The Singapore Red Cross engages with communities at home and beyond our shores to build resilience and recover from natural disasters. The Global Engagement department consists of three sections: International Services (IS), the Centre of Excellence for Pandemic Preparedness (CoEPP) and Humanitarian Engagement (HE).
When a disaster strikes, International Services assesses the situation and responds by providing aid to those affected in various forms. Our relief efforts are supported by a pool of volunteers trained in first aid, medical care, water and sanitation and psychosocial support. SRC stays on beyond the emergency phase, remaining for as long as needed to support affected communities, rebuild lives and re-establish sustainable livelihoods. In times of war and aftermath of natural disasters, we also assist families in tracing their loved but lost ones via the Red Cross Restoring Family Links Service.
The aim of the Centre of Excellence for Pandemics is to provide a platform for the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement to regularly exchange information and best practices, so as to be on top of any potential outbreaks and have appropriate countermeasures in place.
Read MoreOne of the most powerful typhoons in recorded history, Typhoon Haiyan (known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda) pummelled South China, Vietnam, Caroline Islands and the Philippines from 3 to 11 November 2013. With generous support from the People of Singapore, the Singapore Red Cross delivered emergency supplies, mobilised one advanced and three medical missions to Ormoc, and supported large-scale relief operations across the affected areas in the Philippines.
Charting progress on rebuilding efforts in Nepal on the second anniversary of the 2015 earthquake, the Singapore Red Cross has completed 28 community facilities comprising schools, mobile clinics, health posts and a community hall. 32 other rebuilding projects are well underway, slated for completion by the end of 2017. All these projects - funded by the S$11 million in donations from the Government and People of Singapore - are expected to directly support close to 100,000 people in Nepal.
In recent years, SRC saw the importance of establishing platforms where young people in Singapore can engage in humanitarian affairs and activities, and in the process forge cohesion and unity among diverse groups. Humanitarian Engagement encourages people to actively engage with humanitarian issues and activities such as thinking of innovative ideas for specific humanitarian issues. The SRC Humanitarian Innovation Challenge was launched in 2021 to encourage young people to propose ideas to overcome pressing humanitarian challenges in Singapore.
The Humanitarian Conference was conceived to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, perspectives, and best practices on current issues in humanitarian work relevant to us all today. The conference provides a platform for discussion, not only amongst humanitarian organisations, but also with other parties who have embraced the humanitarian cause.
The Singapore Red Cross' Overseas Disaster Deployment Training is a comprehensive training course designed for individuals and organisations involved in humanitarian and disaster response efforts. This course equips participants with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience necessary to effectively respond to disasters and emergencies in international settings. It is an essential program for those who wish to contribute to disaster relief operations and support communities in crisis around the world.
