The Marshall Islands Red Cross will be the subject of a major review starting this weekend that will determine if the organization is ready for admission to international membership.
A team of international and Pacific region Red Cross officials will be in RMI from September 15 to 24 to conduct a Joint Assessment Mission. If the Marshall Islands Red Cross Society passes this test, this review will pave the way for recognition of MIRCS as a component of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and for admission to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC).
Admission to and recognition by these international Red Cross bodies will open the door to an expanded role for the MIRCS in the Marshall Islands. MIRCS Secretary General Jack Niedenthal had announced his intention, soon after taking up the post earlier this year, to fast-track MIRCS’ membership with the international bodies.
The incoming Red Cross team will review every aspect of MIRCS work to determine if it meets the requirements to be fully recognized at the international level.
This past weekend, MIRCS’ recently elected National Governing Board spent a day in orientation activities following the official induction of the new members. The Saturday session was held at Marshall Islands Resort and included Kathryn Clarkson, Head of Country Cluster Support Team, Pacific for the International Federation of the Red Cross based in Fiji, to facilitate the meeting.
Read more about this in the September 15, 2017 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.