Georgian Red Cross, Turkish Red Crescent to Build Disaster Response Center in Rustavi

On August 29, Kerem Kinik, the Vice President of the International Federation of the World's Largest Humanitarian Network, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, paid a working visit to the Georgian Red Cross Society.

With the President of Red Cross Society of Georgia, Natia Loladze, he held an official meeting with the representatives of the Government of Georgia to discuss the construction of a regional disaster preparedness and response facility in Rustavi that will assist the countries of the Caucasus region (and not only) in emergencies.

Within the framework of the visit, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Georgian Red Cross and the Turkish Red Crescent in Rustavi, the city of the Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia, where the regional logistics center for disaster response will be built. 

Loladze highlighted the importance of the event and the value of the long-standing partnership between the Georgian Red Cross and the Turkish Red Crescent.

“Today, the Georgian Red Cross and Turkish Red Crescent signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The Turkish Red Crescent will support the Georgian Red Cross to build a regional logistics center for disaster response. It is a very important event for the country, as they will be able not only to support people during crises and natural disasters but also to send support to other countries inthe region," she said.

"We have a long-standing relationship with the Turkish Red Crescent, together with Dr. Kerem Kinik as the Vice-President of the International Federation. The Georgian Red Cross works closely with the government. We actively try to overcome global humanitarian issues together. Currently, we are focusing on the Caucasus region”, she added, going on to express gratitude to the Turkish Red Cross for their reliable partnership and support during the hardest times in the country’s history.

“I would like to once again thank the Turkish Red Crescent for their significant support. Our cooperation goes on. As I’ve already noted, we have a long history together. During the crisis in 2008, the Turkish Red Crescent was one of the main supporters of the Georgian Red Cross and Georgian people in general. It was the first partner to send humanitarian aid.

"It is also noteworthy that during the tragic Tbilisi floods in 2015, the Turkish Red Crescent again sent humanitarian aid to Georgia. Today, besides signing the MOU, we visited homes for the elderly with representatives of the Red Crescent. They brought presents to the residents, and we share many positive moments together by bringing presents and joy to these people”, Loladze added.

Kerem Kinik, the Vice-President of the International Federation of the Red Cross, expressed readiness for further collaboration with the Georgian Red Cross to reduce human suffering in the region (and not only) and provide resilient support to the communities.

“Today, we paid a visit Georgian cities of Tbilisi and Rustavi, as guests of the Georgian Red Cross. It was a very fruitful day for us. Within the frames of the visit, we signed the MOU with the Georgian Red Cross on building a logistics center for disaster response in Rustavi.

"Additionally, we visited the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Rustavi branch of the Red Cross. The Deputy Mayor of Rustavi also hosted us. We have an ongoing collaboration with the Georgian Red Cross, which is a very important national society.  Its  President Natia Loladze, representing the region and governing board, is contributing to the moment both through her personal and the Georgian Red Cross capacities. We, as neighbors are very keen to collaborate to reduce human suffering and provide resilient support to communities. We are keen to support the Georgian Red Cross, and the Georgian Red Cross also shows solidarity towards the Turkish Red Crescent”, he said.

He added that the two organizations will introduce a joint plan to finish the construction of the regional logistics center within a year.

“We will work on the plan to finish the logistics center in Rustavi within a year. It will be the regional center for disaster response. I hope that we will carry on our activities in collaboration with the Georgian Red Cross, with the region and the country. I hope that we will further accelerate our cooperation”,  Kinik noted.

By Ana Dumbadze