexisting in their fields of intervention.

In Christchurch civil engineers haverealised that explaining that a house,a street, a local school is unsafe isnot enough. They have also to listenand consult with the people living inthese buildings and locations beforerelocation can really move on. This is

happening in some parts of the region.One innovative council in Kaipoico-ordinates engineers, employmentagencies, school principals and

psychosocial support in openconsultation meetings with the localpopulation to re-plan their suburb.

TAKING TIME

So some of the lessons learned arethat we still need to plan long-term as

opposed to only responding well in theimmediate phase, we need to reallyput into practice how to enact theempowering, collaborative approachof active community participation inthe recovery, and we need to budgetfor the recovery of people’s mentalwell-being and all that entails, not justthe construction of their shelters andhardware.

Also, needs in disasters are sometimesoverwhelming and conflicts of interests

should be managed by a mediatinggoverning/co-ordinating body thatcan work alongside a population in acreative way.

The recovery in Christchurch andCanterbury continues and so doesthe work of monitoring, adjusting,providing supportive literature andfacilitating meetings and training. Partof this work is to take the essentialtime, so often left aside, to see what

is working, what worked and howcould we improve for the next timeadversity strikes.

National disaster response team trials in Auckland.

Maureen Mooney is apsychologist who has workedwith psychosocial supportin French Red Cross andinternationally for 10 years.During a sabbatical in herhome country New Zealand,she was asked to help analyse

which psychosocial interventionsworks and how to plan for futuredisasters.

ALWAYS RED 9



W ar is not just a man’s business. In

today’s conflicts the impact of fighting

on women can be severe. International

humanitarian law recognises this in thegeneral protections it affords to all civilians,

as well as in some specific provisions

providing additional protection to women.

WOMEN

&

WAR

Three women share their perspectives.




“When we pick up a newspaper or watch the news we areoften confronted with some distressing pictures and stories ofconflicts that are raging in the world. But often we just see one

side and that is the man’s war concerned with tactics, militarycasualties and numbers, money, power and politics. We do nothear about the other side, the stories of women who keep theircommunities going despite the chaos that surrounds them. Thisis the story of most people affected by war, ordinary people justlike you and me.

Like men, women experience war in a number of ways: asvictims, as combatants or as promoters of peace. There is no‘one’ way that women experience war. War is not easy foranyone and there are certain challenges the population hasto overcome in order to survive, both physically and mentally.However there are particular kinds of risks that women and girls

face. From being displaced from their families and homes tosexual violence or being locked up in detention facilities.

Across the world about 37 million people or the combinedpopulation of New Zealand, Australian and all of the PacificIslands are currently displaced by war. About 70 per cent or 25million of those displaced are women and girls. Women andgirls are uprooted from their homes, schools, friends and their

worlds, living on the very basics. Worse still is this number isgrowing by the day.

When emergencies strike life can change in an instant. Conflictand natural disasters can destroy homes, communities andforce people to flee or find shelter often with little more thanthe clothes on their backs. Families and individuals can findthemselves without basic necessities from food and water tohygiene supplies and medical care.

It is common that family members become displaced, exposingfurther challenges to women because in certain cultures theycannot travel unless accompanied by husbands or male familymembers. Travelling over a huge distance, usually on foot, in

The global community needsto step up its investment in women.

International humanitarian law aims to prevent and

alleviate human suffering in war without discrimination

based on sex. But it does recognise that women face

specific problems in armed conflict, New Zealand Advocacy

and Policy Manager Gabrielle Emery explains.

OTHER STORY

the

ALWAYS RED 11



harsh conditions with little food or water.Imagine taking that journey with a smallchild, pregnant or with a disability?And then upon arriving at a camp, lifedoesn’t get much easier. Women usuallyhave to travel to collect firewood, wateror rations and then there is the risk of

being raped or suffering injury fromlandmines.

Women do not stop getting pregnantor having babies during times ofconflict. In fact, statistics show thatpregnancies increase during times ofarmed conflict as women can be cutoff from their usual family planningservices. Sexual violence and rape issadly very common in humanitariansettings. The breakdown of societalnorms and the complete chaos that

over prevails means that women andgirls vulnerability to exploitation andabuse increases. The physical andemotional impacts can be devastatingand sadly victims are often thought tobring dishonour upon their families andcommunities, in some cases abandonedor a victim of honour killings.

Rape has now been recognisedas a crime against humanity andis prosecutable under internationallaw. Sadly, however, the complete

breakdown of law and orderdomestically means that manyperpetrators are not punished or bestopped from committing this kind ofhorrible act.

But women are not always passivevictims of war, the reality is more andmore are taking up arms and joiningin the fighting. The assumptions thatwomen are harmless and arouse lessersuspicions make them a preferredchoice when it comes to transporting

weapons, gathering intelligence oracting as suicide bombers.

However the tremendous difficultieswomen continue to face in today’sconflicts do not arise because ofgaps in the law, but rather becausethe law is not sufficiently respected orenforced. Women’s rights, in manycountries, are also not adequately

respected. This is either due to culturalor religious reasons or because womenand girls are not granted the samestatus as men.

Sustainable peace requires the fullparticipation of women at all stagesof the peace process—yet they havebeen largely excluded from formalefforts to develop and implementworkable solutions. Their involvementin these mechanisms, which preventconflict, stop war, and stabilise regions

damaged by warfare, is essential. Theglobal community needs to step up itsinvestment in women.

The world needs to invest in womenbecause it is the right thing to do.I read an article recently about aCongolese woman who was raped infront of her children, her husband wasmurdered. And do you know what herbiggest worry was? That her childrenwould have hate in their hearts andwhen they grew up they would want

to do this again. This mother has abetter chance to heal her children thanany international agreement and sheneeds to be supported in her quest todo this.”

There is no‘one’ way that

womenexperience

war.

Women benefit from the generalprotection afforded by internationalhumanitarian law. Along with othersthey must be able to live free fromintimidation and abuse. A specificprotection for women also exists,primarily in respect to their healthand hygiene needs and their role asmothers. The international communityhas also recognised the particularimpact on women during conflictand has passed Security Council

Resolution 1325 on Women, Peaceand Security, which calls on the needto afford greater attention for womenand girls during conflict and long-termrehabilitation processes.

Gabrielle Emery par ticipating in the interactive side of the seminar.




“In 1980 I went to the ThaiCambodian border with a medicalteam and did my first contract or

mission as the French call it, withNew Zealand Red Cross. That tripand the work I did was the start ofmy relationship with the InternationalRed Cross Movement. In Septemberof last year I returned from fivemonths in Libya based in Tripoli onthe government side.

Look at the Canterbury earthquakes,can we imagine not having thatsupport? And if we can, can weimagine what it must be like living

in a country where there is ongoingconflict. All the laws for example thatare in place to protect you, in someplaces are no longer applicable.What rights do you have as civiliansand especially as women?

As we know war has historicallybeen considered a matter of concernfor men only, but other civilianssuch as women, children and theelderly have always been at risk,or sometimes, as we unfortunately

know, are specifically targeted asthey are the most vulnerable.

In a war or conflict situationwomen are either at home, in aplace of detention or displaced

either internally in another town,with relatives or in a camp or as arefugee in another country.

Access to health care is a hugeproblem I have experienced often.Injured and wounded people

not able to reach medical carebecause of frontlines, checkpoints,facilities have been destroyed or thedoctors and nurses run away, oftenthreatened, arrested or even killedbecause they have given medicalcare to the perceived wrong people!

There are no longer two sides of aconflict, often there are three to foursides as seen in the Yugoslav conflictin the 1990s, making it very difficultto negotiate on behalf of the victims.

Another new development, especiallywith New Zealand Red Cross is thatthere is a lot more support for whenone returns home from a conflictarea. And now after every mission

we go to see a psychologist. Beforeit was by choice but now there is anobligation. This acknowledgement by

the Red Cross movement has beenin place now for some years. It is notsimply to catch us going “through abad stage”and if they do then it is agood thing and stops us from goingon another mission not prepared. Itis simply an acknowledgement thatstress can not only present itself asan acute episode but can accumulateover a period of time to form PostTraumatic Stress Disorder. Out in thefield there are staff health postings

in some areas, especially in Sudan.When a team in my office werekidnapped in Darfur, both femaleexpatriates who were unharmedwere flown to Switzerland fordebriefings. Overall there is muchgreater support for when securityincidents happen in the field.

Finally, I have been involved withRed Cross overseas for 31 years andthere is definitely more good in theworld but where I have worked it’s

not always obvious. But it’s out thereand when you take the time you willfind it amongst the many not so goodthings. I have been fortunate to haveseen the best of humanity.

N

ew Zealand Red Cross

aid worker Judy Owen

is a registered nurse and

shares what she has seen andalso her experience working as

a woman amidst war.

I have been

fortunate to haveseen the bestof humanity.

from the

INSIDE

ALWAYS RED 13


http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/always-red-winter-2012-final 16/2814 NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS



I am a kiwi, originally from Rwanda, and my story began on the 6 of April of1994. That very fateful Wednesday evening changed the lives of every Rwandan.The president was murdered, which sparked a war between the two ethnic groupsin Rwanda, and within a matter of hours a massacre began. Neighbours turnedagainst each other, those who were friends were now killing each other. If onecould have walked down the street of a Rwandan neighbourhood shortly after thisdevastation you would have found the wheels of a tricycle still spinning, the coffeestill brewing on the stove, the doors left wide open, it was instantly obvious that

whoever left the family home, left in a hurry, they left unprepared.That is exactly what happened to my family and I.

I remember the day that we left our home, never to return, like it was yesterday.

That morning my parents crammed me, and my four other siblings, along withfour other people who were with us at the time into a small car and left everythingbehind. As we were driving past our school, our church, friends’ and relatives;houses, the park where we use to play, no-one would have guessed in a million years that, THAT would be the last time we were ever going to see them for yearsto come. We thought we might be back in a few days, after all the violence hadcalmed down so we literally left with nothing but the clothes on our backs. Wespent the next few weeks moving from home to home, city to city, country tocountry until we reached our new home New Zealand, almost two years afterthat fateful night.

When we were fleeing, we didn’t know where we were going, and how long wewere going for. My parents decided it would be better to travel separately so thatif some us were killed, we wouldn’t all get killed together. This was really difficultfor us. I remember on one occasion my parents sent me and my sister with myuncle to take us to our grandma’s house.

On our way, we were stopped at one of the many roadblocks and a man came tous holding a bloody knife in one hand and in another, a gun which he held to mysister’s head. It felt like an out of body experience, and I still don’t know what myuncle told the man so he could let us go but he spared us. On that Wednesday,my brother had gone to my auntie’s house, and for weeks we thought our brother,along with the family he was with, had been killed. We had people tell us thatthey saw his body on the road somewhere and others told us that they saw himin a car heading here or there! Fortunately, we were reunited with him abouta month after the killings begun. It pained me watching the grownups cry likelittle kids, not knowing what to do, where to go and what to think. Not knowingwhether you will be alive tomorrow or even in the next second.

Becoming a refugee when I was so young was hard – I had a lot of questions

about what was happening around us, but few answers. During the process offleeing, I wanted to know why people were killing each other, and when wereWE going to die mum? Why couldn’t we go home? Why was I only allowedone slice of bread per day? Why did we have to sleep on a single bed with sixof our other cousins? At one point there were about 60 of us under one roof!

Marie Niwenkunda was ten when she fled Rwanda. As awoman she shares her personal story of being affected

by war.

People get stronger from struggle and

gain power from pain.

through the

EYES OF A CHILD

ALWAYS RED 15



my own country, that I have missed outon so much.

Like everyone else, I have manyquestions about what my future willhold. But having come here as arefugee which wasn’t a choice Imade for myself, means my future will

be shaped around being a refugee,being somewhere that isn’t home andthis may mean losing a large partof my culture, my language and myfirst home I ask myself: Who will IMarry? If I had stayed in Rwanda, Ialmost certainly would have marrieda Rwandan. I can’t help but wonderwhat will happen to my mother tongueand if I have children will they ever getto know my beautiful home country.Being a refugee has made my future

a blur. New Zealand is amazing inmany ways, it’s safe it’s welcoming it’severything a refugee would want. Isometimes worry that if I fully embraceNew Zealand’s culture I might loseeverything I had in Rwanda. So thisinternal conflict continues: Do I resist

fitting in? CAN I evenfit in? But will thecost be my Rwandanidentity?

Despite all this, I am

determined to make the most of mysituation. I am putting these questionson hold for the time being. I haveworked hard, and have recentlyfinished my degree in Accounting,which I imagine will give me theopportunity to consider a range ofchoices in the future. I am proud tocall New Zealand my home now, butI do miss having people around mewho are like me, who think like me,who look like me and who have had asimilar background.

I sincerely thank the people andgovernment of New Zealand who playan enormous role in restoring refugeehopes all over the world.

How do women survive all this?Women are resilient and they do notgive up easily especially when theyhave people relying on them.

People get stronger from struggle andgain power from pain.

Remember that the smallest gesture

can make the biggest difference. Asmile, a hug or a listening ear can goa long way and that is what refugeeservices and Red Cross volunteers areall about.

a safe haven for my family, I stillsometimes find myself thinking is thisa dream? Or rather a nightmare thatI cannot wake up from? It just feels sosurreal. I often find myself wishing thatthings were different, that we wereback home. If I could have my way,

we would still be in Rwanda, the wayit used to be pre-1994, because tobe perfectly honest, there is nothingpositive about being a refugee. butgiven the circumstances and that weARE refugees, New Zealand has beennothing but an amazing adoptivehome for us.

When I was younger, like most kidsI didn’t think much about the fact thatI was a refugee. I was oblivious tothe fact, and was just busy being akid and so it was very easy for me tomake friends throughout my primaryand high school years. I can’t say thesame for my older sister though. Shewasn’t as lucky, she came here duringher teenage years it was extremelydifficult for her to blend in at high

School, she was the very first blackperson at her school – she spent mostof her lunch times in the bathrooms untilthe bell rang.

Can you remember when you were ateenager? You know how hard it wasjust trying to find out who you were,can you possibly imagine how hard itwould be to flee your country at thatage, leaving your childhood friendsbehind, your favourite food and mostimportantly your family!

The older that I get the more I realisewhat being a refugee really means. Ican’t help but think of what life wouldhave been like if the genocide hadnever happened. I sometimes feellost, or like I don’t belong. However,this isn’t because of the people thatsurround me, but rather the peoplewho aren’t around. My family, andfellow Rwandans. The fact that theRwandan community in New Zealandis very small makes it difficult to adjustto life here. There are no more than200 of us in New Zealand. Andonly 4 families, including ours, inPalmerston North. I can’t help but thinkthat by not being at ‘home’, not beingable to be surrounded by people from

We went through a traumaticexperience. We have seen manythings and have gone through thingsthat some might never ever see in theirlifetime. As I got older, I started tounderstand the situation a little bit more– but this didn’t make it any better – as

we strongly believed, and still believerefugees are victims of injustice andinequalities. Being a refugee carrieswith it, a number of connotations, mostof them negative and degrading. As iflosing your home, watching your lovedones die, walking 500kms to findsafety is not negative enough! There isan assumption that refugees are dirty,uneducated, poor, diseased ...wellit doesn’t start that way. You are nota refugee because you are poor, but

you can definitely become poor, dirty

and sick because you have become arefugee.

From our experience I have come tounderstand that anyone can becomea refugee. The refugee world -aworld that once seemed so far fromus - without knowing thattomorrow it would beours – knows no colour,race, religion, gender orage, not even educationor profession. It does

Not Discriminate. Anyone can becomea refugee. It is not who you were, orwhat you did that determines if youwill be a refugee or not. Having acomfortable life did not prevent us frombecoming refugees.

From the very first day, New Zealandhas been nothing but a paradisefor us. When we arrived in NewZealand in March 1996, there werepeople who made the transition andour resettlement a little easier and

more pleasant and to this day we arestill truly grateful. From our very firstencounter with the Kiwi airhostess, tothe volunteers who organised our firsthome, to the neighbour who came tointroduce herself to us, the list goes onwith people who gave us hope, hopethat things might just be alright.

After our six weeks at the MangereRefugee Centre, we made our wayto Palmerston North. Volunteers hadorganised our home, with everything

we needed plus more. We foundthe people of New Zealand to beso friendly and curious with so manyquestions trying to get to know us.

Although New Zealand has been

I still sometimes find myself thinking

is this a dream? Or rather a nightmare

that I cannot wake up from?




Nanette Painton still remembers her

first encounter with New Zealand RedCross, vividly reciting the contents ofa care package she received just afterVictory in Europe day following theSecond World War.

“I still remember that notepad andpen especially,” Nanette recalls. “Ifelt guilty as these packages we weresending to those on the front line, butthe war was over and there were afew spares so I got one.

“We all had great respect for New

Zealand Red Cross. I heard aboutthem all the time, just an amazingorganisation what they did for usduring the war. You could say thatpackage was my first real encounterwith New Zealand Red Cross.

“Being war-time a lot of friends wereprisoners of war and were cared forby Red Cross, we were all inspired bythem.”

Moving to New Zealand in the early1950’s it was not long before the

director of New Zealand Junior RedCross put Nanette on the payroll,working at its national office on DixonStreet in Wellington as a part timesecretary.

A distressing effect of violence andnatural disasters is misplaced anddisplaced people who are unable tocommunicate with family and friends.Red Cross provides a tracing serviceto reconnect those following war anddisasters; today it is called restoring

family links. Nanette’s fluency inGerman and French proved to bea valuable asset when it came totranslating, what was then known astracing letters.

“One day a letter came, it wasn’t myjob to read them but no one could soI helped,” she says. “Funnily enough Iknew the long-lost relative. They wereboth Jewish and were separated in aconcentration camp during the war soit was amazing I could play my part inreconnecting a family.”

Nanette provided the home addressand details reuniting two Austrian-

Jewish sisters.

“It was fun, I rang her up and she wasso excited. That tracing service is justwonderful.”

Nanette also recalls her stronginvolvement with junior Red Cross, ofwhich her daughter later became amember.

“It was another great programme. Oneof our major tasks was to collect tenNew Zealand stamps and send themto other national societies around theworld,” she says. “It was our greetingfrom New Zealand.”

Nanette was also a driver for theformer shut-in programme, wherevulnerable people unable to get out ofthe house were taken to appointmentsor time was spent in companionship.

Soap, toilet paper, shampoo,

note paper and pen made

up a care package sent

66 years ago and the start of

a 90-year-olds connection with

New Zealand Red Cross.

Nanette Painton still involved with New Zealand Red Cross.

A LIFE FORNEW ZEALAND

RED CROSS

“I did this for one lady even after I leftNew Zealand Red Cross as a staffmember. Every Friday and Saturdayfor an hour I would walk to this lady’shouse in Eastbourne and take her outin her late husband’s car.

“It was a wonderful thing Red Cross

enabled us to give to someone – time.She didn’t have anyone else and wewould often just go out for a cup of teaas it was her only chance in a week toget out of the house.”

But while still in Wellington Nanetteboasts of her ability to fundraise.Securing the Roseneath and OrientalBay suburbs in Wellington, Nanetteand her volunteers frequently toppeddoor to door collections “we werealways the best”.

Hawkes Bay is now Nanette’s home.A member of the Havelock NorthBranch she was instrumental in creatingsit-dancing for aged at WoodfordBoarding school and retirement homes.

“The sit-dancing was a real eye openerfor me, seeing these elderly peopleunable to get up come to life withmusic.”

At 90 years of age, Nanette is stillproud to be involved with New

Zealand Red Cross as a relief mealson wheels driver.

“I still love helping people and will foras long as I can – I’ve always enjoyeda challenge.”

It was a wonderfulthing Red Cross

enabled us to giveto someone – time

ALWAYS RED 17



AS I HEADED FOR HAGLEY PARK TO ATTEND THE MEMORIAL SERVICE TO MARK THE FIRSTANNIVERSARY OF THE CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE KNOWING I WAS TO RECEIVE A SPECIALAWARD, I WAS NOT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT.

I eventually found myself lining upwith representatives from the otherorganisations which were also beingrecognised for their “first response”

efforts. There were about ten of us butI was the only woman, the only personnot in a uniform, and the only recipientwho was there as a volunteer ratherthan a staff member.

I felt so proud as I walked up the stairson to the stage hearing Red Crossand my name being announced.The mayor greeted me with a warmhandshake and the words “you peoplehave done an amazing job”. I felthumble indeed to receive this very

special award on behalf of all thepeople who had done so much. It wasa moment during my term that will staywith me for a long time.

New Zealand Red Cross National PresidentPenny Mason receiving Red Cross’ award fromChristchurch mayor Bob Parker.

RED CROSS AWARD

Hundreds of people gather at Christchurch’s Hagley Park forone year anniversary of Christchurch earthquake.




I n s i d e

Public demonstrations againstthe Syrian regime began on26 January 2011 and quickly

developed into a nationwide uprising.Protesters demanded the resignationof President Bashar al-Assad, theoverthrow of his government, and anend to nearly five decades of Ba’athParty rule. The government deployed

the army to quell the uprising.Thousands have been killed orwounded, with those displaced bythe conflict growing by the day. TheInternational Committee of the RedCross (ICRC) and Syrian Arab RedCrescent (SARC) have remained oneof the key humanitarian aid players,helping those affected by the fighting.But more needs to be done, as theICRC continues to seek access to allconflict-stricken areas to respond to the

effects of the fighting.“As the fighting fluctuates, the ICRCand the SARC have to adapt theirhumanitarian response, in order tolocate people who have fled and tohelp them as quickly and as effectivelyas possible,” said Béatrice Mégevand-Roggo ICRC head of operations for theMiddle East.

“People have to know that they will getthe help they need and that casualtieswill be taken care of regardless of

where the fighting is taking place,” MsMégevand-Roggo explained.

“A daily pause of at least two hoursin the fighting is essential in order toprovide humanitarian assistance.”

The president of the InternationalCommittee of Red Cross JakobKellenberger visited Syria for thethird time since 2011, to continuenegotiations regarding humanitarianand detention issues.

Beyond discussing aid issues,

Kellenberger will seek access todetention centres as well as examinepractical measures for implementingthe initiative for a daily two-hourcessation of fighting.

Syria

ON-GOING INTERNAL CONFLICT RAGES

IN SYRIA WITH THE IMPACT OF FIGHTING

INCREASING HUMANITARIAN NEEDS.

“I am determined to see the ICRCand the Syrian Arab Red Crescentexpand their presence, range andscope of activities to address theneeds of vulnerable people,” he saidin a statement on the two-day trip inearly April.

When the president first visited Syria

in June 2011 he had two demands.The first ICRC and SARC’s accessto those affected by the conflict bewidened, this was granted almostimmediately.

The second was access to detentioncentres, this was not granted andinstead shelved. This issue wasreignited during Kellenberger’ssecond visit to Syria in September.Access to detention centres wasgranted under strict supervision.

“Visiting people who have beendetained remains a priority for us,”Kellenberger says.

ICRC conducted its first visit toa detention centre in Syria onSeptember 4 2011 and today thatstill remains the only visit made.

ICRC communication delegate SalehDabbakeh says there remains severalissues that still need to be discussed.“There has been a lot of confusionand misunderstandings from both

sides, but we are still talking and itlooks promising. All matters are stillunder discussion, it just needs moreexplanation about what we want orneed to do.”

One positive development in recentweeks has been that the ICRC hasobtained greater access to many of

the areas affected by the unrest. Itsstaff are now able to stay longer inthe field in order to gain a clearerunderstanding of people’s needs andto do its best to meet those needs.

“Syria is not Sudan, it’s not Somalia;it is a fairly advanced country. Butthey are in a pretty bad situation.There is blood in many areas, withviolent fighting affecting a lot ofpeople from both sides. Horribleatrocities are being committed,

massacres. But both sides claim theother is to blame,” says Dabbakeh.

“Since February it has amplified,is more frequent and the extent ofdisplaced populations has increased.Hundreds of thousands of families areleaving for safer places.”

“We (ICRC) have access where therehas been trouble and fighting, but stillwe don’t have enough and we arelooking at long-term, which is why thepresident is back for a third visit.”

One of the hundreds of visitors to the mobile SARC clinic isexamined by a volunteer doctor from the SARC. The authoritiesand local communities granted the medical team access to thecity so they could carry out their work.

C r e d i t : I . M a l l a , S A

R C

ALWAYS RED 19







WHY I SUPPORT RED CROSS – HAND WRITTEN LETTER




RED

CROSS

First of all we wish to expressour thanks for your assistance,which came when we were stillrecovering from the very severeearthquakes in February and laterin June and the many aftershocks.Anne as my full time carer wasmade redundant as a result of theearthquake with no redundancy.(we have just had another shake)

As with many people inChristchurch we had some damage– nearly all our crystal and china,computer desk, screen and externalhard drive etc. Also the garagewas declared unsafe and laterdemolished. Since then a numberof cracks have been found by theassessors in the foundations and theceilings and walls of several rooms.They checked our two chimneysand one was found to have severecracks and was demolished toceiling level. The flue was takenout and we had to get a plumberto replace it. So we were withoutany means of heating. EQC wasvery concerned that at my age of95 years would suffer from the coldand arranged for a heat pump tobe installed.

Unfortunately we were victimsof a burglary like many peoplein the city and lost some moneyand several items. This is a mostunfortunate happening of thesetimes.

Hopefully the number ofearthquakes will start to decreaseand to zero level??? Fortunately weare in the green zone and we havegreat sympathy for those in the redzone and we look forward with

rest of Christchurch to the re-build ofthe city and the return of normality.We close again by expressingour sincere thanks for helping usthrough the last winter.

STAN AND ANNE GARDNER ARE AMONG THE TENS OF

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO RECEIVE A GRANT FROM

THE NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS 2011 EARTHQUAKE

APPEAL, SET UP TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY THE CANTERBURY

EARTHQUAKES. THE GARDNER’S, WHO RECEIVED A WINTER

ASSISTANCE GRANT, SAY THANK YOU.

THANKYOU

Friend Dennis with Anne and Stan Gardner.

ALWAYS RED 23



Saying goodbye to a loved one inany circumstances can be hard. Insituations of conflict, where peopledon’t know if they will ever see orhear from family and friends again,this can be devastating. This was thecase when Isha Munya fled war tornSomalia in 1990 with her husbandand five children and was forced toleave her eldest daughter, eight-year-old Faduma, in Somalia with hermother Akrabo.

‘Saying goodbye to her felt like mystomach was torn out,’ remembers Ishaof the heartbreaking moment when sherealised she had to be separated fromher child. The only thing that made iteasier was that Faduma was stayingwith Akrabo, whom she was veryclose to.

For eight years Isha lived inneighbouring Kenya moving betweenfour different refugee camps. In 1998she, her husband and their children,set off for Australia to start a new life inAdelaide, safe from conflict.

I felt relieved when I arrived here,

it brought me inner happiness andpeace. My children have an educationand can get jobs,’ she says, stillsmiling.

However, Isha bore the burden ofbeing separated from her daughterand mother.

When Isha said goodbye to Faduma,she had no idea when she would seeher daughter and her own motheragain.

Leaving them in wartorn Somalia meantthat staying in touchwith them was goingto be difficult. Asthe years past, Ishalost contact with hermother and Faduma.

‘It makes me crywhen I think about it,’says Isha.

In 2006, Isha contacted Red Crossin Adelaide and a case was openedto trace her daughter and mother.Through the Red Cross global networkin 188 countries, people all over theworld who are separated from lovedones by war, conflict or disaster canaccess the Red Cross restoring familylinks service to try and locate and send

messages to people. Isha’s searchwas successful. Through the Red CrossTracing service, she found Akrabo andFaduma, and they were able to send

messages of

BY KATIE ISAAC AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS

S

eparated from each other in war torn Somalia in 1990, Isha

and her daughter Fadama had to wait 19 heartbreaking years

to be reunited again in Australia. Isha continues to use theRed Cross restoring family service to stay in touch with her beloved

mother Akrabo, who still lives in a refugee camp in Kenya.

hope

‘It was the happiest day.The whole Somali community

went to the airport. We arrivedan hour early we were so excited.’

Isha Munya remembers beingreunited with her daughter

Faduma after 19 years.

each other messages. Eventually, in2009, Faduma came to Australia andwas reunited with Isha.

‘It was the happiest day,’ says Isha.‘The whole Somali community went tothe airport. We arrived an hour earlywe were so excited.’

‘It was so emotional, you could feel it

in the air. I saw Faduma come off theplane. I couldn’t hold my tears back.’

Isha’s Red Cross case worker, LuciLovelock, has helped Isha search for

C r e d i t : I . A u s t r a l i a R e d C r o s s /

M o u r n e d e K l e

r k .




and communicate with her familymembers since Isha first came to RedCross.

‘Isha is an amazing and inspiringwoman who has endured suchtragedy in her life. Still, she managesto smile everyday and has hope forher future,’ said Luci.

Today, Faduma lives near her motherin Adelaide, and is married with two

young children of her own. All ofIsha’s surviving children now live inAustralia.

The sense of family and unity is

very clear when being around Ishaand her children. Hawa, who wasa baby when they fled Somalia,is now a young woman and plays

with her nieces while her older sisterFaduma chats with Isha. But there is

one woman in Isha’s life missing fromthe scene.

‘I love my mother,’ says Isha, withsadness in her smile.

Last year Isha’s mother sent a photothrough the service of herself and herhusband, Isha’s father, who died in2009. It was the first time she hadseen a photo of them since she fledSomalia.

Isha gets excited and animated

when she speaks about seeing thephoto, and she dreams of the dayshe will be able to see her mother inthe flesh.

Isha continues to communicate withAkrabo through Red Cross and hangs

on to the hope that one day she willbe able to give her mum a big hugand tell her, face to face, that sheloves her.

Isha and Munya fled war torn Somalia.RESTORINGFAMILY LINKSRed Cross helps reconnect familiesseparated by war, conflict or

disaster through our global restoringfamily links service. By exchangingfamily news, re-establishingcontact and clarifying the fateof the missing in 188 countrieswe provide peace of mind andhope to people who have beenseparated from their loved ones.

ALWAYS RED 25



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Always Red Winter 2012 - Final