Minister welcomes Red Cross exhibition to the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre
Minister for Overseas Development, Mr Michael Kitt, T.D., today welcomed an exhibition by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre on O’Connell Street, Dublin.
“The International Federation is one of our most important partners in responding to humanitarian crises worldwide. This multimedia and photography exhibition highlights the important and essential humanitarian work being carried out by the International Federation, with Ireland’s help”, said Minister Kitt.
The Exhibition - a focus on the deepening partnership between Ireland and the International Federation in responding to humanitarian crises – will run at the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre, 27-31 Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin from 14 to 22 April. The theme of the exhibition is ‘The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Irish Aid: Working Together for Humanity’.
One of the factors that makes Red Cross and Red Crescent assistance and support unique is that it is carried out by volunteers and staff in the community, where it counts most. The exhibition illustrates the importance of working at the local level, whether it is in a crisis situation, or in building the capacity of the community to help mitigate the impact of disaster on vulnerable people,” noted International Federation Secretary General Markku Niskala. “And the funding from Irish Aid helps us achieve this in countries which often do not receive enough support.”.
“The exhibition also marks the new two-year partnership agreement between Irish Aid and the International Federation which, for the first time, incorporates funding for the work overseas of the Irish Red Cross. The exhibition will therefore feature some of the excellent overseas work being carried out by the Irish Red Cross with Irish Aid support”, Minister Kitt added.
Ms. Jennifer Bulbulia, Honorary Secretary of the Irish Red Cross said
“The Irish Red Cross welcomes this exhibition highlighting the work carried out by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Those who visit the exhibition will get a pictorial display of some of the work our staff and volunteers carry out every day. We are very grateful for the continued and extremely generous support from both Irish Aid and the Irish people in the past few years. This has allowed the Irish Red Cross to contribute €1.2 million to a range of Red Cross and Red Crescent projects all over Africa. It has enabled us to assist hundreds of thousands of people affected by flood, drought and disease across the continent. I urge everybody to take a few minutes to visit this exhibition.”
Note to Editors:
The Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre, on Dublin’s O’Connell Street, is open to the public six days a week, admission is free.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization comprising 186 member Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, and some 97 million volunteers, members and staff. The Federation coordinates relief operations to assist victims of disasters, and combines this with development work to strengthen the capacities of its member National Societies. The Federation's work focuses on four core areas: promoting humanitarian values, disaster response, disaster preparedness, and health and community care.
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Press
13/4/08
