The Pan Afrikanist Watchman

Botswana Red Cross Society (BRCS) was among participants that were presented with the coin of honour by the Northern Carolina Army National Guard (NCNG) for facilitating and actively contributing towards the training on Disaster Response.

The week-long (24th-28th May 2021) training was conducted by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) in partnership with the Northern Carolina Army National Guard at Glen Valley Staff College.

Among the attendees were the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security, Civil Aviation Authority Botswana (CAAB), Gaborone City Council Fire brigade, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Botswana Police Services (BPS) and Botswana Defence Force (BDF).

According to a Press Release from the Botswana Red Cross Society, the memento (Coin of Honour) was presented to the BRCS Disaster Management Coordinator, Mr. Onkemetse Joseph, as a token of appreciation by Lieutenant Colonel May, for his “Excellence, Skill and Courage”portrayed during the exercise.

The main objective of the training was to coordinate disaster response efforts from various organisations and create a synergy amongst them.

The training was twofold; the first part being the Table Top Exercise (TTX) and the second part being a simulation exercise. The training had four Modules: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery.

Botswana Red Cross Society’s mission is“To Alleviate Human Suffering by Providing Humanitarian Services to Most Vulnerable Communities” using the Principles of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality.

According to its website, BRCS was established in 1948 a branch of the British Red Cross. On the 1st March 1968, the BRCS was formally established as a National Society by an Act of Parliament (CAP 64:01) and given auxiliary status to the government of Botswana.

BRCS is NOT an NGO It is a National Society (NS) that was constituted on the basis of International and Domestic Law by virtue of the Government being signatory to the Geneva Conventions.

The mandate of the BRCS as stipulated in the Act is to complement Government work on Health, Social Services and Disaster Management. The BRCS forms part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies which is the largest humanitarian network operating in 190 countries