Iceland review - 2014, Page 71

ICELAND REVIEW 69
in mid-June, a bus carrying 24 tour-
ists drove off the side of the road
at Haukadalsvatn, a lake in West
iceland. The local search and rescue
team was called out to assist the police
and medical team at the scene. apart
from some minor injuries, the passen-
gers escaped unharmed, albeit shaken.
it’s in cases like this that the red Cross
steps in. The tourists were transported
to the local red Cross center where they
received counseling. During the sum-
mer, the peak tourism season in iceland,
the red Cross is finding an increase in
demand for such services.
as a long-term volunteer with the red
Cross—both in iceland and abroad—i
have seen firsthand some of the work,
and some of the challenges, the organi-
zation faces. volunteers, supported by
permanent staff, are the backbone of the
organization with people of all ages and
backgrounds working together to realize
the red Cross’ programs.
in iceland, the organization’s work can
be categorized into three main areas: the
Disaster operation Center, which con-
sists of first aid and counseling during
natural disasters and other emergencies,
other domestic projects and overseas
humanitarian projects.
i spoke with Secretary General
Hermann ottósson to learn more about
the organization’s work in iceland.
Established 90 years ago, the Icelandic Red Cross works on diverse
projects both at home—from natural disaster preparedness to visiting
the nation’s elderly—and abroad—from helping to prevent the spread
of Ebola in Sierra Leone to providing psychological support to
children in Palestine. Zoë Robert met with the organization’s
secretary general, Hermann Ottósson, to find out more.
Zoë Robert: The Icelandic Red Cross
recently signed an agreement with the
Ministry of Welfare for providing assis-
tance to asylum seekers in Iceland. Can
you tell me more about this?
Hermann ottósson: This is some-
thing that we have wanted to do for some
time now. We want all asylum seekers
in iceland to have the same opportu-
nity to have their applications processed.
The agreement aims to ensure impar-
tial and independent interests, including
legal assistance to all asylum seekers for
the purpose of non-discrimination, and
that all asylum seekers receive careful
handling of their cases. Working with
asylum seekers in this way is part of the
red Cross’ auxiliary role with the gov-
ernment and is something that is done
in other countries, such as Sweden and
the U.K.
ZR: What other projects does the Red
Cross work on?
Ho: The organization’s domestic proj-
ects are varied and include home visita-
tions to the elderly, the 1717 helpline,
distribution of clean syringes to drug
users via the harm reduction unit and
the Konukot night shelter for homeless
women. among the organization’s largest
projects, with all 44 branches and up to
1,000 people participating, is the clothes
bank which raises funds through the sell-