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Together we are the Red Cross
When you see the figures for 2022, our efforts are even more impressive. We’ve been able to do so much this year. Together, we worked extremely hard to help so many people. Together we are the Red Cross and we can be proud of that. Shall we take a look at what the year was like?
6
HUMANITARIAN SERVICE CENTRES SET UP
The Red Cross set up Humanitarian Service Points (HSP) for the first time, initially to receive and welcome Ukrainians to the Netherlands. At the HSPs, we meet people on their route and support them with food, water and lend them an ear. We also show them around in the Netherlands. HSPs started at Amsterdam Central Station, Utrecht Central Station, Eindhoven Airport and in Amersfoort. Later, in a new form, also in Ter Apel and in Amsterdam as part of our Red Cross office.
180.237
HOURS OF ASSISTANCE PROVIDED AT SHELTER
In 2022, we provided over 180,237 hours of assistance at 228 shelters. A total of 6,560 aid workers deployed at these locations. These included 2,107 volunteers, 4,138 Ready2Helpers and 315 paid staff. At refugee shelters, our actions included being active hosts and providing first aid. At a growing number of locations, we also provide site management or site coordinators (at 8 sites). At locations where we provide support, we also try to visit as much as possible. Then we check whether the reception meets the minimum standards, gauge the needs of residents and try to match the assistance as much as possible. We also have 7,500 hygiene kits and 6,500 liquids units at these shelters.
13.055
AID APPLICANTS
The Red Cross always tries to get in touch with those seeking help as much as possible. For instance, with the WhatsApp Helpline for Undocumented People, we have answered about 1,000 questions so far. The WhatsApp Helpline Ukraine helped 12,055 people and received 14,035 questions. In Ukraine, 60% of people communicate via Telegram. This is a new communication channel for us to use. To reach as many Ukrainian refugees as possible, we have opened channels in English, Ukrainian and Russian. On these channels, we regularly publish videos in which we address a topic on questions that were frequently asked. Since creating the channels, more than 500,000 unique users have already managed to find us. 70% of these users were already in the Netherlands and 15% were in Ukraine.
210.700
GROCERY CARDS
We distributed over 21,700 digital and 189,000 physical grocery cards in 2022. These cards allow people, who do not have enough money to buy sufficient and nutritious food, to shop around.
26
COVID-19 RELIEF EFFORT LESSONS
In June 2022, we completed the National Action Plan for COVID-19 assistance in the Netherlands and the Caribbean. You can find the final report here. We also conducted a comprehensive evaluation. The 26 lessons learned will be incorporated into the 2023 action plans. For instance, we learned that sometimes it seems like there is no need if you don't look for it. So as a Red Cross, we need to proactively look for potential distress and make it visible to society. We continue to build and cash in on relationships with various partners in the field. In doing so, we always guard the critical role of the Red Cross and our humanitarian principles. The importance of aftercare for our volunteers and professionals has emerged even more strongly.
4.502
PEOPLE TRANSPORTED
In 2022, we once again transported many people from A to B. For example, when they could not arrange their own transport or the government called on us. This year, for instance, we transported 1,234 people to care facilities and 162 people, who may have had COVID-19, to a test site. But we also played a major role in the refugee reception crisis. For instance, we transported 2,925 people who fled from Ukraine and 181 other refugees to and from reception sites.
2.459
PEOPLE FROM UKRAINE MATCHED WITH HOST FAMILIES
The Red Cross works with Refugee Council, TakecareBnB and the Salvation Army, among others, to match Ukrainian refugees with host families. With the team, we do monthly monitoring and evaluation to ensure that guests and host households are satisfied with the assistance. We also try to implement improvements as soon as possible.
810
GUEST LECTURES IN SCHOOLS
Red Cross education teams conduct guest lectures in schools, from primary schools to universities. The counter for this year stands at 810 guest lectures with a reach of over 20,000 pupils and students. Visibility has a positive effect on the local anchoring of the Red Cross. In addition, we increase mutual respect, self-reliance and willingness to help among a large group of young people.
6
MONTHS OF CRISIS STRUCTURE
On 14 March last, the Crisis Management Plan (CMP) was activated to provide assistance to people fleeing from Ukraine. As a result of the reception crisis in the asylum chain, it was gradually expanded. On 19 September 2022, the CMP lapsed again. Like previous CMPs, its functioning has been evaluated. We learnt that we need more visibility on the capacity to deliver assistance. We can also make even better use of the knowledge we have, even at International Aid. In addition, the Red Cross can be more transparent to internal (e.g. volunteers) and external (including donors) stakeholders about the course of the crisis and the decisions we take.
720
BREAKFAST BAGS PER WEEK
In 2021, the Red Cross launched 'Child and Breakfast'. A meal is distributed to children at schools and there are also breakfast bags. We now distribute 720 breakfast bags every week, of which 600 in Friesland and 120 in Utrecht. We will expand this to other districts. Based on the evaluation of the pilots, it was decided to continue with the breakfast bags because this kind of assistance proved to be more efficient.
8.770
PEOPLE PREPARED FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
Almost 30% of these people have had information about the risks of heat. After all, we have had another hot summer. In addition, well-prepared workshops have been held and first aid courses, education and guest lectures in schools. 335 elderly people participate in 30 telephone communication and contact circles across the country. We evaluate with volunteers who gave the guest lecturers and workshops and also with partners about what they thought of the activity.
6
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
To improve our assistance and increase its impact on the people we help, we evaluate our assistance. We do this based on internationally established criteria to assess development work.
1) Relevance: Is the aid relief effort doing the right things?
2) Coherence: Does the intervention fit with Red Cross aid relief effort and similar initiatives from other agencies?
3) Effectiveness: Are the stated objectives being achieved?
4) Efficiency: How are available resources handled?
5) Impact: What has the intervention achieved?
6) Sustainability: Are the results lasting?