In lieu of World Humanitarian Day (WHD) which is commemorated on 19 August, the Rotary Club of Suva East invited Ms Kathryn Clarkson from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to talk at its meeting about its global network, and the work it does in humanitarian response and diplomacy.

Kathryn is the (new) Head of the IFRC Asia Office in Bangkok, Thailand; was formerly the Head of the Pacific IFRC based here in Suva, Fiji. For organisations like Rotary, that there are opportunities to work with/support Red Cross Societies and local projects and activities. She joined the club for the meeting via zoom and used a quiz based presentation to speak to members who were very interested to hear that the IFRC was born out of the Spanish flu.

The Club also toasted to the Rotary Club of Bangkok – the first Rotary Club in Thailand chartered on September 17, 1930, and the H.R.H. Prince Purachatra Krom Phra Kampaeng Bejra was elected the Club’s Charter President. What is WHD? In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly formalised the day as World Humanitarian Day (WHD) and the idea is to bring together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of those that work in this area.