16 Dec 2015

Botswana delegation is back from Geneva where they attended the 20th session of the General Assembly on December 4-6. 

The Botswana Red Cross Society (BRCS) delegation comprised of president Ms Mildred Molefhi, treasure, Mr  Motlamorago  Gaseitsiwe and secretary general Ms. Mabel Koketso. 

A press release from Botswana Red says during the assembly a two-year plan and budget were adopted.

The plan sought to expand the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) support to vulnerable communities around the world.

The IFRC budget, it says, also outlined the support the organisation would provide to its members, as well as eight programmatic areas that would be focused on and results measured.

According to a report from the General Assembly, the budget reflects the increasing scale and complexity of humanitarian need.

The report says the level of humanitarian need that exists in the world today is unprecedented therefore the plan sets out the IFRC’s commitment to support National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies like Botswana Red Cross Society to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities.

The release further states Botswana was not immune to the issues of poverty, low health standards and general economic crisis however it fared reasonably well compared to many other countries within the region. 

Despite the country’s good standing there are areas for improvement as well as a number of challenges ahead of the National Society where the IFRC’s support could come in handy.

The plan places emphasis on interventions that strengthen communities by mitigating the risks and vulnerabilities that trigger human crises. The global strength of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is in communities at the local level.

“With up to 17 million volunteers, it has a presence in more than 165 000 local branches in 190 countries (Botswana included ) – from the largest urban centre to the remotest villages”, says the release. Ends