Safer Access in Action

 

National Societies’ experiences of working in sensitive and insecure contexts are the foundation of the Safer Access Practical Resource Pack. This interactive map links to in-depth "case studies" describing the experiences of a number of National Societies in applying the Safer Access Framework. It also features briefer "selected experiences" in which a range of National Societies recount the specific challenges encountered in carrying out their humanitarian work and how they overcame them.  National Societies are invited to submit their own selected experience to be published alongside the ones below on the map. Please follow these instructions.

Content

  • Case study: Afghanistan

     

    This case study summarizes some of the issues affecting safe access by the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) to people and communities affected by armed conflict or internal disturbances or tensions. It also includes the strategies that the organization is adopting to enable its volunteers and staff to safely provide humanitarian services in an active conflict environment. The case study is the outcome of a peer learning process that shed light on several aspects of the Safer Access Framework (SAF), particularly context and risk assessment, acceptance of the organization and acceptance of the individual.

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  • Case study: Lebanon

     

     

    This case study is a joint initiative of the British Red Cross, the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). All three organizations are members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global humanitarian network that responds to armed conflicts and other emergencies. The case study is linked to two separate projects currently being carried out by the British Red Cross and the ICRC.

     

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  • Case sudy: South Africa

     

    This case study was developed jointly by the South African Red Cross Society (SARCS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The purpose of the study is to explore and highlight some of the lessons learned from the SARCS’ humanitarian response to a spate of violence associated with xenophobic attacks that took place in May 2008.

     

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  • Selected experience: Canadian Red Cross

     

    Founded in 1909, the Canadian Red Cross works to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people in Canada and around the world. We provide a wide range of humanitarian services for millions of people in Canada through health care programmes, injury prevention programmes (such as water safety and first aid), and violence and abuse prevention initiatives. In addition, we help communities prepare for disasters of all types and respond to needs arising from natural catastrophes. The Canadian Red Cross also operates worldwide, assisting the world’s most vulnerable populations, including those affected by armed conflict or devastated by a disaster.

  • Selected experience: Red Cross Society of Côte d'Ivoire

     

    The Red Cross Society of Côte d’Ivoire was founded in 1960 and recognized as a charitable organization by government decree in 1963. We have 50 local branches, plus 26 separate first-aid teams. This constitutes a total of 76 entities throughout the national territory capable of taking rapid action in the event of an emergency.

    Our National Society helps improve the living conditions of particularly vulnerable people across the country through programmes such as administering first aid, improving health and promoting humanitarian values. It is also auxiliary to the public authorities in the humanitarian field.

  • Selected experience: Palestine Red Crescent Society

    The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) was mandated in 1969 to provide humanitarian, health and social services for the Palestinian population whenever and wherever needed, be it in the occupied Palestinian territory or among the Palestinian diaspora.1 We have 4,200 employees in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt, in addition to a network of more than 20,000 volunteers.

  • Selected experience: South Sudan Red Cross

     

     With the declaration of South Sudan’s independence in July 2011, the South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC) came into being. We obtained formal recognition from the government in March 2012 with the adoption of the South Sudan Red Cross Act. Our headquarters is in Juba and we have 10 branches located in the state capitals. There are five sub-branch units focusing on specific programmes, as well as a network of 23 Emergency Action Teams.

  • Selected experience: Argentine Red Cross

     

     The Argentine Red Cross is a volunteer-based humanitarian organization operating throughout Argentina. Through our network of 64 branches and over 6,500 volunteers, we carry out humanitarian work in accordance with our mission to improve people’s lives and particularly those of the most vulnerable, to work with communities to make them stronger and healthier and to spread our Fundamental Principles and humanitarian values.

  • Selected experience: Uganda Red Cross Society

     

    The Uganda Red Cross Society is the largest humanitarian organization in Uganda, recognized by an act of parliament in 1964 as an auxiliary to the public authorities. We have 51 branches across the country, with more than 300,000 members and volunteers.

    We are involved in both emergency and development activities mainly through health and care and disaster management programmes.

  • Selected experience: Magen David Adom in Israel

     

    MDA is Israel’s national emergency medical service, which has 900 ambulances, 1,600 staff members and 10,000 volunteers working in the front line of the response to major incidents (such as indiscriminate acts of violence) in normal times and as an auxiliary to Israel’s civil defence mechanism (the Home Front Command) and the armed forces’ medical service during wartime.

  • Selected experience: Mexican Red Cross

     

    The Mexican Red Cross was founded in 1910. As an independent humanitarian organization, we rely on donations from all sections of society to support our programmes. We have more than 42,000 volunteers, who carry out a range of activities.

    Our National Society’s most prominent service is pre-hospital emergency care, which is provided by 528 treatment centres nationwide. We have 1,026 doctors and over 2,400 ambulances. Emergency care is free and available 24/7 all year round. In 2012 the Mexican Red Cross treated 5,371,874 cases and carried out 1,283,284 ambulance journeys for free.

  • Selected experience: Sudanese Red Cross society

     

    The Sudanese Red Crescent Society was established by government decree in 1956 and recognized as a National Society and accepted into the Movement the following year. We have 15 branches and more than 75 units across Sudan, with an active volunteer base of some 35,000.

    We operate throughout Sudan, in what are often extremely difficult conditions caused by a succession of internal armed conflicts, including in Darfur, South Kordofan, Abyei and Blue Nile, and by the drought, desertification and other natural disasters that have beset eastern and northern Sudan and Kordofan.