They gathered in town squares, held candles in city parks, and stood among the ruins of bombed-out buildings. They were Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers from all corners of the globe and they all had one common message: Violence against humanitarian workers must stop.Under the banner of “Protect Humanity,” IFRC member National Societies from around the world came together to raise the alarm about the urgent need to protect humanitarian workers and volunteers.This urgent plea mounted in the days leading up to International Volunteer Day [Dec 5] in hopes of raising attention about what has become one of the most urgent issues facing the humanitarian sector today.“2024 is now the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers, especially for local staff and volunteers worldwide,”Nena Stoiljkovic, IFRCUnder Secretary General for Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, told a group of volunteers and staff gathered at IFRC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.“This grim milestone has not spared the IFRC network,” she continued. “Red Cross, Red Crescent, and Red Crystal National Societies have been deeply affected by this devastating violence.”“When a volunteer is killed, it is not just an individual loss; it weakens entire communities. They have families, friends, and colleagues who rely on them. They are the first responders when crises strike, and without them, we cannot help the people who need it most.”Holding candles and photos of the Red Cross and Red Crescent colleagues who had been killed this year up until that point, IFRC staff and volunteers of the Geneva Red Cross stood together in a moment of silence.“Our work is recognized by international humanitarian law, but for some of us, those who respond to complex emergencies, this work is becoming increasingly difficult, dangerous, and deadly,” Geneva Red Cross volunteer representative Brent Turner told the gathering. “For all our sakes, this trend must change.”“As a local volunteer with the Geneva Red Cross, I did not work directly with any of the individuals whom we remember today. Yet, that does not mean that I am unaffected. It is our humanity, our ability to acknowledge human suffering … which allows each of us to recognize our own loss because of these deaths.”Yet another death shakes IFRC networkThe urgency of this call was dramatically emphasized by the fact that only hours after the gathering, the IFRC once again had the sad duty to issueanother statement condemning the killing of a volunteer while trying to provide life-saving services, in this casePalestine Red Crescent volunteer Alaa Al-Derawi.Now, 32 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staffhave died or been killed while performing their humanitarian duties this year – 29 in violent attacks and 3 in accidents.This is among the highest levels of global violence against IFRC network teams that we have ever experienced.As of 5 December , seven Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies have experienced death and loss in 2024: Palestine Red Crescent Society (18 people), Sudanese Red Crescent (eight people), Iranian Red Crescent (two people), Algerian Red Crescent (one person), Ethiopian Red Cross Society (one person), Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of Congo (one person) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (one person).“I feel deep sorrow over the losses we have witnessed this year,” said Sami Moussa Abu Mustafa, ambulancevolunteer with the Palestine Red Crescent.“Everyone standing in solidarity with us strengthens our resilience, supports our efforts, and ensures the continuity of theservices we provide to communities.”“If you're a first responder, you're an extraordinary human being facing different and often terrifying situations, working tirelessly day and night,” added Jihad Mansour, another Palestine Red Crescent volunteer who vowed to continue his work even while mourning the loss of several colleagues this year.For National Societies based in countries at peace, or where there are fewer risks of death or injury, the Protect Humanity message was a chance to stand in solidarity with those working in dangerous situations, while raising the issue with their national media and political bodies.National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world – including, among others, Palestine, Syria, Venezuela, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Singapore, Slovenia and Pakistan -paid tribute to the colleagues lost this year.The International Volunteer Day events were also a chance to honour and celebrate the many positive contributions that volunteers make everyday in their communities.“In the midst of humanitarian crises, volunteers and humanitarian workers do more than provide aid - they become symbols of hope,” said Camelia Șucu, a volunteer and President of the Romanian Red Cross.“The losses we have felt this year highlight our interconnectedness as a global family,”she continued. “That is why their protection is vital, not only for their safety but also for the continuity of support to the most vulnerable. We need global solidarity, authorities to adopt clear measures, and communities to back this mission.”This humanitarian mission is personified by volunteers like Ange Mulanga and her fellow volunteers from the North Kivu Red Cross Branch of the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Every day, they deliver a rapid emergency response to a range of ongoing crises, from volcanic eruptions, to outbreaks of infectious diseeases to mass population movements caused by conflict.In the area where Ange works, there is on-going fighting between government and armed groups, and tensions along ethnic and tribal lines. The places where people are most in need are often the very places where violence between these groups erupts. Humanitarian workers and other civilians are often caught in the crossfire.“It becomes a bit complicated,” says Ange. “Not only because one must prepare the response very quickly with the authorizations [of the government and armed groups], but one must also keep a positive relationship with community leaders and groups that can either facilitate or hinder relief efforts.”Events such as International Volunteer Day, and IFRC’s #ProtectHumanity campaign, aim to ensure support and protection for volunteers like Ange and her colleagues, as well as for the millions of other volunteers around the world doing life-saving work every day.Learn more: Volunteering with usInternational Volunteer DayIn Memoriam