This report covers the period 01/01/2009 to 30/06/2009.
In brief
Programme summary:
This programme update focuses on the work of the team in the Asia Pacific zone office to provide leadership and guidance to the International Federation efforts to increase the impact of Asia Pacific National Societies' humanitarian activities. National Societies throughout the region, with the support of partner national societies and other organizations, have continued to respond to multiple disasters, as well as to scale up their efforts to carry out programmes in line with the commitments in the International Federation's Global Agenda.
Notable achievements in this reporting period have included:
- The process of integration of the Asia Pacific disaster management unit into the zone office has started.
- There has been a strengthening of engagement with partner national societies in the zone, with the holding of an Asia Pacific partner national society meeting in Kuala Lumpur 14-16 June.
- The transfer of the tsunami unit from Geneva to the zone office has taken place, and now the zone office has responsibility for the tsunami operations.
- Two emergency appeals were launched during this period; Pakistan humanitarian assistance for internally displaced people and Bangladesh for Cyclone Aila. Meanwhile, major recovery operations are underway in China for Sichuan earthquake, in Myanmar for Cyclone Nargis, and Bangladesh for Cyclone Sidr.
- Through a large effort at all levels, there are now no overdue reports in Asia Pacific.
- There has been significant progress in disaster management and organisational development in knowledge sharing, for example membership-led fact sheets and the production of DVDs etc.
- There has been an initiative led by Australian Red Cross and supported by the zone office for a new approach to national society development.
- There has been a smooth response to H1N1 so far in Asia Pacific, linking up with national societies as needed.
Financial situation: The total 2009 budget has been revised from CHF 1,605,117 to CHF 998,889 (USD 920,321 or EUR 655,129), of which 87 per cent is covered. Expenditure during the period January to May 2009 was 35% of the total 2009 budget. It should be noted that much of the staffing and running costs of the zone office are covered by core secretariat funding.
No. of people we help: The Asia Pacific zone office provides support to the 37 National Societies, four International Federation secretariat regional offices and 15 country offices in the Asia Pacific region, to help strengthen their capacity to deliver more extensive and effective humanitarian services to vulnerable groups.
Our partners: Within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, there is close cooperation with many partner national societies and with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) supporting National Societies throughout the Asia Pacific region. In addition, there are partnerships with many external organizations at all levels (community, national and regional levels), community-based, national and international organizations, UN, and other developmental agencies.
The zone office would like to especially thank the following partner national societies which have contributed this year in cash or kind to the Asia Pacific zone appeal: Australian Red Cross/Australian government, British government (DFID), Finnish Red Cross/Finnish government, Japanese Red Cross, New Zealand Red Cross, Norwegian Red Cross/Norwegian government, and Swedish Red Cross/Swedish government.