It is to be expected that the Covid crisis would affect aid organisations, just like the rest of us. The Red Cross saw a number of its services impacted, and the health crisis brought new challenges with it.
Helping where it is needed remains the main goal of the Red Cross, which also attested a lot of solidarity from outside during the crisis.
We had to support the thousands of beneficiaries while at the same time protecting them from Covid, explains Luc Scheer, member of the board.
Some services had to adapt to changed demand. The Bistrot Social saw under a third of visitors compared to 2019, while the night shelter for homeless people experienced a 72% increase.
“There was an increased need at the night shelter, but at the same time we could not do as much street work as usual, and could not see as many people at the Bistrot social, due to health reasons.
In other areas the changes were fundamental, but showed more subtly in the numbers.
For home care, we had to adapt our presence and our contact with beneficiairies, to reduce the risk of infection.”
In the children and youth sector, the maisons relais were closed for a period and holiday camps suspended.
The crisis also brought new challenges. The rehabilitation centre in Colpach was temporarily transformed into a Covid hospital. The Red Cross also helped run hotels which served as quarantine shelters for homeless people.
Its experience in humanitarian logistics helped the Red Cross with the distribution of protective equipment.
“We were responsible for detailed logistics for over 2 million articles such as masks, gels etc, to the entire sector during the initial phase of the crisis, when this was very difficult.”
The Covid crisis has likely reinforced social inequalities, says Luc Scheer, but most of the impact will only be visible mid to long term.
For their international activities, the main aim was to keep all large projects running and protect people from Covid as best as possible
The current crises in Afghanistan and Haiti are keeping the Red Cross busy. Luxembourgish teams have just arrived on the Caribbean island to help, says Luc Scheer.
The recent floods in the Eifel saw the Red Cross assist with ambulance drivers, while in Luxembourg, social workers were primarily required.
Regarding the solidarity fund, Luc Scheer says that people have been generous over the entire crisis period.
“We have not seen a decrease in support and engagement, on the contrary.”
Volunteers, too, have been very active over the entire crisis period, says Luc Scheer.
