By: Ummi Othman
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Saturday, November 28, 2009
BRUNEI is to host, for the first time, the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies Southeast Asian Regional Organisation Development (OD) forum in March 2010.A meeting to discuss the 11th IFRC forum was held yesterday at KACA Centre. Brunei was represented at the meeting by Vice President of Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), Datin Hjh Siti Hajar Pehin Hj Yusof and KACA Managing Director Hj Abd Alim Hj Othman, while IFRC were represented by Bangkok-based Regional OD, Malcolm McKinlay and the Federation's Regional OD Officer, Aekarad Rakwanat.
Some 30 participants from all over the Southeast Asia are expected to attend the forum which is tentatively scheduled to be held from March 2 to 4, 2010.
The topics to be discussed have not been finalised yet as they need to be reviewed by leaders from other Southeast Asian Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, but the meeting did agree that some of the topics would touch on the subject of volunteer management and humanitarian diplomacy in the IFRC. The dates and venue would be finalised by the end of December.
In an interview with The Brunei Times, McKinlay stated that the coming (forum) would be a significant chapter in the relationship between the BDRCS and their international partners as it would provide the society with an opportunity to learn how the other international Red Cross and Red Crescent societies are operating within their respective societies.
The IFRC is the largest humanitarian organisation in the world, focusing on aid for victims of national disasters and the promotion of the development of individual and community humanitarian values.
The Brunei Times