“Our thoughts are with those impacted by this terrible disaster. We at H&M Foundation wanted to show our support and solidarity to the people of Morocco with this donation, that will support the aid relief efforts of the Red Cross Red Crescent in Morocco.”

Karl-Johan Persson, board member H&M Foundation

The Moroccan Red Crescent (MRCS) have been on the ground since the very beginning. Teams are supporting local and national authorities in the search and rescue operation, also in hard-to-reach areas (mountainous areas). The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) together with the partner national societies such as the Swedish Red Cross aim to support the Moroccan Red Crescent Society (MRCS) in the response to this earthquake.

Emergency efforts targeting 500,000 people include:

• Integrated assistance such as in-kind relief items (food, household items), cash programming and shelter.
• Access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene service (WaSH).
• Health well as healthcare and emergency medical assistance including mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).
• Restoring family links and community-based protection activities for unaccompanied and separated children, and other persons with special needs.

To learn more about the disaster relief efforts led by the Red Cross/Red Crescent, please visit their website.

According to reports from Ukrainian authorities and aid workers, the destructive consequences of the dam collapse are intensifying. As a result, more villages and towns in Kherson oblast are being flooded, causing significant damage to homes and civilian infrastructure. More than tens of thousands of people have been affected by the rising water levels, and the number is expected to increase as the water levels continue to rise.

There is an urgency to evacuate affected people and carry out humanitarian work in a very dangerous environment.

Emergency interventions include:

• Evacuation to temporary shelter
• Provision of food, hygiene and sleeping kits
• Access to clean water
• Restoration of family links
• Warning systems on current risk for explosive devices
• Cash assistance

The consequences of the collapse is expected to last long after the water recedes.

To learn more about the disaster relief efforts led by the Red Cross / URCS, please visit their website.

“What is happening in Myanmar and Bangladesh is heart-breaking and our thoughts are with the people affected by this terrible cyclone. Humanitarian organizations and local communities are working hard to help those affected and we hope that our donation will support the essential aid relief efforts.”

Karl-Johan Persson, H&M Foundation board member

H&M Foundation has donated USD250,000 towards the Red Cross and Red Crescent for their efforts in Myanmar and Bangladesh. The targeted individuals will be supported through an integrated approach across multiple sectors, aiming to meet shelter, health, and basic needs. Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) is also of high priority to prevent the risk of water-borne diseases and outbreaks in the immediate emergency response phase. In addition, interventions will incorporate disaster risk reduction and preparedness activities ahead of the monsoon season and have a cross-cutting focus on community engagement and accountability as well as protection, gender and inclusion.

• Efforts for children to access food, shelter and warm clothing to protect them against the weather elements
• Supporting search and rescue operations
• Providing first aid and performing emergency medical evacuations
• Ambulance services and transportation to hospitals
• Distribution of relief items, tents and blankets to evacuated people
• Distribution of blood and plasma to the affected regions
• Distribution of stocks of food and basic aid items such as tents and blankets
• Psychological support and restoring family link services

• Distributing hot meals
• Dry ration packs
• Household essential items
• Family tents/shelter
• Safe drinking water
• Medical assistance through 12 Mobile Health Units

As sea-strength flood waters devastate Pakistan, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is tirelessly supporting the millions of people who have lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones.

Nearly six months after the war escalated, the situation in Ukraine remains dire for children. In some areas, thousands of children are being forced underground into bunkers while violence and terror continues. Persistent air strikes and explosions are destroying buildings, killing, injuring children, and making it harder for children to access essential healthcare and education.

UNHCR

On 25 February, UNHCR declared a Level 3 Emergency in Ukraine – the most serious on the scale – signaling an exceptional response to the crisis. UNHCR rapidly scaled up its presence inside Ukraine to be able to reach people in need across the country, opening offices and warehouses in new locations and sending teams of emergency responders into the country with more than 200 staff now on the ground. Despite intensifying hostilities, teams have remained operational throughout the crisis to quickly deploy stocks of emergency supplies as well as reinforce essential protection services such as psychosocial support and legal advice to people in need.

The flood has also badly affected infrastructure, so far 949,858 houses have been damaged across the country. In addition, 719,558 livestock have been lost and more than 3,000km of roads and 149 bridges have been damaged. The current rain spell and floods continue to impact already vulnerable and deprived districts, which have been affected by high food insecurity and where many people have not recovered from the effects of COVID-19.

Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is already working on the ground with the support of International Federation Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Cross/Red Cresent Partner-National Societies. Efforts include:

• Integrated assistance (Shelter, Livelihoods and Multi-purpose Cash)
• Health & Care including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH)
• Protection and Prevention (Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI), Community Engagement and Accountability, Environmental Sustainability, Risk Reduction, Climate Adaptation and Recovery)

Save the Children

• 210,000 people have been reached, including 122,000 children.
• 80,000 children and their families have received food, cash and vouchers assistance to meet basic needs like medicine.
• 120,000 children and their families have received wellbeing psychological and safeguarding support.
• 3,100 children have received educational support, such as access to online learning programmes.

UNHCR

• 4600 people in Ukraine were able to keep warm with a blanket in the winter cold.
• Another 5,000 displaced people in neighboring countries have been given a hygiene kit including a toothbrush, toothpaste and a towel.
• 250 refugees in Moldova have received cash assistance to cover emergency food and housing costs.
• UNHCR also combats trafficking, helps reunite families, and enables psychosocial support for traumatized people.

The donation will for example be used for:

• Core relief items such as high thermal blankets and much other needed items have been prepositioned in relevant countries
• Cash assistance
• Shelter – UNHCR will provide emergency shelter solutions where required, and work with the authorities to establish temporary reception and/or transit facilities, especially in light of the harsh winter.
• Protection – UNHCR will expand its protection monitoring activities and strengthen reception capacities to facilitate the registration of new arrivals, and identify quickly the most vulnerable individuals and persons with specific needs such as unaccompanied children, the elderly, persons with disabilities and other persons particularly at risk in displacement contexts.

In Eastern Ukraine, more than 400,000 children live in the areas at high risk of the direct impacts of the presence of soldiers and artillery, including being injured or killed by guns, landmines and explosive weapons, or being displaced from their homes. At least 100,000 of these children and their families are already known to have left their homes since Monday, and are currently sheltering with friends, relatives and strangers, often in cramped conditions.

The donation will for example be used for:

• Psychosocial support
• Distributing winter kits and hygiene kits
• Cash grants to families so they can meet basic needs such as food, rent and medicines, or so they can invest in starting new businesses
• Education