Red Cross to open its South Asian Regional Office in Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 5 (UNI) India today gave its approval to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) to open its South Asia Regional Office with legal status by exchange of letter between the government and IFRCS in New Delhi.

The exchange of letters detailing functions, rights, duties and responsibilities of the Regional Office of the IFRCS, will take place between the Government of India and the Indian Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS).

It will help in better implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities of IFRCS and better coorodination of efforts of National Red Cross Societies of South Asian Region, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told mediapersons after a meeting of the Union Cabinet.

The specific activities of the Regional Delegation in relation to National Societies in South Asia would be to coordinate and advise on the development projects and programmes of the national societies, to assist national societies in the event of a disaster, in assessing needs, starting relief operations, coordinating international assistance, to train the staff and volunteers of national societies, to assist national societies in the region by organising regional workshops and seminars, and to encourage and facilitate regional cooperation between national societies in the SAARC countries.

UNI SH MIR BS2101