The representatives of the Russian Red Cross (RRC), Russia’s oldest humanitarian organization, have arrived in the Syrian Arab Republic to provide humanitarian and medical aid and psychosocial support to the earthquake victims.
Two devastating 7.7 and 7.6 - magnitude earthquakes rocked Kakhranmanmaras province in the southeast of Turkey on February 6. Quakes and aftershocks have also affected the neighboring countries, notably Syria.
"The Russian Red Cross, driven by the principles of humanity and universality, cannot stand aside and is helping both its colleagues fr om the Syrian National Society and the local population. Preventing and alleviating human suffering is our common goal. We immediately offered our support and our mobile aid facility in Latakia will provide first aid medical and psychological care as well as psychosocial support to everyone who needs it," said Pavel Savchuk, Chairman of the Russian Red Cross.– We will also provide humanitarian aid to the victims and meet their need for the main temporary shelter facility. The delegation consists of 10 RRC specialists and volunteers: two psychosocial support specialists (PSS), five volunteer doctors, a humanitarian aid specialist, the team leader and his deputy. The delegation will stay in Syria for two weeks".
The mission of the Russian Red Cross was prepared and organized through operational cooperation with the Russian Agency for Cooperation, the international Misson of Kindness program as well as with the support of the Russian Railways.
The Russian Red Cross Specialists have already met with their Syrian Red Crescent colleagues to discuss their plans to deal with the aftermath of the earthquake and to organize humanitarian assistance for the victims. A mobile RRC aid station has been deployed in Latakia. It is a large 43.2 sq m inflatable tent. It is fully self-contained and is provided with has all the household utilities: electricity, water, gas, internet, cold and hot water dispensers, air conditioning, convectors and heat pads to maintain a comfortable temperature.
In addition to working in the mobile unit, the Russian Red Cross staff and volunteers will assist the earthquake victims in the main shelter facility, identifying their needs and providing them with all the necessary medical and humanitarian assistance and psychosocial support:.
At the mobile unit, the RRC doctors provide qualified emergency medical care to all who need it. In addition, the RRC doctors will screen the population to detect and prevent communicable disease outbreaks. The Russian doctors are also ready to work with the local specialists and volunteers and train them to provide quality assistance to people affected by emergencies.
First psychosocial, social and emotional support is also available for children and adults. Water and food are distributed to them.
In addition, the mobile support unit will have a special room for children wh ere they can play and receive support while the adults are busy dealing with other issues.
"Psychological first aid and psychosocial support to both children and adults is an important area of our work. Children are very vulnerable to serious life challenges and to stress and have not yet learned how to deal with them properly we help them through play. This is a more accessible way to help children cope with difficulties, overcome a crisis and gain psychological stability," said Pavel Savchuk.
The emergency shelter is located at the Sports City Stadium in Latakia. Currently about 3,000 people are housed in the shelter, including about 700 children. The RRCs psychosocial support specialists will work with the children under the "Children in Emergencies" component. Games, creative master classes, interactive and other activities will be organized for the children. Also, humanitarian aid - baby food, formula and other essentials - will be distributed.
In addition, the RRC specialists will deploy a mobile bathing facility - a mobile bathhouse, where everyone who needs it can wash and receive personal hygiene items. They are also planning to sanitize the shelter to prevent the spread of infections.
