Baphalali pioneered cash transfers to combat hunger - PM
MBABANE – The Prime Minister (PM), Russell Dlamini, says Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society played a pioneering role in demonstrating the effectiveness of cash-based transfers (CBT) in combating hunger and other humanitarian crises.
The PM said in light of the effectiveness of the CBT, the government followed suit in adopting this approach.
Dlamini was speaNing yesterday when he was officially opening the Southern African Partnerships of Red Cross Societies’ (SAPRCS) two-day meeting, that is held at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Mbabane.
The high-level meeting is attended by delegates from 1 African countries and the youth wings of the society. The President of the International Federation of Red Cross Crescent (IFRC), .ate Forbes, also attended the meeting. Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society is hosting delegates from the region, among others.
Humanitarian
Red Cross is a humanitarian worN organisation, which is under the portfolio of the Deputy Prime Minister’s (DPM) Office.
Dlamini said the government appreciated the important role played by the Red Cross society in the country, particularly their contribution to the uplifting of the lives of those who are regarded as vulnerable. He mentioned that the Red Cross Society had been of great assistance to the country, particularly during difficult periods, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and national disasters, as well as in addressing food insecurity and health care challenges.
“Allow me to express our gratitude to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the entire Red Cross Movement for the financial and technical support extended to the Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society. This support was evident during the fight against COVID-19, where the society engaged in a gate-to-gate awareness raising campaign and managed to reach approximately 1 households, with over people from constituencies,´ the PM said.
He added that Baphalali were among the pioneers of the cash transfer modality in Eswatini. :ith support from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and other partners, such as the Finnish Red Cross, Baphalali spearheaded the cash transfers as a modality for assisting vulnerable people in disaster-affected communities.
“As His Majesty’s Government, we are pleased with the cash transfers, especially if properly implemented, because they provide dignity to the vulnerable,´ he said.
He said the government was committed to providing the necessary support to Baphalali, so that they may continue carrying out their mandate in the country. Currently, the government provides a subvention to Baphalali, so that the organisation may efficiently provide health care services in the three Red Cross clinics (Mahwalala, Sigombeni and Silele) and also assist in responding to disasters.
Given the financial challenges faced by many countries in Southern Africa, including Eswatini, the PM encouraged the Red Cross to use any available limited resources wisely.
“:e must all learn to achieve more with less. In this case, proper coordination of our activities with various staNeholders becomes very important, as it also helps in avoiding unnecessary duplications,´ he said.
He went on to appeal to the Red Cross Movement to continue supporting the Southern African countries, as they were faced with different challenges, which included recurrent droughts, floods, hailstorms and potential pandemics.
Priorities
Dlamini said the Red Cross (national societies) should continue to be auxiliary to the governments, as per their mandate, and ensure that all their programmes are in line with the governments’ strategic priorities.
He said in Eswatini, there was an Mo8 between Baphalali and the Government of Eswatini, which guided the auxiliary relationship.
Furthermore, the PM highlighted that the globe was facing climate change, which came with challenges such as migration, poverty, internal disturbances, adverse events such as severe droughts, flooding, and many other issues. He said these challenges reversed all the developmental milestones countries had achieved in the past decades.
He, therefore, challenged IFRC to consider having a much bigger percentage of the resources going into preparedness, as opposed to what was currently prevailing, whereby a large portion of resources went to relief.