The Red Cross of Vietnam delegation led by its President Tran Ngoc Tang also chaired sessions of the Red Cross organisations of the Southeast Asian region on the sidelines of the session on November 18-19.

Tang said at the session, the IFRC General Assembly will discuss and approve a strategy until 2020 which will serve as basis for national Red Cross organisations to design plans of actions appropriate to each country’s conditions, thus improving the efficiency of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations.

The General Assembly will also discuss several key issues, such as the impact of climate change on people’s lives, Red Cross operations to mitigate disaster risks, emergency health care, and the development of a contingent of Red Cross volunteers and young activists.

Coordination between Red Cross organisations and other international and governmental organisations in assisting vulnerable populations is also on the agenda.

Prince Tadateru Konoe, Vice President of the IFRC and President of the Red Cross Japan, has been elected as the IFRC President for the 2009-2013 term.