Dispatcher service

From the beginning of October, the volunteers of the Hungarian Red Cross were involved in the work of the command center of the National Ambulance Service again, and within the framework of a dispatching service they were setting up appointments by telephone of the official COVID screenings.

Until December, volunteers carried out dispatch duties in the capital and six counties on weekdays and weekends as well. On the 24th of December till noon, between 28-30th of December all day supported the work. From 3rd of January the dispatcher service will continue in the usual form.

In the last three months, 200 volunteers worked 1248 shifts for more than 7012 hours as part of the dispatch service. No less than 62,400 phone calls were made during this time.

Each new volunteer will receive an online course that will provide them with key knowledge, tasks, and basic knowledge of crisis management and psychosocial support as well.

During each shift we provide everyone with disposable masks, two liters of fluid and a one-time hot meal on request. Thanks to Hanaplast from the beginning of December each volunteer will also receive a reusable glass with a unique image, thus preventing excessive waste production.

Our colleagues are in constant contact with all the volunteers who are working in the centers and carry out detailed follow-up with them which assesses the experiences of those involved in the service.

Many of our volunteers attend the service on a regular basis, most of them satisfied according to reports, and it is a pleasure for them to be able to help others in this difficult situation. As they said in their own words:

„I had a great time every time. It was tiring, yet charged me up with energy!

„It’s great to be able to participate in this operation, with a really well-organized, enthusiastic, inspiring team.”

COVID screening stations

The Hungarian Red Cross joined the operation of the COVID screening stations in mid-November at the initiative of the National Ambulance Service and the National Public Health Center. Our staff and volunteers screened those who came to the site for general medical guidance they were using an antigen test that can provide results in a short time. In case of a positive test, the patient should be automatically quarantined, and in case of a negative result, those arriving will be referred on-site for PCR testing.

Between November 13-31 of December colleagues from the Budapest-Capital and the Pest County Organization of the Hungarian Red Cross and volunteers (whom were constantly applying) at a total of 10 locations (Óbuda, Csepel, Ferihegy, Hungexpo, Vác, Cegléd, Monor, Szentendre, Hungaroring, Szigetszentmiklós) preformed services. By the end of the year, a total of 20,401 rapid antigen tests would be performed in 3744 work hours. In addition to testing at the county level since May, the Hungarian Red Cross has so far completed a total of 21,954 antigen test in 2020. During the shifts to guarantee our workers safety they are wearing full-body protective overall, latex gloves, FFP2 mask and plexiglass face shield or eye protection glasses covering their face.

Screening stations during the holidays are waiting for test takers with reduced service. Between 29-31 of December, the Csepel and Ferihegy screening station will be operational.

From 4th of January we will continue to recruit volunteers for both roles on our website.

We thank to all of our Volunteers for fighting the corona virus shoulder to shoulder with the colleagues of the National Ambulance Service and the National Public Health Center in 2020 also for participating in the fight against the epidemic unselfishly without fear! We wish you a New Year full of health and success.

The post Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues during the second wave appeared first on Hungarian Red Cross.

This support will include food, personal hygienic products, personal protective equipment and disinfectants for cleaning in social institutions. With the Citi Foundation donation, the Hungarian Red Cross will be able to continue to support our communities with logistics, volunteers and other complimentary tasks and duties during the second wave of the pandemic.

In Hungary, the Hungarian Red Cross was among the first non-profit organizations aiming at reducing the harmful effects of the novel coronavirus during spring time. As the second wave of the pandemic reached our country in September, Citi Foundation’s support came at the best time. With the donation, we will be able to keep up helping those people who found themselves in difficult circumstances due to the pandemic. – said István Kardos, Director of the Hungarian Red Cross.

Veronika Spanarova, Citi’s CEO for Hungary, commented the donation, “COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront the social and economic inequalities that exist in our communities. Partnering with the Hungarian Red Cross to support families and communities most impacted helps address the disparities that persist and support our communities in need.”

In addition, Citi continues to take proactive measures to preserve the well-being of employees locally and globally.

The post People in Need Can Count on Us Even During the Second Wave! appeared first on Hungarian Red Cross.

The Hungarian Red Cross (HRC) has launched a national fundraising campaign to help people affected by the red sludge disaster. HRC expects mainly non-perishable food, hygiene materials and protective gears (boots, masks, gloves). A hotline (1749) was set up, which gives HUF 200 (the total cost) for each call or SMS to support Hungarian Red Cross relief program.  So far, 777 thousand calls were received and 155 million HUF has been collected through this hotline. HRC has received a vast amount of goods in kind and HUF 38.689.818 cash donations accumulated on the assigned bank account. One taxi company – Taxi “6×6” – and several small entrepreneurs are helping HRC in the logistics.

HRC is involved with 20-30 volunteers and 4 vans day by day in the affected area. National authorities (Ambulance, Fire brigade, the Army and the National Directorate General of Disaster Management) are involved with 1200 staff daily in the comprehensive relief work in Devecser, Kolontar and Somlovasarhely. This number was cut back to 800 on the 14 October due to the termination of high alert state of Devecser. Troops assisting in the evacuation of the town were sent back home.

Currently the Disaster Management authorities and the military are working on the relief and the clean-up of affected territories. All remaining reservoirs in the area are under surveillance and are subject to continuous monitoring. On the 9 October (Saturday) a crack was noticed between the 9^th and the 10^th tanks which widened until the 11 October (Monday). At the moment, the crack is 50 to 70 cm wide, but is stable, and has not got bigger since Monday. A defense dyke was completed by the 14 October which aims to divert the sludge spilled from the 9^th tank away from Kolontar.

Kolontar

Beyond delivering emergency relief, HRC also provided meals for local inhabitants and relief workers upon request from the Disaster Management authorities as they were lacking capacities on that. However, HRC did not receive similar request from the military, as they are able to organize meals on their own logistics. One member of HRC has been taking part in the search for those missing.

Until the 9 October (Saturday) a temporary store of HRC was kept in Kolontar, but at 5 a.m. the whole village was evacuated due to preventive security reasons. The leadership of the Disaster Management authorities, which operated in the House of Culture situated on a hill in Kolontar, were also moved to Devecser. Although we still have a store in Kolontar, the access to it is rather difficult. The total of 550 people from the village were originally intended to be housed in Ajka at 3 places, but as most of them found refuge with relatives or friends, therefore only one place was needed for those 12 remaining people. The shelter was set up for them in the Sports Hall of Ajka. One shift of the fire brigade was also housed in the hall, where meals are provided by the local authority.

Sunday, on the 10 October 25 families moved back at their own risk to that part of the village which was unaffected by the disaster.

Devecser

200 people left Devecser as they were worried about further sludge spill. In Devecser they are ready for quick evacuation in case of an emergency. On the 4 October the Disaster Management authorities did not ask for HRC assistance as they could not designate concrete tasks because according to their information other NGO’s were handling the situation. However, by Friday (8 October) this has proved wrong, therefore HRC immediately alerted neighbouring County Branches who mobilized 60 volunteers to Devecser by Saturday. Their tasks were the same as in Kolontar. The temporary store was placed in nearby Esterhazy chattel. Further storage places are established by courtesy of the Disaster Management authorities to house the stock of incoming donated goods, while they had no capacity to deal with the above.

The local government of Devecser also launched a fundraising campaign on a specified bank account.

As of the 14th October the high alert state was cancelled in Devecser.

Fact sheet

• HUF 155 million collected in one week through the 1749 hotline
• HUF 38.68 million cash donations on the specified bank account
• HRC involvement:
  • 20-30 volunteers, 4 vans daily
  • providing emergency relief in goods
  • meals for locals and relief workers in Kolontar
• Total of 550 people were evacuated on 9 October from Kolontar
  • most of them staying with friends and relatives
  • however a temporary shelter was set up in the Sports Hall of Ajka for the remaining 12 people
  • 25 families moved back to the unaffected part of the village at their own risk on 10 October
• 200 people left Devecser in the fear of a repeated disaster
• From 8 October 60 volunteers from HRC involved at work in Devecser
• As of 14 October the high alert state was cancelled in Devecser

The post Hungarian Red Cross’s response to the red sludge disaster appeared first on Hungarian Red Cross.

“We highly appreciate Ms. Jolie and Mr. Pitt’s expression of solidarity with those affected by the red sludge disaster,” said Georg Habsburg, President of the Hungarian Red Cross. “The donation from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation will support the organization’s efforts to respond to the needs of the population displaced by the October 4^th spill.”

“The Hungarian Red Cross has worked tirelessly to stabilize the situation for people who have been displaced and injured by the ecological catastrophe in western Hungary,” says Angelina Jolie. “While those affected by the toxic sludge contemplate how they are going to rebuild their homes and communities, it is important to help the first-responder efforts of organizations like the Hungarian Red Cross and their local teams of committed staff and volunteers that serve the most basic needs,” added Brad Pitt.

Just hours after the accident, Hungarian Red Cross staff and volunteers quickly set to work, managing evacuation logistics, erecting searchlights and going house to house searching for survivors and those in need of rescue. The Hungarian Red Cross Disaster Management Team is overseeing the response to the devastating impact of the disaster on local inhabitants, their properties, the environment and agriculture. Working together with local government, the Hungarian Red Cross is managing shelters and providing food, water, first aid and protective masks, glasses and gloves to the approximately 7,000 affected people.

Since October 5^th, more than one million people have contributed to the Hungarian Red Cross relief program through hotline and SMS text donations. With the emergency phase ending, the Hungarian Red Cross plans to turn to the recovery stage. Hungarian Red Cross staff and volunteers, who have been on duty since the early moments of the accident, are carrying out continuous assessments and needs monitoring to ensure the most effective use of resources and contributions.

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