ERCS Signs Cooperation Agreement With IOM

Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) signed a cooperation agreement with The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on providing emergency support to disaster affected individuals via the provision of life-saving items on July 31, 2013 at the IOM Headquarters. The cooperation agreement was signed by Secretary General of ERCS, W/ro Frehiwot Worku, and IOM Ethiopia Chief of Mission and Representative to the AU/ECA/IGAD, Josiah Ogina. Upon signing the cooperation agreement, W/ro Frehiwot said that the agreement would create a framework to work in a more constructive and effective manner. She also indicated that ERCS, has been working in Ethiopia for the last 77 years of mostly within the Red Cross movement cooperation but since the modalities have been changing and the need are diversified having other partners to work and cooperate with in humanitarian area is very productive. She adds that the cooperation with IOM is timely. IOM Ethiopia Chief of Mission and Representative to the AU/ECA/IGAD, Josiah Ogina on his part mentioned that both ERCS and IOM have mutual mandates in terms of responding to the emergency situations. He explained that Ethiopia has the issues of protracted Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) resulted from manmade and natural disasters, especially flood and drought, which, in some places and years, are perennial. These are the cooperation areas that the two organizations come together, according to Mr. Ogina.