BUJUMBURA May 11th (ABP) – The head of mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC), Mr. Pierre Emmanuel Ducruet proceeded on Saturday May 7, 2022, to the presentation of the achievements for the 2021 financial year on the World Day of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, celebrated on May 8 each year.
Mr. Ducruet said that the theme chosen for this year is: “Let’s be kind, let’s show the world how we can all be kind”.
He added that the history of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent movement is built on partnership with the principles of universality and humanitarian action. He also pointed out that the inexplicable challenges facing the world can only be resolved through the gathering of individuals driven by a common will and passion which is that of alleviating human suffering.
In Burundi, this year’s theme fits well with the priorities set in motion in the new 2022-2026 strategic plan, where the National Society of the Red Cross wishes to face the major challenges that have been translated into the areas of programmatic intervention. Those are disaster preparedness and response; community health, water, hygiene and sanitation; livelihoods and protection, social cohesion and culture of peace
According to Mr. Ducruet, the ICRC in Burundi has continued its humanitarian action by directing its efforts to programs and projects that fall within its mandate, entrusted by the community of States, including Burundi. He reported protection with the main program of family re-education and maintenance of family links, as well as detention thanks to his collaboration with the General Directorate of Penitentiary Affairs and the National Police of Burundi, with visits that are carried out regularly in the places of detention, with the aim of improving prison conditions.
In addition, he added, thanks to the collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS and the Burundi Red Cross, the ICRC supports certain health structures in the medical and psychological care of victims of violence including sexual violence.
In the sector of prevention, the ICRC conducts a vast program of awareness-raising and training in international humanitarian law and international human rights law and humanitarian action for the benefit of weapon bearers.
Thanks to its traditional collaboration with the Burundi Red Cross, a partnership and support with it has been strengthened and improved so that it responds effectively to the main humanitarian occupations of the communities. With all these activities, he said, response teams, used in place, must be strengthened, the contribution and improvement of community health will also be required. Access to drinking water, the promotion of hygiene and basic sanitation without forgetting the improvement of socio-economic living conditions and the promotion of protection, social cohesion and the culture of peace.
Mr. Ducruet also specified that all this will be possible thanks to the involvement and ownership of bodies and structures whose skills and capacities will be regularly strengthened. In Burundi, that day will be celebrated at the level of village units and neighborhood units, to allow volunteers the freedom to express their kindness towards the most vulnerable who live in their respective communities.
He encouraged CRB volunteers to always do good, to make people understand that by using local solutions to meet the needs of vulnerable people, we can inspire the world for behavior change and thus be resilient to disasters. recurring.
Mr. Ducruet also indicated that the CRB and the ICRC are delighted with the good relations that exist between them and with the government of Burundi, through various ministries. They reiterate once again their commitment to support the government of Burundi in its development and humanitarian emergency projects and programs. They take that opportunity to ask the competent bodies to look into the drafting of a law on the protection and use of the red cross emblem in order to clearly identify the persons and entities authorized to utilize.