22 Aug 2018

Botswana Red Cross Society through Restoring Family Links programme helps people to re-establish contact with their immediate family members after separation due to armed conflicts, natural disasters, migration and other humanitarian crisis.

This was said by the Botswana Red Cross Society Zoroga branch committee chairperson, Mr Kesetselemang Thanke during a consultative meeting with residents recently.

He said the Red Cross symbol on the logo expresses their provision of humanitarian services in times of peace and war, noting that the 189 Red Cross and

Red Crescent Societies work together with governments to trace missing relatives.

He said in situations of turmoil, panic and terror, family members could be separated in minutes, sometimes leading to long years of anguish and uncertainty about the fate of children, spouse or parents.

Mr Thanke said through the programme, they restored and maintained links between separated families through Red Cross messages. He said to arrange and maintain family reunifications, they register and make follow-ups of unaccompanied or separated children who are below 18 years.

“We have the international committee that helps us in issuing travel documents such as education, birth or death certificates to broaden the search to other countries,” he said.

These services are offered to everyone to prevent and alleviate human suffering and to foster human dignity in all communities by addressing the basic needs of people in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, he added.

Furthermore, he urged people to join the Red Cross Society especially the youth as it has a programme that would accommodate their business ideas. He said having a large number of members would help the village certainly during natural disasters.

Mr Thanke said as Zoroga Red Cross committee they had applied to relevant offices seeking assistance towards the construction of houses of people who were hard hit by floods last year.

He said the society had three learning institutions for people with disability who needed to acquire skills that could improve their lives. Membership joining fee is P20 and expires in 12 months while a lifetime membership costs P200.

Mr Thanke said all members had insurance cover to help them during catastrophes.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Thomas Modiro decried low turnout of residents at kgotla meetings, adding such a tendency denied them opportunities geared towards developing their village.

He emphasised the need to attend such forums in large numbers to share ideas and concerns with relevant people. ENDS