Mitigating human suffering in crisis situations is one of the fundamental tasks of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and an important priority of the Croatian Red Cross. Wars, natural and technical or technological disasters hit the most vulnerable groups of population the hardest, and recovery often takes a long time. Therefore, the Croatian Red Cross places special emphasis on preparing and acting in crises and helping affected communities in recovery.
The core tasks of the Croatian Red Cross are the equipping and training of operational forces and educating the population of all ages. Through regular training, employees and volunteers acquire specialist knowledge and skills to act in crises, while projects and programs in local communities strengthen the readiness and resilience of the population.
The Croatian Red Cross operational forces are the fundamental operational force of the civil protection system in major emergencies and disasters. Their work is regulated by the Civil Protection System Act, the internal Regulation on the organisation, preparation and operation of the Croatian Red Cross in crisis situations and by other relevant regulations.
The operational forces consist of employees and volunteers of the Croatian Red Cross local branches organised into crisis headquarters, intervention teams and support teams at the local, county and national levels. The Croatian Red Cross operates in all stages of a crisis – from preparing and responding to the crisis to assisting in recovery after it ends.
In addition to Croatia, the Croatian Red Cross operational forces also participate in international humanitarian missions to support national societies in need.
Crisis preparedness
The Croatian Red Cross conducts crisis preparedness activities that contribute to the readiness of the operational forces and citizens for crisis response with the aim of mitigating the consequences of crisis on the health, life and social security of the community. Preparedness activities include planning, education, equipping and practical training of the operational forces, and the education of the population.
Planning
Since the scope, type and intensity of crises cannot be accurately predicted, the scenario planning technique allows us to assess which knowledge and resources in certain areas need to be at disposal in order to respond appropriately to likely crisis events. Based on the results of scenario planning and the legal framework for the operations of the Croatian Red Cross, operational plans and standard operating procedures are developed at all levels, adapted to the specifics of local communities.
Training
The Croatian Red Cross continually trains its operational forces at all levels to ensure their readiness for response. The Croatian Red Cross operational forces consist of crisis headquarters, intervention teams and support teams, which perform specific tasks of different levels of complexity in a crisis.
Crisis response
In a crisis situation, the Croatian Red Cross takes concrete measures to mitigate the adverse consequences of the crisis and carries out activities to help affected persons and support the operational forces of the civil protection system.
The most important activities of the Croatian Red Cross in a crisis are:
assessment of the situation and needs in the field
support in evacuating the affected population
organisation of accommodation capacities in safe locations and organisation of meals for the affected population and members of the operational forces
collection, storage and distribution of humanitarian aid
supporting health institutions in conducting life and health protection activities
providing psychosocial support to affected population and members of the operational forces, care for vulnerable groups
activities of the Tracing Service, i.e. restoring links between separated family members
provision of potable water
supporting improved sanitation and promoting hygiene
organising extraordinary blood donation actions
supporting the Civil Protection operational forces in water search and rescue
participation in informing the local population about the crisis and the activities undertaken.
Crisis recovery
Crisis situations often cause major changes in the lives of those affected. The recovery stage begins with the cessation of immediate danger to human lives, normalisation and remediation of the circumstances caused by the crisis, and the creation of conditions for conducting regular activities. Recovery includes activities and programs aimed at accelerating the normalisation of life and educating the population on how to handle possible future crises.
