International Committee of the Red Cross
ICRC asked to repatriate bodies of soldiers
The International Committee of the Red Cross says it is aware of requests by Ukraine’s U.N. ambassador and others to repatriate the bodies of Russian soldiers killed in action in Ukraine but has no numbers.
Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya tweeted Saturday that Ukraine has appealed to the ICRC “to facilitate repatriation of thousands of bodies of Russian soldiers” killed during its invasion of Ukraine. An accompanying chart claimed 3,500 Russian troops have been killed.
Kyslytsya tweeted that parents in Russia should have a chance “to bury them with dignity.” “Don’t let (Russian President Vladimir) Putin hide scale of tragedy,” he urged.
Laetitia Courtois, ICRC’s permanent observer to the United Nations told The Associated Press Saturday night that the current security situation “is a primary concern and a limitation for our teams on the ground” and “we therefore cannot confirm numbers or other details.”
Read: Around 200 Bangladesh citizens reach Poland, Romania from Ukraine: Shahriar
She said “the ICRC can act as a neutral intermediary” on the return of bodies and other humanitarian issues in conflict, including clarifying the fate of missing persons, reuniting families, and advocating for the protection of detainees “within its possibilities.”
CHT: Dedicated infection prevention, control prog for 31 health facilities
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in collaboration with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), has been carrying out an "intensive infection prevention and control" (IPC) programme in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
ICRC continues supporting protection of detainees in Bangladesh amid COVID-19
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said that it continues to support the Prisons Directorate (PD) in Bangladesh amid the COVID-19 outbreak to help mitigate the risk of coronavirus' spread among detainees and its staff members.
International Day on the Elimination of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: Standing with Survivors Today and Every Day
The thing about a global crisis like COVID-19 is that people often think of it as a “great equalizer”, it affects the whole world and somehow makes everyone suffer equally. When people living in peaceful countries were hit by COVID-19, they thought that they finally experienced the suffering they always thought was reserved for people who live in less fortunate countries who experience this regularly. They could not be more wrong.
COVID-19 Challenges: ICRC steps up support beyond Rohingya camps
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has stepped up its support to Bangladesh going beyond Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar to help address the challenges amid coronavirus pandemic and the growing needs at the national level, says its Bangladesh chief.
COVID-19: Efforts of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society volunteers, staff lauded
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have recognised the efforts of their volunteers and staff in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
The organisations say they are "immensely proud" to recognise the hard work of their volunteers and staff who are doing everything they can to support communities affected by the COVID-19.
The appreciation came ahead of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day which falls on May 8.
“Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, a part of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, is everywhere for everyone, every day,” said Md Feroz Salah Uddin, Secretary General of BDRCS.
This year is even more challenging.
By Thursday, Bangladesh confirmed 12,425 coronavirus cases and 199 deaths.
BDRCS said Red Crescent volunteers are at work, despite huge risk to themselves, helping vulnerable individuals and communities to protect themselves from COVID-19, and the BDRCS continues to provide many other services that people need to keep themselves safe and healthy.
They said each and every volunteer in Bangladesh deserves applause, and encouraged everyone to #KeepClapping on May 8.
Bangladesh Red Crescent volunteers have been active in communities since the novel coronavirus was first detected in the country. The COVID-19 response activities have been carried out alongside other humanitarian works that Bangladesh Red Crescent is well known for.
With support from the ICRC and IFRC, Red Cross Red Crescent Partner National Societies and others, every year, BDRCS reaches almost two million people with a diverse range of services tailored to local needs.
Azmat Ulla, the Head of IFRC Bangladesh Country Office, said: “When we practise physical distancing to break the transmission, it’s extremely important to have social solidarity and support.”
He said it is difficult time for everyone but he sees “so much hope in the bravery and dedication of Bangladesh Red Crescent Youth volunteers, the community volunteers, cyclone preparedness volunteers countrywide”.
“This solidarity will help us not only survive this pandemic, but also help it to thrive afterwards,” he said.
Pierre Dorbes, the Head of Delegation for ICRC in Bangladesh, said: “Beyond the public health crisis, the COVID-19 epidemic is impacting the economic security of millions of Bangladeshi people while for displaced people from [Myanmar’s] Rakhine, this is another factor of vulnerability.
“The ICRC together with other partners of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement stands side by side with all those vulnerable people in such an unprecedented crisis.”
Include migrants in COVID-19 programmes: ICRC to govts
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has urged governments to systematically include migrants, irrespective of legal status, in their programmes and policies to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus: ICRC donates 500,000 CHF to Bangladesh Red Crescent Society
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is providing financial assistance for implementing various activities undertaken by Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) for the prevention and control of coronavirus.