Geneva, 27 November 2024: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is shocked and deeply saddened by the killing of volunteer Muhannad Jakish of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). 

Early on Wednesday 27 November, several strikes hit border crossings between Syria and Lebanon. Muhannad Jakish was rescuing wounded people when a strike hit the site. He was fatally hit and eight other volunteers were injured in the attacks.  

Several ambulances and humanitarian service points were damaged in the strikes. As a result of the violence, SARC has closed the humanitarian service points they set up at the border to provide support for people fleeing Lebanon and withdrew its teams from the border crossings to ensure their safety. 

The IFRC sends its deepest condolences to the family of Muhannad and to his SARC friends and colleagues and wishes strength and recovery to the volunteers injured on duty in violence at the border.  

Under International Humanitarian Law, hospitals, ambulances, healthcare workers, and their patients must be respected and protected in every situation.   

Any attack on healthcare workers, ambulances, and medical facilities is unacceptable. 

We strongly reiterate our call for unwavering respect for the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems and the crucial humanitarian services they represent.  

For more information: [email protected]   

In Geneva: 

Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79708 4367 

Hannah Copeland +41 76 236 9109 

In Beirut: 

Mey Al Sayegh, +961 7617 4468 
Bastiaan van Blokland, +31 6 46 80 80 96