The Bahrain Red Crescent Society (BRCS) took part in two advanced workshops organized in cooperation with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The first workshop focused on services related to restoring and reinforcing family ties, while the second addressed the management of bodies during disasters. The participation of the Society reflects its commitment to strengthening its expertise in both highly sensitive areas.
The workshops were primarily directed at family liaison coordinators and ICRC staff, with the purpose of equipping them with the essential knowledge and skills required to deal effectively with these matters. The training contributes to alleviating the suffering of families, safeguarding public health, and reinforcing community trust in humanitarian responses.
Emphasis was placed on the issue of data protection within the field of family reconnections. The sessions featured a detailed discussion on data breaches, presented by Davida Cascon, Legal Advisor for Data Protection at the ICRC. The programme also included a specialized session on restoring family links in times of disaster, during which Ms. Hana Triki Yamani, Family Reinstatement Advisor at the ICRC, shared insights from the response to the flood disaster that struck Libya in 2023. The workshop concluded with an assessment of capabilities in family reconnections, as well as an overview of the Saudi Red Crescent’s experience in this domain.
The second workshop was designed to enable participants to implement best international practices in ensuring dignified and professional management of the deceased. Its advanced sessions explored several themes, including international humanitarian law, the management of deceased bodies, the recovery of recently deceased remains, and the collection of pre- and post-mortem information to support the identification of human remains and guarantee their dignified return to families.
On the sidelines of the two workshops, Mr. Abdullah Saleh Salem, member of the Social Services Committee at the Bahrain Red Crescent Society, highlighted the importance of these sessions in enhancing the skills and competencies of humanitarian teams, and noted that applying international standards in the management of deceased bodies and in family reunification services represents a fundamental pillar for consolidating public confidence in humanitarian responses.
Mr. Salem also emphasized that this collaboration with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority and the ICRC provides an opportunity to exchange experiences and develop mechanisms that support the Society’s overarching goal of strengthening humanitarian ties and fostering sustainable international cooperation.