Uganda’s Ministry of Disaster Calls for more Donor Funding as Uganda Red Cross Launches a Humanitarian Response Fund to meet Emergency Disasters.

Tuesday at Serena hotel in kampala, the launched Humanitarian Response Fund by Red Cross aims at raising funds from all well wishers for purposes of support to meet with big emergency disasters. The event brought together partners from the Chinese embassy represented by HE. Zhang Lizhong, IFRC Africa Deputy Regional director, Mr. Pierre Kremer, MTN Uganda by the CEO Ms. Sylvia Mulinge among others.

Hon. Onek, highlighted that there has been a tremendous drop of global support towards the humanitarian agencies, today there are more refugees and more calamities but resources have dropped.

“Our own budget with the government is abit limited and cannot manage to raise about 250m USD to equip and enhance all the early warning system and response capabilities,” he said.

Onek indicated that the government of Uganda can not work in isolation in addressing humanitarian challenges and it needs a multi sectoral involvement to strengthen the level of preparedness, response and mitigation and therefore applauds the Uganda Red Cross for serving and saving humanity in Uganda.

He added that it is important to note that the humanitarian crisis is on the rise globally and the environment changes thereby causing devastation, but how can all governments in the world address the global change and make an agenda to restore the environment and ensure some equilibrium in the echo system.

The Ugandan Red Cross Humanitarian Response Fund has come at the right time, especially where Uganda can not change the climate by its activities. The initiative aligns with the real role of the Uganda Red Cross society of enhancing support for the national emergency response framework through enforcing collaboration efforts to strengthen public and government capacity by resilience building, he noted.

Dr. Khalid Kirunda, Chairman Central Governing Board of the Uganda Red Cross mentioned that the humanitarian fund in Uganda provides a more sustainable, effective and timely framework of humanitarian aid.

He said that the support is a clear indication of their shared commitment to building Uganda, resilience in the face of future humanitarian emergencies. “ let us continue to build on this moment by Fostering partnerships, innovating solutions and amplifying the impact of this initiative, we firmly believe that our efforts today will touch lives, build resilience and create ripples of change that extend back and beyond.”

Kirunda, also invited stakeholders to take the next step with continuing a youth partnership with a good financial position and sharing their mission. He, however , appealed to them to advocate for the same support with the use of influence and being champions.

The Minister for Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magyezi represented the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Robinnah Nabanjja as the Chief Guest and described how It is of great honor to join the Uganda red cross society as they launch the Uganda Red Cross Humanitarian Response Fund.

 "As we mark 60 years of the Uganda Red Cross Society services to humanity here in Uganda, which was observed in July this year, today, we commemorate the extraordinary legacy of compassion, of resilience and unwavering commitment to save lives that this organization has upheld in our country and beyond. The Uganda Red Cross Society was founded on the principle of humanity, an ideal that resonates deeply with our shared aspirations for a just, inclusive and caring society," he said.

Over six decades, Uganda Red Cross has stood as a beacon of hope, reaching out the most vulnerable persons among people, providing critical services during emergencies and building resilient communities on behalf of the government and the people of Uganda, Magyezi added in lengthy comments.

In the same vein, he also congratulated the staff, the volunteers, and members of the Uganda Red Cross Society on the key milestone. "I commend staff and volunteers for your selfless dedication, often working under challenging COVID to bring hope and healing to those in need. Disasters have happened, and they will continue to happen. The recent one is what we just grappling with right now, which happened in Bulambuli and other areas in the country, the Uganda Red Cross Society has always ceased inception, visibly being at the forefront as far as humanitarian action is concerned in Uganda, responding to various challenges, from Natural disasters like floods, landslides and droughts to health crisis like Ebola outbreak, the global COVID 19 pandemic and other broader humanitarian needs like disaster preparedness, community resilience, blood donation drives and public health interventions."

There are  challenges like climate change, pandemics, socio economic disparities demand robust and well coordinated responses. So the fund will enhance Uganda's capacity as a country, working together with Uganda Red Cross Society the number one in mobilize resources swiftly to respond to such emergencies,he addressed.