DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) participated in the annual one-week International Mobilisation and Preparation for Action (IMPACT) course held by Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) in Tehran.
Organised in cooperation with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the course attracted participants from national societies in East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
The course aims to build strong national societies and coordinate field humanitarian action for better response and recovery from disasters.
It was attended by representatives and instructors from IFRC, ICRC, IRCS and 28 participants from eight national societies in Qatar, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Georgia, Afghanistan, and Iran.
As QRC is keen to participate in such humanitarian events for communication, exchange of experience, and mutual capacity building with members of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, it sent senior volunteer Reema Al Merekhi, trainer in the risk reduction team, to prepare for future representation of QRC in foreign missions and share experience and knowledge with peers in QRC for the benefit of all. Participants in five groups of four-five members each were trained in the role and responsibilities of delegates and principles of work with the host Society and Movement and outside partners.
Sessions also covered safety and security, respect for the cultures of distressed populations, and international humanitarian law. Instruction techniques included lectures on the Movement components, code of conduct, dealing with the media, action in a conflict environment, etc.
There was a case study about an unreal country affected by natural disasters and internal/external armed conflicts, with scenarios for different aspects of relief intervention in emergencies.
In the morning sessions, attendees gave summaries of the previous day, using role playing, competitions, and Q&As, and highlighted problems, if any.
On the last day, the IRCS organising committee honoured coordinators and instructors and gave the trainees course completion certificates. The agenda included post-closing recreational arrangements, such as an invitation by IRCS to all participants to a dinner party at an Iranian classical restaurant and a trip to Iran’s tallest Milad Tower.
Al Merekhi said, “The course was an opportunity to explore experiences from other countries and shed light on some challenges in field action and how to overcome them in the best interest of distressed people.”
She said humanitarian action involves difficulties that hinder reaching out to victims, the least of which is safety and security, but the belief in the sanctity of human soul and dignity is what inspires them as members of International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement to keep going forward for the noble cause.
“The knowledge I acquired will be my resource in future missions to help distressed communities. As a token of my gratitude to QRC for offering me this opportunity, I have begun to communicate what I learnt to risk reduction volunteers. I am very happy to share it with members of my society.”
IMPACT is part of efforts by Movement components towards Strategy 2020 – Saving lives, changing minds, which seeks to protect lives by building responsive and developing human resources capable of providing support, physical and technical help within a coordinated and harmonious framework between the host country and supporting organisations and Movement outside partners.
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