National Disaster Response Team (NDRT) training for Thai Red Cross Society | 15-17 March 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-03-13 - 2017-03-17
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Background and Rationale
The Thai Red Cross Society (TRC) has 3 minimum standards to assist victims when disasters occur as follow:
1. The relief kit items will be distributed to the victims after 6 hours that a disaster has happened
2. TRC will set up the tent to assist the victims within 4 hours after a disaster strikes
3. The victims will receive food and beverage within 4 hours after a disaster strikes
In the past 2 years, TRC has been conducting the National Disaster Response Team (NDRT) which the participants were from Red Cross Chapters, Red Cross health stations and relevant networks. There were 149 TRC’s staffs from different regions of Thailand who have been trained and are ready to be deployed for disaster responses. TRC would like to expand the knowledge of disaster response to new-comer staff, in order to deploy them for disaster reliefs and responses both at the national and regional levels.
Key outcomes
• Participants gained the knowledge of disaster response and understood the TRCS’s disaster response mechanism
• Participants understood the assessment cycle and can identify the plan of action
• Participants understood the coordination and communication during disaster
Next steps
• The second and third NDRT training will be conducted in Q2 and Q3 of 2017. See the second training held in June 2017
• The next NDRT training will focus on the specialized training such as Disaster Assessment, Water and Sanitation, and Psychosocial Support
Powerpoint Presentations
Day 1
» Introduction to NDRT training
» IFRC’s disaster response team: Structure and tools
» การบริหารจัดการภัยพิบัติในประเทศไทย – Disaster Management in Thailand
» การเตรียมความพร้อมของสภากาชาดฯ ในสถานการณ์ที่สุ่มเสี่ยงและไม่ปลอดภัย – Preparation of Thai Red Cross Society for risky and dangerous situations
» ความมั่นคงปลอดภัยในการปฏิบัติงาน – Security in operations
» คำศัพท์ด้านภัยพิบัติ – Disasters terminologies
Day 2
» การประเมินความเสียหายและความต้องการ – Evaluation of damages and needs
» กลไกการรับมือกับภัยพิบัติของสภากาชาดไทย – Mechanism for dealing with disasters of Thai Red Cross Society
» มาตรฐาน Sphere กับการช่วยเหลือผู้ประสบภัย – Sphere standard and helping disaster-affected people
» คำถามเกณฑ์มาตรฐานขั้นต่ำในเรื่องต่างๆ ของประเด็นภัยพิบัติ – Questions on minimum standards on issues related to disasters
Day 3
» การจัดการศูนย์พักพิงชั่วคราว– Management of temporary shelters
» การสนับสนุนด้านจิตสังคมสำหรับผู้ประสบภัยพิบัติ – Psychosocial support for disaster-affected people
» การจัดการด้านการบรรเทาทุกข์ – Relief management
» น้ำ สุขาภิบาล และการส่งเสริมสุขอนามัย สำหรับผู้ประสบภัยพิบัติ – Water, sanitation and hygiene works for disaster-affected people
» การลงพื้นที่ปฏิบัติงานหน่วยผลิตน้ำดื่ม – Field works of the water production unit
» การบริการทางการแพทย์ในภาวะฉุกเฉิน – Medical services in emergencies
» ระบบโลจิสติกส์ในงานสาธารณภัย – Logistical system in disaster relief works
Day 4
» สื่อกับการจัดการภัยพิบัติ – Media and disaster management

Workshop on Communication Strategy for Blood Donation of Lao National Blood Transfusion Centre | 13-17 March 2017 | Lao PDR
2017-03-13 - 2017-03-17
According to the commitment between Thai Red Cross Society and Lao Red Cross summarized from the bilateral coordinating meeting in Nong Khai Province in 2015, Thai Red Cross agreed in principle to help improving the capacities of Lao National Blood Transfusion Centre (NBTC) in increasing number of new blood donors to achieve the target set for the year 2020. Every year, 60,000 blood units are needed in Lao PDR but only 40,000 blood units are collected from voluntary blood donors.
Regarding to NBTC’s marketing and communications strategy, increasing the visibility of communication campaigns and improving the public awareness campaigns of NBTC are the key important processes in order to broadly reach out to the new targeted audiences and new blood donors and young generations and general populations in communities. The peer-to-peer technical support in developing the communication strategy on blood recruitment and blood donation and community and public awareness campaigns was held during 13-17 March 2017 with the support from German Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society, Country Cluster Support Team (IFRC CCST) in Bangkok.
At the end of a workshop, a team from the National Blood Transfusion Center of Lao Red Cross (LRC) committed to move forward with the ideas, resources, guidance and suggestions from Thai Red Cross Society (TRCS) in applying to fit with Laos’ local context. The posters, short films, TV spot, radio spot, IEC material produced by TRSC are very helpful and useful for LRC to modify and adapt to Laos’ local context. The strategic communication action plan 2017 onwards, a new logo of NBTC, four TV and Radio spots and some selected posters have been developed during the five-day workshop. The new key message of NBTC is “Give blood every 3-4 months makes you healthy.” The peer-to-peer technical support from TRSC is very useful for LRC as observed. German Red Cross very appreciated this peer-to-peer support and thanked TRC and IFRC for this peer-to-peer support that came from bilateral cooperation agreement.

Training on Participatory Development of Multi-Disaster Risk Map using QGIS | 21-23 March 2017 | Viet Nam
2017-03-21 - 2017-03-25
This training is one of the key activities at the regional level under the Building Urban Resilience in South East Asia project supported by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO). The project supports Red Cross Movement partners in Cambodia, Laos, Viet Nam and Philippines to increase the capacity of local government authorities and Red Cross for disaster preparedness and response through working together to improve community-based disaster risk reduction tools. Thus, as part of the project an innovative and user-friendly risk mapping method for urban Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) has been developed.
Aim
To present this new risk-mapping method to Red Cross National Society staff and representatives from authorities who are actively involved in Disaster Risk Management and in disaster preparedness and response.
Objectives
After this 3-day training, the participants are able to:
• Explain:
o Basic concept of QGIS
o Benefits of using QGIS for participatory development of a multi-disaster risk map to support Disaster Risk Management
o Steps of information collection in the community (including usage of GPS in smart phone)
o Steps of using QGIS to develop and update the multi-disaster risk map
o Steps of using QGIS risk map for planning, post-disaster damage and need assessment, and raising awareness for community at urban and peri-urban areas
• Practise participatory development and update the multi-disaster risk map at urban and peri-urban areas using the QGIS software
• Develop an action plan for developing QGIS multi-disaster risk map after the training
Expected Outcomes
– Participants have increased knowledge and ability to put into practice the news participatory mapping method in order to develop local urban multi-disaster risks maps
– Participants have increased knowledge and ability to put into practice the key concepts of community participation and gender and disability inclusion in risk mapping
Participants
Viet Nam Red Cross Society staff and/or representatives from Disaster Management authorities who are actively involved in Disaster Risk Management or disaster preparedness and response and who are willing to pilot the new mapping method in urban context.
Outcomes
During the workshop, the project team members from Cambodia, Philippines, and Lao PDR discussed and worked in group to practise and draw maps through the software. The development process of these community maps was based on paper mapping and importing of the data from paper mapping into the QGIS program.
After the workshop completion, the project team and participants from VNRC and the government partners provided feedback and comment about the utilization and practice of QGIS software including the handout/manual which provided the step-by-step procedure.
Next Steps
At the end of the project, in October 2017, a second Regional event will take place. Lesson learned from the use of this participatory multi-disaster risks mapping method in support to DRM planning will be gathered and documented as inputs for the finalization of the method.

Lao Red Cross Youth Empowerment Programme in Social Inclusion | 22-24 March 2017 | Lao PDR
2017-03-22 - 2017-03-24
Lao Red Cross youth empowerment programme Mar 2017

Youth as Agents of Behavioural Change (YABC) Youths in Lao Red Cross Society successfully implemented the youth empowerment programme on the theme of social inclusion at the National University of Lao with the attendance of 200 students.
This activity inspired 200 youths to change their mindset and attitude about the discrimination, exclusion and stereotyped opinions against their marginalised friends. It became more significant to Lao Youth since this was the first time of the youth-designed activity and it was totally led by themselves from planning to implementation.
Twenty (20) core group youths, confident of their achievements, decided to carry on more activities with the same approach targeting communities and universities by their own planning and efforts starting from May 2017.
Read more:

Concept note
Agenda
Resource: Youth Empowerment in Community (YEC) Programme Guide Pilot version
Case studies of Youth Empowerment:

Youth partnership promoting non-violence – Viet Nam Red Cross Society – Da Nang Chapter
Youth volunteers supporting people with HIV/AIDS – Cambodia Red Cross Society – Siem Ream Branch

For more information about Youth and Volunteering, visit Youth and Volunteering page.

Radio Training | 20-23 March 2017 | Lao PDR
2017-03-22 - 2017-03-24
Radio Training - Lao Red Cross 2017
Day 1: Knowledge sharing from LNR trainer, Mr. Vansay Tavinyahn.

Radio Training - Lao Red Cross 2017
Day 2 : Practicing to be an annoucer and developing a radio content, Q&A with the trainer, and getting feedback from the other participants.

Radio Training - Lao Red Cross 2017
Day 3 : Learning how to record and edit the radio spot, and continue practicing on the radio spot development.

Radio Training - Lao Red Cross 2017
Coverage in Vientiane Times, page 5, 23 March 2017 issue.

Radio Training - Lao Red Cross 2017
Coverage in Lao Pattana, page 4, 23 March 2017 issue.

The radio training was held in Thalad, Lao PDR on 20-23 March 2017 by Lao Red Cross’ Communications and Fundraising Department (CFD) with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
This training was a follow-up from IFRC’s review and recommendations to strengthen the radio programme in August 2016. The CFD had identified the need to build the capacity in radio programming at the headquarters level through a radio training for CFD and technical department staff and radio volunteers and to enhance the collaboration between the CFD and technical departments to allow more effective sharing of information.
The training helped other departments understand the need to raise community voices through the radio programme and how they could contribute contents to the CFD. Following the training, the CFD consolidated activity updates from the technical departments to develop a radio programme plan.

Objectives of the training:

To enhance the capacity of Red Cross communication department in developing more interactive contents for the radio programme.
To enhance the collaboration between communication and technical staff at the headquarters level to diversify the contents of the radio programme.
To produce 10-12 radio spots by April 2017.

Following the training:

The CFD will able to develop a three-month content plan for the radio programme in collaboration with the technical departments.
The technical departments understand what information they need to provide to the radio programme staff to develop the content for the radio programme.
The CFD, with Lao National Radio support, will be able to produce 10-12 radio spots by the end of April 2017 on the key activity areas of LRC including blood donation, disaster management, healthcare, gender and diversity and youth and volunteer.

Supporting documents of the training:

Concept note
Agenda
Participant list
Radio role play exercise
Report of the training

Annual Blood Donation Campaign 2017: "Good Health begins with donating blood every 3 month" | 27-28 March 2017 | Khon Kaen, Thailand
2017-03-27 - 2017-03-28
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This blood donation campaign, organized by The National Blood Donation Centre in accordance with the National Blood Donation Plan 2017 of Thai Red Cross Society. This event was held in Khon Kaen province of Thailand on 27-28 March 2017 to demonstrate the capacity of the Mobile Blood Donation Unit/Service with medical equipment/installations, the processes of operating Mobile Blood Donation Unit and Medical equipment maintenance of Mobile Blood Donation Unit/Service. There was also visiting of the Fix station (the extended blood service in the community at Kosa Hotel). The theme of this campaign is “Good health begins with donating blood every 3 month”.
Six participants from Lao Red Cross National Blood Transfusion Centre were cordially invited to take part in the Biennial Blood Campaign 2017 as scheduled. Additionally, with this campaign, there were 155 provincial Red Cross committee members from 13 provinces located in the North-Eastern part of Thailand actively attended in this important event. This biennial campaign is not only improving the capacity of the members of Red Cross at the provincial level but also increasing knowledge and public awareness raising in communities in understanding the need of blood to save lives. It was anticipated that this would be a great opportunity for Lao Red Cross National Blood Transfusion Centre to learn and then share the experience for increasing the visibility and the capacities to scale up “the quality of blood services in Laos PDR.”

National Disaster Response Team (NDRT) training with a focus on gender and diversity | 27-31 March 2017 | Lao PDR
2017-03-27 - 2017-03-31
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NDRT is a key response tools of National Societies (NSs) and the training was an opportunity to focus in particular at the assessment templates and assess which tools to extend to take into consideration gender and diversity.
The agenda consisted of the topics such as needs assessment with gender and diversity analysis, logistics and relief management as well as lessons learned from Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) operation in 2016. There also were the session on applying the theory and lessons learned to a scenario on flood response. A colleague from the the Relief and Community Health Bureau of Thai Red Cross Society also joined this table-top exercise to co-facilitate the session, give technical advice and share experiences from regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) deployment. The 5-day training was completed successfully thank to the contribution of staff from Lao Red Cross, Thai Red Cross Society, International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Socities (IFRC) as well as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Lao PDR.

2nd Training on Basic First Aid for GRAB taxi drivers in Thailand | 30 March 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-03-30
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Twenty three GRAB taxi, GRAB cars and GRAB bikes drivers actively participated in first aid training which included basic first aid theory and practical sessions provided by the Thai Red Cross Training Center for First Aid and Health Care.
This second training included first aid, CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation, choking, fractures and dislocations, legs injuries, preparing and referring to hospitals. Three senior first aid instructors were facilitating according to the standard first aid training course of IFRC.
Based on the results of this training, all of the participants mentioned that the levels of confidence to use and practise CPR and chocking in the real situation significantly increased to 75-80 percent. All participants appreciated the training methods, facilitations and six practical sessions which will be useful to help other people and their families. They mentioned the training reached to more than their expectation. The post-test evaluation was applied for all the trainees before distributing the certificates.
Additionally, GRAB Thailand is planning to conduct nine training sessions for Grab taxi drivers in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Khon Kaen provinces in 2017. It is expected that there will be more than 300 Grab taxi drivers receiving knowledge and skills about basic first aid to improve road safety and save lives while working and driving on the streets in this year.
Read more about the partnership among Grab, IFRC and Thai Red Cross at http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/asia-pacific/thailand/partnering-up-to-make-the-streets-safer-in-thailand-73705/

Psychosocial Support in Community training for Shan Migrants in Chiang Mai | 3-5 April 2017 | Chiang Mai, Thailand
2017-04-03 - 2017-04-05
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In April 2017, The Life Skills Development Foundation (TLSDF), in tandem with the Thai Red Cross Society, with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC), at Thai Red Cross Health Station No.3 Chiang Mai, organized the training on Psychosocial Support (PSS) in Community for Shan migrants, to help build their capacity to help their own communities when people are in need of psychosocial support.
Among the various migrant communities that live in Thailand, it is estimated that there are approximately 90,000 Shan migrant workers in Chiang Mai. Part of this large, and growing, community, has experienced significant trauma in their journeys emigrating to Thailand and in their vulnerability to legal protection, both in Thailand and in Myanmar. Natural disasters, personal conflicts, painful experiences, traffic accidents and myriad social pressures can cause intense psychological stress on individuals and on larger communities. Currently, there is very little structure in place or resources available to help migrants deal with these issues.
In this training, Thai Red Cross Society provided the technical support with four senior nurses/PSS trainers to facilitate this training for TLSDF/Rak Dek with the technical support from IFRC CCST BKK which facilitated this training. There were 27 community volunteers participating in this PSS trainings. The training was conducted by using the community-based PSS training materials of IFRC Reference Center for phychosocial support which are toolkits with seven modules, namely,
– Crisis events and PSS
– Stress and coping
– Loss and grief
– Community-based Psychosocial Support
– PSS First Aid and supportive communication
– Children
– Supporting volunteers and staff
The Feedbacks from each trainee were collected and recorded for further analysis. It was found that the results of the participants’ expectation were high and reached their expectation. They addressed that they will be using this PSS knowledge, both technical and practical skills, in helping their family, friends and migrant communities. Certificates of participation were provided to all participants.

South-East Asia Regional Community Safety and Resilience Forum | 18-20 April 2017 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2017-04-18 - 2017-04-20
The Regional Community Safety and Resilience Forum 2017 was hosted by Malaysian Red Crescent Society, with the support of IFRC CCST Bangkok, from 18-20 April, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Forum was held with the participation of 32 representatives (Disaster Management, Health, OD and Youth) from 11 National Societies in the South East Asian Region – Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent, Cambodian Red Cross, Indonesian Red Cross, Lao Red Cross, Malaysia Red Crescent, Myanmar Red Cross, Philippines Red Cross, Singapore Red Cross, Thai Red Cross, Timor-Leste Red Cross and Viet Nam Red Cross.

The purpose of the Forum is to enhance regional integration, coordination, communication and cooperation between SEA RCRC members. It is tasked to translate the results of the strategic policy and direction decisions of the Leaders into the operational action to promote the establishment of safer and resilient communities. This Forum is responsible for escorting (i) the global agendas of SDGs, Sendai Framework for DRR and Paris Agreement; (ii) Engaging with ASEAN; (iii) 1 Billion Coalition; (iv) Cross Border Cooperation; (v) School Safety; and (vi) Sustainability of National Societies.
The Forum saw significant increase in terms of participation and ownership of the National Societies in debating and finding better ways to work together as well as to advocate for the key outcomes of the meeting, along with some exchange learning sessions among the National Societies.

The Forum offered an opportunity of visit to two social inclusion centres (i) Anjung Singgah – a temporary transit shelter initiated by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development which provide them a space and opportunity to live independently. The homeless people are able to stay up to two weeks while waiting to secure jobs or a permanent places to live; and (ii) People with Disability Centre run by the Ministry of Welfare, which provides social support and social inclusion to PWDs in Malaysia.
Supporting documents
» Regional Community Safety and Resilience Forum Agenda
» Participant List
» Practical Information – Visit to Kuala Lumpur
» Roadmap for Regional Cooperation
» Graphic: Resilience House
Outcome document: Final Report
Powerpoint presentations
Day 1
» Action plan: Strengthening Brunei Red Crescent Society 2017-2020
» Brunei Red Crescent Society: Community resilience and empowerment projects
» Cambodia Red Cross Society’s contributions to CSR roadmap
» Timor Leste Red Cross Society’s contributions to CSR roadmap
» Health, disaster management, organizational development and youth projects for CSR roadmap
» Indonesia Red Cross Society’s organizational development, health and disaster management updates for CSR roadmap
» Lao Red Cross’ contributions to CSR roadmap|
» Malaysia Red Crescent Society towards CSR roadmap
» Singapore Red Cross Society’s community-led action for resilience
» Thai Red Cross Society’s disaster management and health updates for CSR roadmap

ASEAN engagement
» Red Cross and Red Crescent societies’ technical engagement with ASEAN: Milestones since the last CSC Forum in August 2015
» Working with ASEAN: Towards emerging IFRC’s strategy for engagement
Global agendas
» IFRC and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR)
» IFRC’s contributions to Social Development Goals (SDGs)
» Post-2015 regional and global agendas and IFRC
» Translating global agendas in South-East Asia
» South-East Asian National Societies’ global agenda mapping
» [Outcome document] South-East Asia global agendas engagement plans
Day 2
» Disaster crisis and response principles and rules for Red Cross Red Crescent

1 billion coalition for resilience
» 1 billion coalition for resilience
» 1bc working group 1
» 1bc working group 2
» 1bc working group 3
Site visit
» Field visit to Malaysia Social Welfare Department
» Malaysia Red Crescent Society’s Home for the Homeless programme
Thematic session
» Integrated school safety approach
» Sustainability of National Societies
» [Outcome document] Gender and diversity working group report
Day 3
» CSR Forum roadmap session
» Key messages from the global platform for disaster risk reduction
» Factsheet for Disaster Risk Reduction mapping, 2016
» [Outcome document] CSR roadmap for regional cooperation 2016-2020

Disaster Law Field School | 24-27 April 2017 | Sydney, Australia
2017-04-24 - 2017-04-27
Three Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI) countries (Myanmar, Laos and Indonesia) have been identified for participation in the Disaster Law Field School to be held in Sydney, Australia from 24–27 April 2017. The country delegations will comprise of representatives from the National Societies and National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs). Representatives from ASEAN will also attend. In total, there will be 11 participants funded from the RRI to attend, also including 2 colleagues from the Canadian Red Cross’ legal and Disaster Management (DM) domestic departments in Ottawa, Canada.
The field school will be a mix of theory and scenario based learning. It will provide an overview of the key international and regional legal and policy frameworks for disaster risk management as well as best practice of national and local level implementation into law and policy. Additionally, it will provide a platform to highlight the important auxiliary role of Red Cross and Red Crescent across the disaster risk management spectrum. The programme will explore legal issues related to preparedness, response, risk reduction, and recovery. Cross-cutting issues such as gender, protection and inclusion, including displacement and climate change adaptation will be considered and addressed throughout every phase of the field school, including how to strengthen approaches in, policy and practice.
The Disaster Law Field School objectives:

Provide an overview of the key international and regional legal and policy frameworks for disaster risk management, including best practice on national and local level implementation of the various agendas.
Explore how law and policy across the disaster risk management spectrum, from preparedness, risk reduction, response and recovery, need to be developed and implemented to ensure words translate into local level action.
Ensure cross-cutting issues such as gender, protection and inclusion, including displacement and climate change adaptation will be considered and addressed throughout every phase of the field school, including how to strengthen approaches in policy and practice.
Ensure implementation of theory into practice through simulation and scenario based work;
Further develop legislative advocacy skills among participants to ensure disaster risk management is seen as priority for action among decision makers and opinion leaders in the region.
Encourage participants to undertake an analysis of their own domestic frameworks and develop plans of action for their strengthening, utilising key disaster law tools and guides;

Related documents:

Concept note
Agenda
Participant list
Field school report

See also the related story at http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-law/news/asia-pacific/back-to-school-on-disaster-law-in-asia-pacific-73935/

Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) training | 24 April-1 May 2017 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2017-04-24 - 2017-05-01
The Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) training was organized by ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA) Centre and 2 seats were secured for National Societies. IFRC was also requested to support on the organization of the simulation exercise as part of the training. Technical meetings with IFRC regional office in Kuala Lumpur were also organized, taking the opportunity of the presence of key AHA Centre colleagues.
The main objective of the 7th ASEAN-ERAT Induction Course was to prepare regional responders to have experience in emergency management and coordination, also to enable them to respond towards major disasters in the ASEAN region. Participants of the course were representatives from ASEAN Member States, AADMER Partnership Group, partner organisations, ASEAN Secretariat and the AHA Centre.
Read more on AHA centre news at http://ahacentre.org/news/7th-asean-erat-induction-course/

Community-based disaster risk reduction training | 27 April 2017 | Angthong, Thailand
2017-04-27
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Red Cross background introduction by a Red Cross Volunteer in Angthong province. Photo by Thai Red Cross Society

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Vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA) practice by women group. Photo by Thai Red Cross Society

Under USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), the community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) is one component (as a sub-project) which is implemented by Thai Red Cross Society (TRCS). The CBDRR project is to strengthen capacity of community members to be ready in responding to disasters. In addition, the CBDRR process will cover the disaster circle from preparedness, response and recovery.
TRCS conducted the training for community leaders from 4 communities in Angthong province on 27 April 2017. There were 18 males and 20 females participated in this training. The training focused on Red Cross background, disaster knowledge, vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA) tools and VCA practice.

17th South-East Asia Youth Network Online Meeting | 27 April 2017
2017-04-27
17th Southeast Asia Youth Network (SEAYN) online meeting was held on 27 April 2017 with attendance of 10 participants from 8 National Societies (NS).
The agenda was as follows (See online meeting agenda for details):
1) Cooperation with Plan International; Youth Digital System was presented by Plan international 2) Asia-Pacific Youth Network (APYN) Work Plan 2017-2018
3) 5th SEAYN Annual Meeting outline
4) Community Safety and Resilience Forum (CSRF) outcome
5) NS updates on Youth in School Safety (YSS) implementation, and School Safety mapping updates
The Digital Officer of Plan International was invited as a guest speaker and presented about the youth employment ecosystem run by Plan International. It was decided to have a brainstorm among the members to collaborate with Plan International to initiate the future’s youth employment programme. The 5th SEAYN annual meeting will be held in the Philippines in September. This online meeting took place after the online coordination team meeting on 11 April 2017.

Viet Nam Red Cross Society celebrates World Red Cross Red Crescent Day
2017-05-07
On 7 May 2017, the Viet Nam Red Cross Society organized celebration and blood donation day on the occasion of World Red Cross Red Crescent Day. Representatives from partner National Societies, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), government agencies as well as Viet Nam Red Cross staff and volunteers from the headquarters and Hanoi Chapter attended the event.
Speaking at the event, President Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu noted that in 2016, the National Society implemented 35 development and humanitarian projects with VND 117 billion (USD 5,153,850) supported by international partners, with 66 percent of which came from Movement partners. In recent years, the Viet Nam Red Cross Society has continually sought to improve and innovate its approaches, for example, the SMS fundraising campaign for cow bank programme, which won the Asia Pacific Fundraising Network award in 2014.

Myanmar Celebrates World Red Cross Day Ceremony as Union Level | 8 May 2017 | Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
2017-05-08 08:00 - 17:00 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)
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World Red Cross Day ceremony was celebrated at Myanmar International Convention Center II, Naypyitaw and the Patron of Myanmar Red Cross Society, Union President U Htin Kyaw addressed the audience in the ceremony.
The Union President of Myanmar, H.E U Htin Kyaw, Union Ministers and Vice Ministers of respective Ministries, Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council and representatives, Honorary President Professor Dr. Tha Hla Shwe, President Professor Dr. Daw Mya Thu, executive committee members, Central Council members, Chairmen of State and Region Red Cross Supervisory Committees, Red Cross Brigade members, representatives from International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and partner National Societies, special guests, donors, volunteers and staffs, about 400 people attended the ceremony.
The Union President, H.E U Htin Kyaw affirmed “Also with increased occurrences of disasters, the Myanmar Red Cross Society needs to redouble its efforts in providing first aid, disaster preparedness, responses and disaster risk reduction activities. We are aware that the Myanmar Red Cross Society alone cannot meet the humanitarian needs of the people in time of natural calamities or disasters. Concerted efforts have to be rendered by the government, people, civil society organizations, and humanitarian organizations to help those who are in need.”
“Moreover, the Myanmar Red Cross Society can help trained communities to be disaster resilient and the government, on its part, will be providing necessary assistance through its line ministries”, he added.
Since its inception from the battlefield of Solferino in 1859, the Red Cross has been actively carrying out humanitarian work all over the world for all the people in need regardless of their nationality, religion, political opinion. The International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is the world’s biggest humanitarian network and providing humanitarian assistance to those who need according to the Red Cross principles: Impartiality and Neutrality.
Every year, around the world, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and 190 National Red Cross/ Red Crescent Societies provide the humanitarian assistances for more than 160 million people through its network of around 17 million volunteers and 450,000 staffs.
Myanmar Red Cross Society was established since 1920. Over 44,000 Red Cross volunteers provide humanitarian aid to more than 500,000 people, building safer and stronger communities through a diverse and innovative range of services tailored to local needs. From Community Based Health and First Aid Programme, Building Community Resilience Programme, Hpa-an Orthopedics Rehabilitation Centre, Restoring Family Links services, Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery Programmes, the Myanmar Red Cross Society provides these services through the tireless dedication of its volunteers.
“World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, 8 May, is an opportunity to recognize the contribution and achievements of the millions of volunteers and staff members around the world who are keeping our commitment to humanity every day – by making the last mile effort to ensure that no one is left behind. In complex contexts with increasing vulnerabilities, our ability to access people in need is constantly changing. But our volunteers and staffs are finding creative and innovative ways to adapt local solutions to reach people in need and help them prepare for dealing with and recover from these challenges,” said Professor Dr. Daw Mya Thu, the President of Myanmar Red Cross Society.
The theme of 2017 World Red Cross Day is “Everywhere for Everyone.” Myanmar Red Cross Society commits to maintain the momentum of good work and success that it has achieved to continue striving for improvement and betterment to help the people according to their needs and to thrive as community based humanitarian organization by promoting the role of youth, the role of people living with disabilities and empowering women.

Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) research – Initial training for the field research | 9-14 May 2017 | Lao PDR
2017-05-09 - 2017-05-14
The initial trainings for the field research on sexual and gender-based violence took place on from 9-14 May 2017 in Lao PDR. As part of this research project, all data collection teams have to be trained for six days. The trainings include sensitization on sexual and gender-based violence issues, introduction to the questionnaire and focus-group discussions (FGDs) and multiple practice sessions to ensure that the research is carried out in an ethical, safe and confidential manner.
The training was six days long with a series of debrief meetings on the seventh day.

Key sessions included:
1) An overview of what SGBV is, how it is different during disasters and how to define specific types of SGBV, including sexual violence, domestic violence, early/forced marriage and child sexual abuse. The multi-sectoral response for a survivor was also explained and reviewed. Participants were tested on their knowledge through a series of quizzes and case scenarios, including the gallery walk.
2) Detailed overview of the guiding principles, an ethical approach to data collection and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. The same key messages were reviewed every day during the training, including:
– gender inequality is the root cause of SGBV
– Putting the survivor at the center through the guiding principles: Safety, Confidentiality, Respect and Non-discrimination
– Definitions of SGBV
– Code of conduct during fieldwork
– Stress management for the data collection team
3) An in depth session on key sections of the fieldwork manual for data collectors, including duties and responsibilities of each team member, explanation of the full questionnaire and the rationale behind each question, explanation of the Focus Group Discussions, review of keeping safe in the field and how to implement the guiding principles of safety, confidentiality, respect and non-discrimination during interviews. Each team member had to sign a pledge of confidentiality and ethics and the Lao Red Cross child protection policy.
4) An overview of the open data kit (ODK), what it can and cannot do in the area of information management and how to use the hand held devices. This is also a key area in the fieldwork manual. Field supervisors also had an additional orientation session in which they learned how to manage the devices, including charging the phones, uploading of forms and how to review forms at the end of the day for mistakes.
5) Sharing of cultural considerations by the field supervisors coming from the Oudomxay and Sekong provinces on cultural practices and traditions the data collectors may have to face during field work. The most disaster affected villages include a number of different ethnic groups, who speak different language and have unique cultural rituals.
6) Two Lao Government representatives, one from the National Commission on the Advancement for Women (NCAW) and the National Statistics Bureau, shared their experience of working on the UNFPA supported 2014 National Level Prevalence Survey on Violence Against Women and Girls. This session reviewed the most important Do’s and Don’ts for the data collectors in the field (please see checklist below) and also gave further insight on how the field supervisors can finalize their fieldwork plan and do effective household respondent selection.
Supporting Documents
» Agenda
» Dos and Don’ts – Field data-collector checklist for research on sexual and gender-based violence in disasters

IFRC as panelist in Asia-Pacific Youth, Peace and Security Consultation Forum
2017-05-16 - 2017-05-19
40 youth from 20 countries joined the Asia-Pacific Youth, Peace and Security Consultation Forum, hosted by UNDP and UNFPA, on 16-19 May 2017, to engage in deep discussion on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015) for the first time in Asia-Pacific region. Over 20 partners ranging from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs), UN Agencies and donor governments came to learn more and interact with the 2250 agenda through the youth’s perspectives.
IFRC’s Youth and Volunteering Officer, Ms. Kum Jo Ho, was one of the panelists in the Asia-Pacific Youth, Peace, Security Consultation Forum as a panelist by presenting IFRC’s activities on youth engagement into peace-building actions.
The youth, as the key panelists, received introductory substantive Insider Mediation Training through Clingendael Institute and IFRC and also joined a Facebook live discussion which has received around 75,000 views, 425 likes and 80 shares raising awareness of the importance of youth agents in peace and security. View the Facebook live discussion here. More importantly youth needs and how youth could work with them to ensure that youth are a part of our peace and security plans in Asia-Pacific region are heard. After this event, UNDP invited IFRC to be a panelist in the South-South Exchange Volunteerism Forum to be held on 20-23 June 2017.
To read more:

Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security [link to external site]
Asia-Pacific Youth, Peace, Security – A Regional Consultation Terms of Reference
Asia-Pacific Youth, Peace, Security – A Regional Consultation Agenda

Steering Committee Meeting for the Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI) | 17 May 2017 | Jakarta, Indonesia
2017-05-17 08:00 - 17:00
The annual Steering Committee Meeting for the Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI) was held in Jakarta on 17 May 2017. The objective of the meeting was to review the second year of implementation of the initiative and to discuss among partners the proposed Work Plan for the fourth year of the project. | See agenda and participant list | Minutes of the meeting

Below are presentations delivered during the meeting:

Overview of project achievements from annual work plan year 3 – April 2016 to March 2017
Overview of the fourth annual work plan (year 4) – April 2017 to March 2018

The meeting approved the below four technical Work Plans covering the period April 2017 to March 2018:

Humanitarian Diplomacy and Communications
Disaster Law
Gender and Diversity
Community Safety and Resilience

The documents were produced based on the in-country plans received from 9 National Societies in Southeast Asia as well as technical dialogue between related IFRC and National Societies’ focal points.

About Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI)

Supported by the Canadian Government and Canadian Red Cross, the Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI) seeks to further contribute to reducing the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable communities in Southeast Asia. The four-year initiative (2014-2018) is supporting the 11 Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies in the region. The focus is on enhancing the skills and capacities of National Societies so they can advocate more strongly at a national and regional level for the needs of communities in disaster risk reduction. This is complemented by the strengthening of regional partnerships, both within our networks and with key partners such as the ASEAN Secretariat and other bodies.

Asia Pacific Disaster Law Programme Participates in Oxfam Peer to Peer (P2P) Journey Learning Conference | 17-18 May 2017
2017-05-17 08:00 - 2017-05-18 17:00
Asia Pacific Disaster Law Programme Participates in Oxfam Peer to Peer (P2P) Journey Learning Conference
The IFRC Disaster Law Programme participated in ASEAN-OXFAM’s P2P Journey Learning Conference last May 17-18 to share some of its experiences in peer learning activities, as part of its core function as a network of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The Learning Conference is the culmination of the project’s mapping of DRM peer to peer platforms in ASEAN and a showcase of peer learning case studies implemented in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar. Peer learning activities fall under the AADMER (see AADMER Work Programme) Priority Programme 3 “Advance”, which ensures that “robust and accountable information sharing platforms and their interoperability across different tiers of government and communities, together with traditional and non- traditional platforms, will be in place.”
Oxfam had invited the IFRC Disaster Law Programme to present on the Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI), focusing on RRI’s disaster law component and how it has helped bring the voice of the community to the decision-making table. The presentation highlighted that the IFRC and Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have been doing peer to peer learning activities for a long time as it is how the Movement is built – through our wide network in different countries. IFRC also facilitated group sessions to discuss the importance of law and policy in achieving resilience goals.
Read more about on this link (to ifrc.org)

Community Engagement and Accountability training | 18-21 May | Bangkok
2017-05-18 08:00 - 2017-05-21 17:00
First Community Engagement and Accountability training organized in Asia Pacific

Between 18 and 21 May 2017, the IFRC and ICRC jointly organized the first Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) training in Asia Pacific for National Society, partner National Societies IFRC and ICRC staff in the region. This was the first training to utilize the pilot CEA guide which was finalized in February 2017, CEA toolkit and training package.
Over the course of the four intensive days, participants familiarized themselves with the theory and the practice of how to integrate CEA within the Red Cross and Red Crescent programme cycle during emergency operations, longer-term protracted crisis, both in contexts of natural disasters and armed conflict, as well as development programs.
Following the training, some participants also attended the global forum by the Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities network. The event was attended by over 100 representatives from NGOs and iNGOs, government, donor and the private sector.

Resources from the training:

CEA Guide
CEA Toolkit
National Society’s CEA work:

Community Engagement and Accountability Minimum Standards: formulation and integration into the work of the Myanmar Red Cross
Myanmar Red Cross (MRCS): Community Engagement and Accountability Minimum Standards & Key Actions

For more information on the CEA training, please visit the training website: https://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/meetings-and-events/cea-meeting/
Please visit the following link to read the CDAC Policy Paper on Collective Models: http://www.cdacnetwork.org/tools-and-resources/i/20170531072915-3fs0r
The participants of the Red Cross and Red Crescent CEA Facebook Group are encouraged to continue the knowledge exchange through: https://www.facebook.com/groups/587239731349669/

Gender and Diversity approaches to Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) field school | 21-26 May 2017 | Ayutthaya, Thailand
2017-05-21 - 2017-05-26
A six-day Field School on Gender and Diversity in Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments was co-organized by the IFRC Bangkok Country Cluster Support team and Thai Red Cross Society between 21-26th May. This Field School is part of a wider, global effort to ensure the integration of gender and diversity in Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction process for National Societies. The training was held in Ayutthaya and Sing Buri province in Thailand and was attended by six National Societies including Thai Red Cross Society, Lao Red Cross, Cambodian Red Cross, Philippine Red Cross, Malaysian Red Crescent, Nepal Red Cross, three Partner National Society representatives from American Red Cross (Vietnam), French Red Cross (Vietnam) and Australian Red Cross (Philippines), and the IFRC. The Field School was structured around in-class training and field visits to a nearby community. The community chosen experiences recurring flooding every year between August and November and have been working with the Thai Red Cross through their Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, to identify and reduce risk, and enhance coping strategies for all in their community.
Through a series of interactive sessions and participatory-based information gathering in the field, participants to the Field School addressed the importance of gender and diversity in VCA approaches, considering the differences of needs and priorities, vulnerabilities and capacities from different groups to ensure we ‘leave no one behind’ during our planning and assessment processes. The ultimate goal, to achieve greater individual and community resilience . Mrs. Dujdao Pengpak, 42, Village Head said “It was a good experience to exchange knowledge on the areas such as disaster prevention and I learned a lot especially in improving our old ways [of dealing with disasters] and making our community more resilient.”
Click here to read “Helping villages in Thailand improve their old ways” – a story on this VCA field school, on IFRC website
Supporting Documents
» Agenda of the field school
» Concept Note
» Participant List
» Guidance Note: Gender and Diversity-Sensitive VCA
Supporting Resources
» Case Study: Mainstreaming Gender and Diversity in Disaster Risk Reduction Initiatives
» IFRC Strategic framework on gender and diversity – 2013 to 2020
» Infographic: A call to action: Preventing and Responding to Gender-based Violence (GBV) in disasters
» Minimum standard commitments to gender and diversity in emergency programming
» Snapshot: Focus on Gender and Diversity in Disaster Risk Reduction
» Unseen, Unheard: Gender-based Violence in Disasters – Asia-Pacific case studies
Outcome Documents
» Report
» Pre- and Post-Test results
» Trees as results of the brainstorming session
» For more information on VCA, go to VCA webpage at IFRC’s online library
» For more information on community resilience, go to:
» YouTube video: Roadmap to Community Resilience by IFRC
» Publication: Roadmap to Community Resilience: A step-by-step guidance on how to operationalize the IFRC’s Framework for Community Resilience (FCR).
Presentations
Day 1 and 2
» Introduction to Community Resilience and VCA Approach
» Gender and Diversity in VCA
» [Quiz Handout] Gender, Diversity and Violence
Day 3
» Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) by Thai Red Cross Society

Communicating with Disaster-Affected Communities (CDAC) Forum | 22-23 May 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-05-22 - 2017-05-23
The Communicating with Disaster-Affected Communities (CDAC) global forum on ‘The authenticity challenge to the Participation Revolution’ was held on 22-23 May 2017, back-to-back with the Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) training (taking place 18-21 May).
The CDAC Network is a growing platform of more than 30 humanitarian, media development, social innovation, technology, and telecommunication organisations, dedicated to saving lives and making aid more effective through communication, information exchange and community engagement.
The forum allowed IFRC and National Societies to be present and showcase some of the most innovative approaches.
See the agenda and resource Authenticity and ‘Participation Revolution’

First Aid Training for Grab Taxi Drivers | May 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-05-30
There were two basic First Aid training courses conducted for 32 Grab taxi drivers in Chiang Mai and in Bangkok in May 2017. In Chiang Mai Province, there were 18 Grab car drivers participating in the first aid training organized on 16 May 2017 (male 16 , female 2). Meanwhile, in Bangkok, there were 14 Grab taxies, Grab cars , and Grab bikes attending the said basic first aid training on 30 May 2017 (male 13, female 1). There were 6 key topics focusing on both theory and practical sessions related to basic standard first aid for wounds, choking , stroke, heart diseases, CPR-cardiopulmonary resuscitation and referral and transportation to hospitals by three first aid instructors/ specialists from Training Centre of First Aid and Health Care, Thai Red Cross Society and hosted by GRAB Thailand.
In this year 2017, there will be 11-12 basic first aid training courses as planned. “It is expected that over 300-350 Grab drivers will be equipped and capable to help the victims on the road and to save lives for those in need”, said Mr. Niwattana Assawarakse, Grab Thailand coordinator. For more information, please contact Mr. Niwattana Assawarakse, email: niwattana.as@grabtaxi.com and Dr. Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Health Officer, email: pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org.

Lao Red Cross Youth Empowerment in Social Inclusion Programme | 24-26 May 2017 | Lao PDR
2017-06-06 08:00 - 17:00
First drama: violence can not be an excuse for any emotional actions, nor a solution to any issues.

Second drama: Be educator for parents.

The programme started with the preparation of Youth as Agents of Behavioral Change (YABC) peer educators as facilitators. Those facilitators held a small forum with 20 core group of youth using the Youth Empowerment in Community (YEC) guide. Those core-group youth prepared two theatre dramas addressing the issue of violence in communities and children in the Vientiane-Ho Chi Minh Friendship High School’s school hall for 150 school youth and teachers.
Active listening skill first!
This was the answer from the audience students in the feedback session after enjoying the first drama: violence can not be an excuse for any emotional action nor a solution to any issue.
Family violence
Families are not same but can be happy all the same if they talk and behave with love and warm care. How? Children’s role is the most important. Be educators for parents. Educate the parents that children will follow them in future as role models. This was the feedback to the second drama. Isn’t it inspirational? Do peer-to-peer as well as be peer-educators to parents.

GRAB Taxi First Aid Training | 6 June 2017 | Chiangmai
2017-06-06 08:00 - 17:00
This was the fifth Garb taxi drivers training on basic first aid in Thailand conducted on 6 June 2017 in Chiangmai Province. There were 25 Grab taxi drivers (male 20, female 5) participating in the first aid training.
There were 6 key topics focusing on both theory and practical sessions related to basic standard first aid for the wounds, choking, stroke, heart diseases, CPR-cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and referral and transportation to hospitals which were facilitated by four first aid instructors/ specialists from Thai Red Cross Chapter 3 Chiangmai Province.
All of participants were received the certificates after completing their attendance of the training course for six hours. In 2017, Grab Thailand is planning to organize about 11-12 basic first aid training courses with the technical support from Thai Red Cross (Training Centre for First Aid and Health Care) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies CCST Bangkok. It is expected that over 300 -350 Grab drivers will be equipped and capable to help the victims on the road and to save lives for those in need, said Mr. Niwattana Assawarakse, Grab Thailand coordinator.
For more information, please contact Mr. Niwattana Assawarakse , email: niwattana.as@grabtaxi.com and Dr. Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Health Officer, email: pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org

IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Meeting: Health and Care for Migrants and Displaced Persons: Strengthening Humanitarian Action | 6-7 June 2017 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2017-06-06 08:00 - 2017-06-07 17:00
Building on last year’s Mobilising the Movement: Humanitarian Responses to Migration, this year’s regional migration event focused on Health and Care for Migrants, and was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 6-7 June 2017. The event aimed to highlight the work of National Societies (NS) in this area, including providing basic and emergency health care, referral pathways, first aid, and psychosocial support.
The Regional Meeting brought together 71 participants, from 26 National Societies, including 18 National Societies from the Asia Pacific region. The Meeting also brought together a number of migration and health experts from external partner organisations, including from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the Secretariat of ASEAN, the European Union and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The Meeting was also supported by the technical expertise of IFRC and ICRC colleagues from across the Asia Pacific region, and from Geneva.
The Regional Meeting provided the first opportunity for Red Cross Red Crescent practitioners and experts from the fields of migration and health to come together, to share experiences, best practices, challenges and to chart a common way forward for addressing the critical health needs of migrants and displaced persons across the region.
The aims of the Regional Meeting included:

To share best practices from National Societies from across the Asia Pacific region in addressing the health needs of vulnerable migrants;
To understand the perspectives of Partner organisations, including perspectives on emerging trends and how best to work together;
To develop effective humanitarian diplomacy skills, particularly relevant to discussions around health and care for migrants and displaced persons;
To raise awareness of existing tools and initiatives to support National Societies to address the health needs of migrants; and
To discuss the challenges and opportunities around Red Cross Red Crescent action and programmes to address the health needs of migrants.

The meeting was organised by the IFRC Asia Pacific Regional office in Kuala Lumpur with support from the Asia Pacific Migration Network (APMN) and Swedish Red Cross. At the workshop, IFRC confirmed that migration and health is a key priority for the Asia Pacific, and the APMN agreed to establish a migration and health working group to follow up with this work.

See related Agenda and Report
See also the presentation on potential Regional Cross Border Cooperation Project (Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR) on improving access to ARV among migrants living in Thailand by Asian Red Cross and Red Crescent HIV/AIDS Network (ART)
Read more about Migration and Health.

2nd National Disaster Response Team (NDRT) training | 12-16 June 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-06-12 - 2017-06-16
In the past 2 years, the Thai Red Cross Society (TRC) has been conducting the National Disaster Response Team (NDRT), and the participants were from Red Cross Chapters, Red Cross health stations and relevant networks. A total of 149 TRC’s staffs from different regions of Thailand have been trained and are ready to be deployed for disaster responses.
With the NDRT training, TRC would expand the knowledge of disaster response to new-comer staff, in order to deploy them for disaster reliefs and responses both at the national and regional levels.
TRC has 3 minimum standards to assist victims when disasters occur as follow:
1. The relief kit items will be distributed to the victims after 6 hours that a disaster has happened
2. TRC will set up the tent to assist the victims within 4 hours after a disaster strikes
3. The victims will receive food and beverage within 4 hours after a disaster strikes
Key outcomes
• Participants gained the knowledge of disaster response and understood the TRC’s disaster response mechanism
• Participants understood the assessment cycle and can identify the plan of action
• Participants understood the coordination and communication during disaster
See also: the 1st NDRT Training conducted on 15-17 March 2017

Supporting documents

Agenda of 2nd NDRT training
Participant list

Presentations
Day 1:

Introduction to IFRC global response tools [ in Thai] by IFRC
Disaster management in Thailand [in Thai] by Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) of Thailand
Safer access framework [in Thai], Safety and security [in Thai] by ICRC
Restoring Family Links [in Thai] by ICRC

Day 2:

Thai Red Cross Disaster Response Mechanism [in Thai], by Thai Red Cross Society
Information and Communication system during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Media – dealing with media during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Communication during emergency [in Thai], Communication channel matrix [in Thai], by IFRC
Thai Red Cross Disaster Relief Management [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society

Day 3:

Psychosocial support (PSS) during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
SPHERE standards [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Health in Emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Shelter during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Watsan during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Sanitation during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society

Day 4:

Plan of Action [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Needs Assessment [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Logistics during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society

Training of Trainers of Healthy Ageing | 13-15 June 2017 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia
2017-06-13 08:00 - 2017-06-15 17:00
The first roll out of Healthy Ageing Programme in ASEAN: Cambodian Red Cross prepares for an ageing society and promotes Community Based Healthy Ageing in 25 provinces and pilot projects in three provinces, supported by IFRC in partnership with Pfizer Inc. in 2017.
There are 34 participants (Male 14, Female 20) from 25 provincial red cross branches and two Thai Red Cross representatives participating in this training course. The peer-to-peer facilitation team consists of two specialists from Bulgarian & Mongolian Red Cross National Societies with the technical support from IFRC Bangkok and Geneva.
Cambodian Red Cross National Society is the third country in the world to show the leadership and the commitment in implementing “Community Based Healthy Ageing Programme” after Montenegro, and India. IFRC supports National Societies to play a key role in promoting healthy ageing which contributes to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global strategy and action plan on ageing and health , which focuses on five strategic objectives:
1). commitment to action on healthy ageing in every country;
2). developing age-friendly environments;
3). aligning health systems to the needs of older populations;
4). developing sustainable and equitable systems for providing long-term care (home, communities, institutions);
5). improving measurement, monitoring and research on healthy ageing.
This 3-day training of trainers (TOT) held in Phnom Penh highlights the life course approach, healthy ageing determinants and evidence-based behaviour change theories. The toolkit includes content on noncommunicable diseases, risk factors such as falls and social isolation, healthy eating, physical activity, lifelong learning and plan of action as well as tools which provide guidance and activities to help people pursue healthier lives and enable active ageing with dignity and a better quality of life.
After this TOT training, the pilot projects in three targeted provinces – Kampot, Svay Rieng and Prey Veng will be implemented the project activities to improve the quality of life of Cambodia elderly people in rural community about 500 persons. Moreover, 90-100 Red Cross volunteers will be trained on Healthy Ageing, 18 outreach education sessions on NCD and health promotion in targeted communities at Buddhist pagodas will be conducted by trained volunteers, 3,000 healthy ageing booklets will be produced, and at least 2 case studies and stories and project review and lessons learnt reports will be developed.
See also the Cambodian Red Cross website link, IFRC website link and the report of the event.

See related resources:

Healthy Ageing Toolkit for facilitators, volunteers and community, available in both English and Cambodian/Khmer versions
Healthy Ageing Facilitator Guide for teaching community volunteers, available in both English and Cambodian/Khmer versions
Healthy Ageing Volunteer Guide for empowering communities, available in both English and Cambodian/Khmer versions

See also:

Related programme: Healthy Ageing Programme by Cambodian Red Cross
Training workshop on Healthy Ageing for Cambodian Red Cross volunteers | 4-12 July 2017 | various provinces in Cambodia

Celebration of the World Blood Donor Day | Bangkok | 14 June 2017
2017-06-14 08:00 - 17:00
The National Blood Centre of Thai Red Cross organized the World Blood Donor Day on 11 June 2017 with the theme and campaign of “What can you do? Give Blood, Give now, Give often”.
Globally, the IFRC plays a significant role in advocating and promoting regular voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRBD) and Youth clubs which are also known as the International Club 25. Every year on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. The event, established in 2004, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood. This year, the global event will be organized in Hanoi Vietnam to celebrate the same theme.
The lives and health of millions of people are affected by emergencies every year. In the last decade, disasters have caused more than 1 million deaths, with more than 250 million people being affected by emergencies every year. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and storms create considerable needs for emergency health care, while at the same time, often destroying vital health facilities as well. Man-made disasters such as road accidents and armed conflicts also generate substantial health care demands and the need for front-line treatment.
Blood transfusion is an essential component of emergency health care. Emergencies increase the demand for blood transfusion and make its delivery challenging and complex. Adequate supply of blood during emergencies requires a well-organized blood service, and this can only be ensured by engaging the entire community and a blood donor population committed to voluntary unpaid blood donation throughout the year.
This year, the Thai Red Cross plays a leadership role in giving a 8-bed mobile service bus to Lao Red Cross to contribute to saving the lives of more 6.5 million people in Lao PDR. Thai Red Cross also committed and provided technical support in increasing the capacity of National Blood Center of Lao Red Cross to develop the blood campaigns, communication materials, and other blood service supply and equipment.
Additionally, Thai Red Cross Society and all key stakeholders are moving toward in promoting safe and sustainable blood programmes in Thailand for those in needed to save their lives. This is to make sure that Thai Red Cross could provide blood about 1,500-3,000 units a day in average for the patients and the requests from all of the hospitals in Thailand .
For more information, contact: Miss Unchalee Pochailert , Communications Officer, National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross, email: aunchaleeoil22@gmail.com and Dr. Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Health Officer, email: pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org
