Through its partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Land Rover is a member of the Disaster Relief Alliance and contributes to its Disaster Relief Fund. The British Red Cross has deployed these funds to support the disaster in Haiti and is working to get critical additional funding and support to its sister society in Afghanistan.
Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are on the ground and supporting local communities with essential needs, shelter, water, and support.
Should you wish to learn more or donate to the national appeal, please click here.
Haiti earthquake appeal
In the wake of the earthquake that struck Haiti on Saturday 14 August, the scale of the damage is still being revealed. Tragically, over 1,400 people have lost their lives and a further 6,975 people have been injured. Rescue teams from the Haitian Red Cross have been working tirelessly, searching and assisting victims buried under the rubble.
The impact on people’s lives is huge, with over 37,000 homes destroyed and a further 47,000 damaged. 64 schools have been destroyed and health care centres have also been damaged, turning people’s lives upside down.
On top of this, Strom Grace hit Haiti on 17 August, with winds reaching 65 km/h. While the impact of this is still being understood, it’s clear that it will only serve to make people’s lives harder. Thousands of people have been sleeping outside in the aftermath of the earthquake, and communities are now at greater risk of flash and urban flooding, and possible mudslides, in the wake of the heavy rain.
In response, the British Red Cross released £100,000 from the Disaster Fund to support response efforts. This will include providing shelter; healthcare; water, sanitation & hygiene support; livelihoods & basic needs support and further disaster risk reduction activities.
Afghanistan crisis appeal
You will no doubt be aware of news from Afghanistan. The situation in the region is evolving rapidly but what is clear is that millions of Afghans are facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, triggered by multiple overlapping emergencies. So far in 2021, over 390,000 people have been displaced across the country, with more currently leaving their homes. Afghans have been bearing the legacy of decades of conflict while extreme drought and the Covid-19 pandemic have also pushed families to the edge. Right now, thousands of families are in need of shelter, medicine, food and water, and many more will need support in the days and weeks to come.
The Afghan Red Crescent Society and the Red Cross Movement have been working across the country for over 30 years. Working neutrally, impartially, and independently, we have provided urgent support to the most vulnerable at times of worse crisis, and we won’t stop now. Much is unclear today about the future of Afghanistan, but millions of vulnerable people across the region will require assistance to face these ongoing crises. We are launching our Afghanistan Crisis Appeal to provide this critical support. We’ll be in touch with more information shortly but for now, we hope you’ll consider standing by the people of Afghanistan at this time of great uncertainty.
