Kosovo call-up for Irish Red Cross delegate

The 29-year-old graduate is already very experienced, having worked as an Economic Security Delegate in Liberia, and previously in the Occupied and Autonomous Territories (Palestine), for the Red Cross.

His new mission with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is again as Economic Security Delegate. The job involves ensuring that aid sent to the Kosovan capital, Pristina, reaches the people in most need.

Recent violence in ten towns across Kosovo, claimed the lives of 25 people, and left 867 civilians injured, with 286 homes and 30 churches burnt, leading to more than 3,000 people fleeing their homes. This is on top of an already difficult situation, with more than 4,000 people still listed as missing after the war.

The Red Cross, in accordance with its mandate under the Geneva Conventions operates special Tracing programmes to help families find loved ones in Kosovo and elsewhere. It is also providing direct food and other aid to 7,500 of the most vulnerable people in Kosovo and is supporting some towns in providing health services to the many displaced people who've moved into these towns in recent years.

Kosovo remains part of Yugoslavia, (Serbia and Montenegro) but is administered by a UN force. The total population of Yugoslavia is ten and a half million. Life expectancy is 74 years of age, but a third of the population live below the poverty line.

The son of Vincent O'Reilly of Refugee Trust, Daire, has spent most of life overseas. Over the course of the last five years, Daire has worked for the United Nations in Somalia, South Sudan, Angola, and for Goal in El Salvador. Daire has also studied in Kenya, the USA and is currently working on a Master's Degree from the Institute of International Relations in Havana, Cuba. He has also completed training in Food Distribution with the World Food Programme and Security and HF/VHF Radio Communication with the United Nations.

Anyone who wishes to support the work of the Red Cross can donate money by credit card either online at www.redcross.ie or by calling CallSave 1850 50 70 70 or by post to the Irish Red Cross at 16 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.

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