KATRIN Wiegmann found her calling in humanitarian work while still in school in Germany and duly began her career with the German Red Cross when she was 28.
Her passion for helping those in need has not waned for the 40-year-old who has undertaken countless humanitarian missions across the globe.
From volunteering with the German Red Cross, she joined the International Red Cross as a desk officer in 2004, overseeing the tsunami responses for Indonesia and Thailand, before moving on to other places after three years.
Her work took her to East Jerusalem and Gaza for four years, working with other humanitarian missions on a community development programme to support women’s groups.
From 2012, Wiegmann was based at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Kuala Lumpur, where she supported the coordination of the Red Cross Red Crescent humanitarian work in Asia Pacific.
Wiegmann’s job requires her to direct and coordinate the international relief activities conducted by ICRC in situations of conflict.
Four years on, she became the cooperation coordinator for the ICRC Myanmar.
She was involved in the humanitarian work when the country was ravaged by massive floods in mid-July last year.
“More than 120,000 people were affected in the severe floods in Rakhine state. We, the members from the ICRC, and our volunteers, were working things out for them almost immediately.
“When the floods hit, we were already packing relief items and sending our volunteers to the affected areas, although some of them were also affected by the floods and had to settle themselves and their families.”
“We were there ensuring how the volunteers could get to the affected areas. Yes, there were boats, but there weren’t many, so we had to look at the logistics.
“We also needed to look into security and communication as it was very important for those affected,” she said, adding that getting their message across was difficult as the victims spoke a number of languages.
Wiegmann said besides getting the relief items to the victims, they (ICRC) also had to keep track of the areas they had covered, as well as liaise with other humanitarian aid organisations to avoid duplicating the relief work.
Wiegmann also spoke of her challenges, struggles and the fulfilment of being a humanitarian worker.
“On a personal level, my challenge was to know that there was a situation happening and you want to respond right away and deliver. I find it easier to deliver in times of emergency as you have the priorities clear.
“In Myanmar, it’s a different situation as the transition in politics makes it a highly complex environment to work in.
“ It affects the way we operate as a humanitarian organisation as we have to deal with the higher authorities and the transition affects us.”
However, she said, the most fulfilling part of her work was going into the community and seeing the victims being able to rebuild their lives.
“It is going beyond the giving and putting ourselves in the victim’s shoes and making the best of our resources.
“Being there for them to rebuild their lives keeps us going. It’s all about serving with a purpose,” she added.
The mother of three gives credit to her supportive husband, Max Wiegmann, 37, who worked with the ICRC for 10 years until he took a break to look after their children — Luise, 5, Emma, 3, and 15-month-old Emil.
“Max understands that we are sharing and trying to make it work. We are doing this together and this makes me glad. I know I’m not doing it alone. We’re somehow managing it together.”
Wiegmann said her children were slowly beginning to understand what her job entailed and often asked her questions about the nature of her work.
Her advice for budding and aspiring humanitarians?
“There are so many opportunities around you in your own community. You don’t have to start right away in a big organisation.
“Humanitarian work is not about being in a big war zone area. Helping those in need is also humanitarian work.”
How long does she see herself doing this work?
“I will always have the humanitarian trait in me. Whether I do it as a job or as a volunteer, I really don’t know. But once you’re in the humanitarian line, there’s no turning back,” she said.