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The 23 participants, some of whom had little idea of what the Red Cross does, worked as part of an emergency response unit (ERU) responding to a simulated earthquake in the country of ‘Bukustan’ – otherwise known as the Ministry of Defence base in Bramley, Hampshire.
Throughout the weekend they learned from Richard North and Clare Durham, members of the Red Cross logistics ERU who together have gone on more than a dozen missions, including to the Bam earthquake zone, Afghanistan and Indonesia after the tsunami.
Logistics
In one of a series of exciting activities, participants were given communications equipment used in the field and sent to find a dilapidated building using a global positioning system (GPS). As they searched, they were bombarded with questions about their work and religious neutrality by Red Cross staff acting as members of the press.
Andrea Wilkinson, from Berwick, said: “Before this weekend I knew about the Red Cross’ international work and that they’re usually first to respond to major disasters but I didn’t realise the importance of local volunteers in the UK and around the world and the difference they make.”
Sue Dowell, London fundraising manager, said: “Everyone walked away from the weekend with a much better idea of how the Red Cross works in emergencies. As the logistics ERU is on active standby to help people in Myanmar, participants can also be proud that the sponsorship they raised has played a crucial part in ensuring the Red Cross is ready to respond to the next disaster.”
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