The International Red Cross and Red Crescent societies say they're shifting the focus of their activities around the world from dealing with refugees to helping the poor and the victims of natural disasters.

This Red Cross camp was set up after last year's Iranian earthquake

A spokeswoman for the Geneva-based federation said it was increasingly running soup kitchens and distributing clothes, activities similar to those carried out by Red Cross societies after the First World War.

She said the situation was most alarming in Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, where a recent survey suggested that half the population ate less than the minimum food requirements.

The Red Cross is appealing for nearly £170m to support its work for the coming year.

From the Newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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