Mbabane – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has met with a delegation from the Red Cross Society to discuss humanitarian support, disaster preparedness and the organisation’s work in Eswatini.
The delegation was led by Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society President and Chairperson Dr Bongani Masuku. It included heads of delegation from the Finnish Red Cross and British Red Cross societies, as well as representatives of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross for Southern Africa.
The Red Cross thanked the Government for its continued support, including the annual subvention provided to the organisation. 
The delegation also spoke positively about its working relationship with the National Disaster Risk Management Agency.
Discussions covered the organisation’s programmes in healthcare, disaster risk management, climate action, gender related interventions, humanitarian assistance and food security.
The Red Cross further briefed the Prime Minister on its preparedness and response plan for the anticipated El Niño conditions.
The meeting also considered the ongoing review of the Red Cross Act, which is intended to strengthen the legal framework governing the continued existence and operations of the Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society under Eswatini law.
Prime Minister Dlamini commended the organisation for its partnership with Government and its contribution to national development and humanitarian response.
He also recognised the Red Cross Society’s recent transformation and assured the delegation of Government’s continued support.
The Prime Minister shared Eswatini’s development priorities as set out in the Programme of Action and the National Development Plan, saying partnerships with humanitarian organisations remained important in supporting national goals.
He welcomed the Society’s preparations for El Niño and said coordinated planning between Government agencies and humanitarian partners would be important in strengthening the country’s response to climate related disasters.
