International audit highly assessed activities of Belarusian Red Cross

Despite the fact that since December 1st, the activities of the Belarusian Red Cross (BRC) have been suspended in the global movement, the international audit, which took place in January and February, gave an extremely high assessment of the activities of the national public association – as stated by the organisation’s Secretary General, Dmitry Shevtsov, before a meeting with students of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus, BelTA reports

“The activity of the Belarusian Red Cross is always highly assessed.  Despite the many projects that are carried out inside the country and aimed at helping our beneficiaries, Belarusians, we still undergo an annual international audit. The BRC has been assigned the third – highest level of trust – if I may say so. Moreover, despite the fact that since December 1st, the activities of the BRC have been suspended in the global movement, the international audit, which took place in January and February, gave an extremely high assessment of our activities, including our projects. During the audit, they said that this is really one of the strongest Red Crosses,” Dmitry Shevtsov noted.

The BRC Secretary General added that the Belarusian Red Cross managed the crisis situation on the Belarusian-Polish border perfectly, “Even international organisations were not ready for this challenge, because a huge number – 3.5 thousand migrants – suddenly found themselves on the Belarusian-Polish border. There were people who walked through the forest for more than 24 hours, for 3-4 days, without eating anything at all. There were small children, pregnant women, and the disabled among them.”

According to Dmitry Shevtsov, despite certain difficulties and subtleties, the consolidation of society helped to provide migrants with the necessary assistance in time, “People brought clothes, hygiene items, so that all our offices were packed. Moreover, all public associations without exception joined, including the Belarusian Women’s Union (BWU), the Belaya Rus party, the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM), whose participants were volunteers... I'm always afraid not to name someone, so as not to offend, but in fact everyone helped.”

The meeting was held during the project, entitled These People Make the World. The students of the Academy were interested in the main tasks of the BRC, as well as the principles and priorities of its work in modern conditions. At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to hold a round table to discuss options for co-operation between activists of the Academy of Public Administration and the Belarusian Red Cross.