27.05.2013 - Press release

2012 Annual Report on Switzerland’s International Cooperation

1. Bangladesh - Tropical Storm Mahasen struck southern districts on 16 May. The Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) is ongoing and preliminary findings are due to be presented tomorrow (21 May). 17 people have reportedly lost their lives, JNA results will provide a better understand of the impact of the cyclone on shelter and livelihoods.
   Source: PDC, OCHA Flash Update No. 7

Aid agencies that promote one-off counselling sessions after major traumas only prolong victims' suffering

One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded hit on Boxing Day 2004. The resulting tsunami devastated huge swaths of the Indian Ocean coastline and left an estimated quarter of a million people dead across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. Aid agencies quickly arrived to help battered and traumatised survivors.

Read the full report on the Guardian

06/03/2013 – Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) today handed over 3 ambulances worth 28.5 million rupees to 3 hospitals in the Eastern Province.

Trincomalee General Hospital, Gomarankadawala Base Hospital & Padaviya Base Hospital are the recipients of this new ambulances.

The handover ceremony took place in Colombo today (06/03/2013) under the patronage of the President of SLRCS Jagath Abeysinghe, Deputy Director General of SLRCS Sudath Madugalle & the Country Coordinator of German Red Cross Tim Bray.

This report covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2012

Overview

Top-line achievements:

Description

The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) was established in May 2000 and provides direct grant assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in developing member countries (DMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) while fostering long-term socioeconomic development. The grants target poverty reduction initiatives with the direct participation of nongovernment organizations, community groups, and civil society.