Musa Makina
THE Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) said it is continuing to explore more avenues as it seeks partnership with various stakeholders in its bid to reunite families, through its Restoration of Family Links programme.
The programme was necessitated by the fact that every year armed conflicts, disasters and migration lead to separation of numerous families resulting in years of uncertainty about the fate of relatives.
As a result, many suffer terribly from not having contact with, or any news from their loved ones.
Speaking during a media tour to assess the programme in Plumtree on Saturday, ZRCS secretary general Elias Hwenga highlighted its impact on the programme to vulnerable populations.
“As part of the global Red Cross Movement, the ZRCS continues to offer the Restoration of Family Links programme which seeks to prevent family separation, restore and maintain family contact, reunite families and clarify the fate of missing persons by offering the following services for free Red Cross messages, Wi-Fi services, Tracing of loved ones, Phone call services, Trace the Face, RedSafe Mobile App and Phone charging,” he said.
Hwenga added: “Whilst humanitarian needs to continue to outgrow available resources, we continue exploring and appealing to individuals, corporates and organizations to partner with us so that we continue to provide this important service and many others to the vulnerable populations.”
Hwenga also said ZRCS carries out various activities aimed at preventing family separation, restoring and maintaining contact between family members and clarifying the fate of those reported missing.
“These activities include facilitating the exchange of family news, tracing individuals, registering and following up on individuals to prevent their disappearance and to enable families to be informed of their whereabouts,” he said.
Zimbabwe hosts over 15 000 refugees and asylum seekers housed mainly at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Manicaland.
Due to conflicts and political or civil unrest in their home countries, these migrants flee without getting a chance to notify their loved ones. En route to places of safety, they are faced with various challenges that not only infringe their human rights but also put their lives in danger. This results in family separation and in the worst case scenario, loss of lives.
PLEASE FIND THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY ZRCS BELOW
PHONE CALL, INTERNET & PHONE CHARGING
Vulnerable people, including migrants, can make a free 3-minute national or international phone call to relatives. Thirty-minutes of free Wi-Fi (and access to computers in Tongogara camp) is also offered for people to either contact or search for their relatives on social media. Beneficiaries can also charge their own phones for free at specific locations with phone charging facilities.
RED CROSS MESSAGES
If the enquirer does not know the phone number of the sought person, but they have their address or approximate location, they can send a Red Cross Message (RCM). An RCM is an open letter which is used to transmit family news only. On one side, the sender writes a message and on the other, the relative writes their response. In most contexts, the messages are collected and delivered personally by Red Cross volunteers or staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
TRACING REQUESTS
If the contact details and exact location of the sought person are not known, the ZRCS can open a formal tracing request for the family member, provided they have given sufficient information. In this case, the ZRCS will try to conduct an active trace for the missing relative’s whereabouts.
TRACE THE FACE SOUTHERN AFRICA
Trace the Face is a free, online tool to help reconnect family members who have lost contact due to migration. The Trace the Face website contains a vast photo gallery of people over the age of 18 who are looking for their relatives. People from around the world can see their photos. Learn more on: www.tracetheface.org/sa
REDSAFE
RedSafe is a new digital humanitarian platform offered by the International Committee of the Red Cross and piloted in Zimbabwe. The website and mobile application provide safe and secure services for people affected by conflict, migration and other humanitarian crises. RedSafe’s Information as Aid service gives access to trusted and reliable information regarding humanitarian assistance and protective measures. RedSafe’s Digital Vault can be used to upload and safely store digital copies of one’s most important documents such as passports, birth certificates, medical records, etc. RedSafe is designed to guarantee digital safety, privacy and compliance with data protection standards.
To download RedSafe, visit www.icrc.org.redsafe
Services are free, confidential and all the users’ information is kept safe.
Main figures (2021)
SERVICE TYPE COMMUNITY MEMBERS REACHED
PHONE CALLS 10’539
WIFI SERVICES 24’786
PHONE CHARGING 9’533
TRACING REQUESTS 148
RCMs EXCHANGED 28
UNACCOMPANIED MINORS REGISTERED 40
TRACE THE FACE USERS 106’401
REDSAFE DOWNLOADS c.32’000
WHERE IS RFL OFFERED IN ZIMBABWE?
Currently, RFL free services are offered at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Manicaland, Zaka in Masvingo and Gwanda in Matabeleland South, which are amongst the major sending communities in the country, 2 major transit cities of Bulawayo and Harare and 2 border towns, Plumtree and Beitbridge.
COORDINATION
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society works in close coordination with government and non-government partners. The programme’s key government partners are the Department of Social Services, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Immigration and Ministry of Health and Child Care. Key non-government partners include the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Doctors without Borders (MSF), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), World Vision (WV) and Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS).
