Red Cross Germiston lends a helping hand to migrants
Red Cross Germiston branch manager Barbara Jensen said they saw a need to assist migrants because they did not receive much support during the lockdown.
The Red Cross in Germiston, in partnership with European Union (EU) and International Organisation for Migration (IOM), distributed 150 food vouchers to migrants in Germiston and surrounding areas on Friday.
Red Cross Germiston branch manager Barbara Jensen said they saw a need to assist migrants because they did not receive much support during the lockdown.
“Most of the migrants depend on odd jobs and during the lockdown they were not able to work and they don’t qualify for the relief funds,” said Jensen.
She said they are grateful to the sponsors for donating the vouchers.
“We are grateful to EU and IOM for the donations because we are able to assist families who are really in need. They will be able to go and buy what they need,” said Jensen.
She said women and children were prioritised first in receiving the vouchers.
“An assessment was done two months ago. We visited informal settlements in Germiston and surrounding areas to collect the data of stranded migrants who were in need of assistance. This is a pilot project. We usually give food parcels. This was the first time we gave food vouchers,” said Jensen.
The South African Red Cross Society is a member organisation of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which is the largest volunteer-driven organisation.
The Red Cross Society has 100 million members and a presence in 189 countries.
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In August 2007 the South African Government recognised The South African Red Cross Society as an Official Auxiliary to the Government in Humanitarian Aid.
The South African Red Cross Society was established in 1921 and admitted into the IFRC in 1929.
Today the South African Red Cross Society is a member of the IFRC Governing Board.
Contact the newsroom by emailing:
Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za , and Lebogang Sekgwama lebogangs@caxton.co.za.
