10 May 2008

British Red Cross staff and local volunteers, working to rebuild lives and livelihoods in the Maldives after the Boxing Day tsunami, have been celebrating World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day (8 May).

In the UK, the day comes in the middle of Red Cross Appeal Week, the biggest fundraising week of the year. In the Maldives, though, the day gave staff and volunteers the opportunity to raise awareness of volunteering, local programmes and how to reduce the risk of disaster, particularly climate-related disasters.

In Madifushi, where the British Red Cross has built 54 houses and set up livelihoods and disaster management projects, women played a traditional game of bashi (similar to volleyball). After the game, people were encouraged to volunteer in their own communities through the future Maldivian Red Crescent.

Hassan Rameez, who has received a new home and cash grant, said: "We are so happy that the British Red Cross came here. They have given all that we need, a house and finances for us to run a business."

Groundbreaking

People on Vilufushi held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of a Red Cross construction project building the island's first sewage system. The island was devastated by the tsunami and has been completely rebuilt.The new system will ensure that waste is treated before being pumped out to sea and will no longer contaminate the local water supply.

On the island of Buruni, where the local community has been hosting the displaced population of Vilufushi since the tsunami, people from both communities marched around the island to demonstrate solidarity.

Nazeera Easa from Vilufushi said of the march: "Children who participated were very happy and relations between the two communities have improved."

Future plans

In the congested capital island of Male, a fun run encouraged people to get out of their cars, improving their health and reducing pollution. Children gave cultural performances and Red Cross stalls gave first aid demonstrations as well as information about their programmes and the future Maldivian Red Crescent.Samanthi Abeyatunge, British Red Cross communications and reporting delegate in the Maldives, said: "World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day this year has certainly shown the strength that comes from working together for humanity. It is this kind of togetherness, along with the formation of the Maldivian Red Crescent, that we hope will help us face some of the challenges confronting the Maldives today."

More about our tsunami recovery work

Read about Red Cross Appeal Week