Mbabane – The Eswatini Red Cross Society has appealed to Government for increased financial support and land to establish a regional distribution hub and warehouse in the country.
The appeal was made during a meeting between Government and representatives of the Red Cross, including delegates from Eswatini, England, Finland and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Siboniso Nkambule said the delegation expressed appreciation to the Government of His Majesty King Mswati III for its continued support and cooperation, particularly in disaster management, emergency response and humanitarian assistance.
However, the delegation raised concern over declining donor funding, which it said was affecting the organisation’s ability to fulfil its humanitarian mandate.
Nkambule said the Red Cross requested increased Government financial support to enable it to continue providing assistance to communities affected by disasters and emergencies.
Legislation outdated
The delegation also called for a review of the legislation governing the Red Cross in Eswatini, saying the existing law was outdated and needed to be localised to reflect the organisation’s current operations and humanitarian role.
Another key request was the establishment of a regional Red Cross Distribution Hub and Warehouse in Eswatini.
The proposed facility would serve as a central storage and distribution point for emergency relief supplies, allowing assistance to be mobilised and distributed more efficiently during disasters in Eswatini and across the Southern African region.
The Red Cross has therefore appealed to Government to assist with suitable land or space for the proposed facility.
The proposed hub would add to Eswatini’s capacity to respond to emergencies by providing a ready location for the storage of relief materials before and during humanitarian operations.
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