GRCS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

1. GRCS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

2. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY BRIEF INTRODUCTION • Russian invasion • Conflict in Georgia on the territories adjacent to South Osetia • Georgia – the state of emergency • Qualification given as an international armed conflict

3. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY FIRST ACTION On August 10, 2008 at GRCS HQs • Upon the decision of the General Assembly Presidium • Task Force (composed of 9 people) was established at HQs; • The terms of reference of the Task Force was developed; • Roles and responsibilities were assigned to its members. • GRCS has introduced emergency working plan (concept paper for emergency response to the needs of displaced people) • Main operational directions were defined as: • Health and care, • Disaster Management, • Communication and • Capacity Building.

4. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY FURTHER ACTIONS At the Movement level • ICRC – had been recognized as the Lead Agency in accordance with its mandate under Seville Agreement • GRCS – acted as the primary partner to the Lead Agency • International Federation – provided technical expertise and support through DREF • Partner National Societies – delivered humanitarian aid

5. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY GRCS CAPACITY • GRCS – auxiliary role to the State authorities in humanitarian field; • Staff of 69 (35 out of them at HQ level in Tbilisi) and number of recruited volunteers 1000 (450 out of them at HQ in Tbilisi); • Central office and network of local branches in most parts of Georgia (totally 23 local branches); • 70 per cent of branch leadership being newly elected; • 11 GRCS local branches, active in conducting RC activities and providing services to IDPs.

6. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY VOLUNTEER MOBILIZATION Volunteer Mobilization campaign through the NS web-site (www.redcross.ge) Volunteer groups were established: • Social group - included the mobile assessment sub-groups which were visiting the collective centers settled by the displaced people; • Communicationincluded establishment of new contacts with local organizations and donors, local authorities and promoting the donation phone number 8064 and account number for GRCS, collecting information on implemented RC activities; • Logistics included humanitarian aid collection, transportation and distribution;

7. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY Fundraising group-used groups of volunteers to raise funds in the city using GRCS mobile donation boxes; • GRCS volunteers did fundraising through • donation boxes placed in different parts of Tbilisi • different activities which aimed at attracting the funds from the local donors. • Displaced people were supported through collected funds mainly in Tbilisi and surrounding areas.

8. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY COORDINATION With • Movement components • Tripartite meetings • Working meetings (MC&TF) • State authorities • Coordination meetings • Direct relations • International institutions

9. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY HUMANITARIAN AID FROM PNSs Turkish Red Crescent Society • On August 11, 2008 delivered the humanitarian aid including tents, beds, blankets, water and food. Relief was distributed: • 4000 food parcels, 3 000 with the support of the Kutaisi branch and 1000 with the support of the Gori Branch. • distributed 720 mattresses with the support of Kutaisi Branch; • 1 683 kitchen sets were distributed by GRCS Branch in Rustavi and Gardabani. • on August 14, 2008 GRCS and Turkish Red Crescent organized the setting up of a tent city for the internally displaced people located in Rustavi city.

10. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY Italian Red Cross Society On August 18, 2008 Joint humanitarian aid of Italian Government and Italian Red Cross received • The humanitarian aid contained tents and blankets for affected. The team of 25 Italian Red Cross representatives arrived, among them personnel involved in providing the service of soup-kitchen as well. The Italian Red Cross team started food provision for IDPs in Tbilisi. • Italian Red Cross representatives were preparing approximately 3400 hot meals on daily basis, which were distributed to collective centers in Tbilisi by GRCS volunteers.

11. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY • On September 2, 2008 Italian Red Cross installed a soup kitchen in tent city in Gori. 25 personnel of the Italian Red Cross worked in the soup kitchen and were assisted by GRCS Gori local branch volunteers. The kitchen produced approximately 7000-9000 hot meals daily and provided IDPs located in Gori.. • Apart from the above mentioned IDPs located in the collective centers of Didube-chugureti district (Tbilisi) were still provided with 1000 hot meals on the daily basis. • GRCS volunteers actively participated in the work at the soup kitchen and assisted Italian Red Cross representatives in food distribution, provision and cleaning the kitchen.

12. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY Kuwait Red Crescent Society On August 29, 2008 the humanitarian aid Air Bridge was opened from Kuwait to Georgia • Kuwait Red Crescent Society started the shipment of humanitarian aid to Georgia. The delivered items included food parcels and baby food, beds, blankets, linen, clothes, etc. • Donated 90 MT Non Food Items (NFI) containing beds, blankets, pillows, gas stoves, bed linen)

13. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY Magen David Adom On September 2, 2008 • 17 Georgian citizens wounded from the armed conflict were transferred to Israel for medical treatment. • The representatives of Magen David Adom met the wounded Georgian citizens, located them in different hospitals and observed the process of their recovery.

14. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY Lithuanian Red Cross Society has organized a campaign for the victims of armed conflict in Georgia Latvian Red Cross Society has made donations both in cash and in kind to support Georgia Red Cross Society in response activities

15. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY SUPPORT FROM LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS GRCS partners in assisting IDPs were: “Seacor” company; Pro credit Bank, “Elite-electronics” “Nikora”; “Georgian Airways”; The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee inc; “Sokar” company; “Sweet Country” company, different local shops and private restaurants.

16. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY ACTIONS AT BRANCH LEVEL • Through active volunteer mobilization and their valuable help and work the local branches were participating in • collecting and distribution of different relief items to displaced people; • distribution of humanitarian aid provided by PNS to the people affected by the armed conflict; • assessing the living conditions and needs of IDPs in the collective centers and host families.

17. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT • GRCS and Georgian Airways organized a joint humanitarian action in the tent city in Gori. Georgian Airways: • donated the playground equipment for children in Gori. • also purchased markers, jigsaw puzzles, notebooks, etc. for the psychosocial work. • GRCS tent set in the tent city, Gori with the children playground installed • the playground was equipped with bouncy castles, mini basketball, colorful balls and jigsaw puzzles, etc. • GRCS Youth organized an entertainment event for orphanage “Satnoeba” within the framework of a new youth project on “Red Cross clowns”. • The Pro Credit bank and GRCS joint project on psychosocial rehabilitation for IDP children and their mothers • conducted five ten-day camps • approximately 500 IDP children and 130 mothers have benefited

18. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY GRSC 90th ANNIVERSARY On September 8, 2008 GRCS “Committee of Five” celebrated the 90th anniversary of Georgia Red Cross Society together with the children of orphanage house “Satnoeba” • GRCS volunteers brought new shoes for 48 children • The above mentioned presents were purchased with the funds collected through the fundraising activity by “Committee of Five”. • “Committee of Five” organized a small entertainment event for children.

19. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY GRCS CAPACITY BUILDING • Volunteers received basic and thematic workshops related to the International Movement, the Georgia Red Cross Society and the various tools used by the national society while implementing the work. • Volunteers have participated in the following events: • session on mine risk education (Gori, Tbilisi); • Disaster Management workshop; • volunteer workshop in Gori; • training on clown techniques organized by GRC Youth; • induction course on RC/RC Movement and GRCS, volunteer policy and strategy, code of conduct for volunteers; • project planning process including techniques of project writing • development leadership skills.

20. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY HARMONISED OPERATIONAL PROGRAM Two main components: • DREF – supported by the Federation • Extended budget extension – supported by the ICRC

21. GEORGIA RED CROSS SOCIETY TWO MAIN AREAS • Disaster Management • Health and Care - First Aid - Psycho-Social Support