Two new floods-related Red Cross projects
are up and running in Poland, as the distribution of 21,000 family kits
in communities deluged earlier this year, comes to an end.
Working with the International Federation,
supported by Netherlands and Swiss Red Cross funding, the Polish Red Cross
is implementing a programme of winter assistance to children from floods-affected
districts.
In the south west of the country, a school canteen project will provide hot meals to more than 1,000 children through next March. In addition 5,000 warm winter jackets will be distributed to children, together with some 2,700 winter shoes.
In the district of Nowy Sacz, 1,910 children in 18 school canteens will benefit from the programme, which also envisages the distribution of warm clothing, subject to funding.
"The repercussions of the summer floods will be felt for years to come in the affected regions", explains Thierry Le Goff, the International Federation's Polish-based regional relief coordinator.
"Our immediate concern is the approaching winter, particularly as the most vulnerable families will not be able to return to acceptable living conditions without external assistance".
=A91997 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies