Migrants : How Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement helps restore Family Links

Dublin, Ireland, 26th-29th May 2015
Each week, thousands of migrants arrive and travel through Europe, seeking for a better life. Some unfortunately die or disappear on the way. Some lose contact with their loved ones, and on the other side of the migration route, families wonder if their brothers or sons are dead or alive… The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement tries to help restore these broken family links. Each year, several Red Cross national societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies meet to discuss on how to respond in the best way to this humanitarian issue. This year, the meeting was held in Dublin.
The Italian Red Cross humanitarian activities have soared with these massive arrivals of vulnerable migrants, as it is the case with other European Red Cross National Societies in Greece, Spain, Malta, or Bulgaria. As they were naturally not prepared to face a challenge of this dimension, the whole Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement tries to help them. In 2015, the International Federation has for instance allocated around 300 000 euros to both Greece and Italy from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund. And last may, It has also launched an appeal of about 2.7 million euros to assist the Italian Red Cross. The International Committee of the Red Cross has also engaged in helping certain National societies in their RFL - Restoring Family Links - programs.

Video produced by the Multmedia Communication Center - ICRC Delegation in Paris. - June 2015