Overview In 2012, the Russian Red Cross (RRC) celebrated its 145th Anniversary with more than 200 different events organized by RRC branches during 2012 – exhibitions, mass campaigns, lectures, meetings with youth and volunteers. On that occasion, the Russian RC founded its anniversary medal to be granted to the most active RRC staff and volunteers.

The second stage of demining operation started in April 2013. The Russian bomb disposal technicians started working at the section “Parachin 5”. The demining operation will go on until September, during this time they are planning to clear 32 hectares.

For the first time, Russia has contributed US$ 2 million to the General Fund of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The funds will go towards supporting UNRWA health, education and social services programmes to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees in the region.

Fact Sheet

BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR

April 19, 2013

Collecting of relief goods for the people of Syria who suffered from a domestic armed conflict is completed. The cargo is planned to be sent in the next few days.

The total weight of humanitarian goods collected amounts to 35 tonnes – foodstuffs, articles of first necessity, toys and stationery. But medicines provided mostly by pharmaceutical companies make up the most of the cargo.

Enterprises, businessmen and ordinary people took an active part in the campaign. Rescuers of 179th Rescue Center of The Russian Emergency Ministry also rendered assistance.

133 settlements, 672 houses populated by 2,513 people, 1,491 farmlands have been flooded in 17 subjects (Lipetsk, Voronezh, Moscow, Tambov, Tula, Ryazan, Oryol, Saratov, Nizhny Novgorod, Orenburg, Ulyanovsk, Penza, Samara Regions and republics of Tatarstan, Mordovia, Chuvashia and Bashkortostan) in Central and Volga Federal Districts since the beginning of flooding period.

At present there are 31 houses with the population of 67 people are flooded in 4 subjects, 5 settlements, 5 municipal districts in Volga Federal District. There are no socially important facilities flooded.

A meeting specifying information on the flooding situation in the Russian Federation led by Mr. Vladimir Stepanov has taken place today at the National Crisis Management Center.

A meeting of Governmental Commission led by Minister Vladimir Puchkov took place at the national Crisis Management Center on 5 April 2013.

FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT

• Early prospects for 2013 cereal winter crops are satisfactory

• Sharply reduced 2012 cereal production

• Significant decline of cereal exports expected in 2012/13 (July/June)

• Export wheat prices are still high