The Luxembourg Red Cross has unveiled its 2018 activity report, reviewing some of its most important events and drawing some perspectives on current actions.
The Luxembourg Red Cross took this opportunity to once again highlight the issue of affordable and suitable housing and its link to social exclusion in the Grand Duchy. This observation, which has been constant for several years, led the Luxembourg Red Cross to implement a coordinated housing strategy. Indeed, various services were already active in the field, with different target populations.
Michel Simonis, Director General of the Red Cross, stressed that: "In 2018, several thousand people were accommodated in our structures, for one night or throughout the year. The constant rise in the cost of housing has consequences for vulnerable people. Whether it's the end of a difficult month for low wages, problems with housing in case of job loss or long-term illness, difficulty getting a lease when you are a refugee, or if you are an elderly person, all age groups are affected".
For his part, Gilles Dhamen, director of Solidarity activities, explained: "We have set up a dedicated transversal unit that will collaborate with other public and private actors. Its purpose is to facilitate the development of projects that include socially vulnerable populations".
In addition, the Luxembourg Red Cross plans to launch a project to build houses for survivors of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo in order to facilitate their social reintegration, as well as reaching their financial autonomy. This work is carried out in collaboration with 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Denis Mukwege. The Red Cross will thus work alongside Dr Denis Mukwege in supporting the rehabilitation and extention of the Panzi Hospital to meeting the increasing needs of victims.
Marc Crochet, Deputy Director General of the Red Cross, explained: "A first step has been taken: we have developed, with partners, a master plan for the extension of the hospital, to allow it to reach a capacity of 530 beds while the hospital was designed initially for 125 beds".
In conclusion Michel Simonis underlined how much the development of the activities of the Luxembourg Red Cross is thanks to the volunteers, the donations, the support and the collaboration with the public authorities and other actors. In fact, the association employed almost 2,400 people by the end of December 2018 (up 7% compared to 2017).
