There is still a long way to go 

Dear Red Cross volunteer,

Taking in refugees in the Netherlands has become increasingly difficult over the past couple of months. People without a place to sleep sleeping on chairs in the waiting room of the application centre or hundreds of people forced to sleep on the grass outside in Ter Apel. It’s inhuman. It cannot be that we abandon our human dignity standards just because we cannot get our act together politically and administratively. As the Red Cross, we continue to call for dignified shelter for all, regardless of your religious beliefs, which country you come from or what your political views are. 

With our Humanitarian Service Point in Ter Apel, supporting shelters across the country and offering a listening ear or first aid, we are on standby during shelter crises. Not only does the shelter crisis demand our attention, as the Red Cross, we are active everywhere and on many fronts. Many of you work (overtime) at one of the many events across the country. In the column Around the world you can read about how we support people in Philippines after typhoon Rai using Excel sheets. 

"Volunteers are the heart and soul of the organisation. They keep us running and alive," Maisy Scharbay, Branch Manager in Curaçao, explains in the Questions column. To continue providing the help needed, we as an organisation also depend on donations. We are always looking for new ways of fundraising to ensure that people continue to contribute to the Red Cross. An example of this is Expedition Red Cross: a trek through the nature of Uganda with visits to local Red Cross projects. You can read more about this first edition and the experiences of the participants in The day of. 

The Red Cross helps people in need. This is only possible thanks to your tireless efforts as a volunteer or Ready2Helper. By being on the road a lot for the Red Cross, you contribute to more humanity in the world.

Enjoy reading!

Marieke van Schaik
General Director