Caribbean Red Cross

Newly trained SRC NIT group

Sunday September 5th, was the closing of the National Intervention Team (NIT) Training of the Suriname Red Cross (SRC). The new NIT members were all given a certificate for completing this intensive course successfully. The training was held from September 1-5 and was organized by the Disaster Management (DM) Unit of SRC. The NIT members are trained to intervene on a national level whenever a disaster strikes, says Elinor King DM Coordinator of SRC. The training of NIT members is essential to give trainees the tools for correct assessments and correct coordination of field work during a disaster, according to the standards of the global level. This means that people trained on the national level, have the same tools as persons who are trained globally for interventions in disasters.

Participants were screened and interviewed before they were selected to attend this training. In the group of trainees there were Community Disaster Response Team (CDRT) members who were trained in the pilot project, ECHO6. After acquiring the new skills and tools for the NIT training, they can now assist the RC on a national level.

“It was very instructive and I have learned a lot” says Lydia Kago, local board superintendant and CDRT member from the community of Wageningen. “The relations between the three components of the Red Cross Movement became very clear to me. The response system of the RC during a disaster was explained in depth during this training.

Diego Halfhide RIT IT, tells the NIT group about his experience of the recovery operation in Haiti.

“The CDRT was trained to identify risks, hazards and capacities in their community. After this they draw maps of the community in which these identified risks, hazards and capacities are marked to inform the community about the results of the survey. Together with the community from Wageningen we came up with solutions for the surrounding risks and hazards” Ms. Kago continued. “As a NIT member, I now have a new task, to make correct assessments of the damage and needs, of people who are affected by a disaster, on national level.”

After the NIT training there is the option to specialize in one of the emergency services provided in a disaster. Recently Diego Halfhide, IT specialist of SRC, returned from Haiti, where he assisted the IFRC in the recovery operation. After spending two months in Haiti, Diego arrived on September 1st, in Suriname. “It was much easier the second time I was in Haiti compared to the first time earlier this year in May, when we did not know what to expect” says Mr. Halfhide. “Now I’m familiar with the situation and my fellow RC people on the ground in Haiti. I very much enjoyed working along side other RC people, meeting the humanitarian needs of the Haitians.”

For More Information:
Cedric Menig – Communications Assistant
Suriname Red Cross
Tel: +597 – 531241/ 498410
Fax: +597 – 464780
Email: dp_srk@surinameredcross.org