Red Cross youth camps in the Americas: A chance to grow, celebrate and keep the flame of humanity alive

At a time when the challenges humanity faces seem increasingly complex, and the only consistent feature of modern life is rapid societal and technology change, the creativity and energy of young people is more critical than ever. Young people have a unique ability to adapt, propose innovative solutions, and redefine humanitarian leadership for the future—yet they often face an uncertain path, unsure of how to make a meaningful impact.That’s why National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies organize youth camps that give them opportunities to learn, grow, and build lasting connections, trusting that they will become the next generation of humanitarian leaders.Latin America is one of the regions where this tradition is especially strong: every year, hundreds of young people come together to share cultures, celebrate local identities, and connect with others from the youth movement, both within their countries and around the world.2025 is no exception. As we mark International Youth Day, we share the story of this long-standing regional tradition, which is more relevant than ever."In the 1980s, several thematic volunteer networks were created, including the first aid and paramedic networks. This began to be used more in Central America, then spread throughout the continent. In fact, there were Central American first aid camps, as well as camps focusing on other topics. From there, youth networks and camps also emerged.”Andrés Morales, Thematic Lead for Volunteer Development and Youth Engagement for the IFRC in the Americas.Currently, there are three youth networks in the Americas: Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Not all countries hold the camps, and the frequency varies according to local capacity. However, in countries such as Mexico and Costa Rica, the camps have been held consistently over time and are held every year.This year, Costa Rican Red Cross welcomed seven delegations of young people from the Red Cross in Italy, Mexico, Panama, the United Kingdom, the United States, Suriname and Venezuela. From Costa Rica, there were more than 500 young people from all over the country.“The Red Cross youth programme in Costa Rica has been around for over 100 years. We have been running camps for over 50 years.”Dyanne Marenco, President of the Costa Rican Red Cross, during the Coatí 2025 camp in January this year.“We really enjoyed the recreational and cultural activities and spending time with fellow members from other National Societies.”Sergio Jaén , National Director of Red Cross Youth in Panama, who participated in the Costa Rican Red Cross camp.Uruguay, Panama and Chile are examples of countries that also held camps in the first months of this year to strengthen the technical and leadership skills of young volunteers.In Mexico, the Mexican Red Cross national youth camp is taking place at the time of this publication, from August 6 to 9.“We are gathering in Morelos, in Tepoztlán, with more than 1,500 young people from all states of the Republic. We will be spending four days sharing knowledge, emotions, and, among all of us, family ties.”Judith López, from the National Youth Coordination of Mexican Red Cross.What are the youth camps like?Every camp is unique, whether it lasts one day or three, or whether it involves dozens or hundreds of participants. The important thing is to create a space where people can meet and share.“It's a place where young people can develop, learn, grow a lot as individuals, and have fun while doing something good for others. For me, being a Red Cross volunteer is an opportunity to grow as a person and develop skills that can be useful in my personal life and in my future professional life.”Luisa Ana Paula Carrasco, a volunteer and participant in the Red Cross Youth camp in Chile.From Andrés' perspective, beyond the tents and cooking stoves, a Red Cross youth camp is a place where four major dimensions come together:1. Celebration of young people and their communitiesThe camps recognize and celebrate the diversity of young identities within the Red Cross Movement, as well as the power of young people in humanitarian action.Meals, customs, dances and music from different regions of each country are shared at the camps, enriching the experience and promoting enjoyment and healthy interactions.2. Sharing achievements and experiencesFrom environmental and migration initiatives to mental health and road safety campaigns, camps provide the perfect opportunity to showcase the successes of youth programmes and share experiences and insights with people from different places.3. Learning and growthFrom first aid to reproductive health education, young people gain the tools they need to make a positive impact in their communities.At the camps, young people facilitate practical workshops, disaster simulations, sports competitions, rallies involving physical and mental challenges, and cultural presentations. These activities strengthen personal growth and leadership skills.4. Connecting with other peopleThe most compelling reason to organise a camp is to meet people from different places and backgrounds who share the same Red Cross values.Connecting with young people from different places, including other countries and continents, broadens your worldview and inspires you to work towards your dreams and goals.“The Red Cross is a place where I feel safe to share my ideas, to share what I think, and to share what I have to contribute to society, knowing that these ideas will be heard and taken into consideration."Alexandra Fernández, volunteer and participant in the Uruguayan Red Cross youth camp.Why are these camps important?For Andrés, these spaces serve as a reminder that, even in times of crisis and disaster, there is a network of young people willing to support their communities and help those in need.Additionally, camps and youth programmes frequently provide opportunities for nurturing new leadership within the Red Cross. Many current board members began their journey in a youth programme. This shows, yet again, that investing in young people is investing in the future of humanitarian action.“What I have learned at the Red Cross is that it doesn't matter what color your skin is, how much money you have, or anything else, because we will always help those in need.”Allison Gutiérrez, a young volunteer and participant in the Costa Rican Red Cross youth camp.If you are a young volunteer interested in organizing a camp or similar activity, contact your nearest Red Cross branch. Sometimes all it takes is a little encouragement to make our dreams come true.Read more about Red Cross Red Crescent youth initiatives:Uruguayan Red Cross project sends life-saving message: the lives of young people cannot be left just to chance – suicide is preventable | IFRC

'A child belongs to the community': Mothers take the lead in fight against hunger in northern Nigeria

World Humanitarian Day: ‘If I can help my mother, I can help my community too’

“It was early 2011. Something strange started happening to our neighbours—they said they were ill and wounds started appearing on their skin.”A nurse from Karangmojo village in Boyolali, Indonesia, Siti Imroatus begins the story that would change her life, and the lives of many in her community. It happened nearly 15 years ago, when a mysterious series of events began to befall her small community rural community.“We knew it was something to do with their cows, which they’d recently slaughtered to eat and sell”.It was this experience, the effect it had on her own family, and the process of solving this mystery that Siti (known to friends and family as “Bu Im”) to join the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia). It was also the beginning of a determined, long-time commitment from Bu Im to keep working to ensure this kind of outbreak wouldn’t happen again.On World Humanitarian Day2025 (19 August), we unite with humanitarians around the world under the banner #ActforHumanity to honour the courage of people like Siti, whotake the initiativeto protect others and save lives — even while they themselves are affected by the same challenges.This is Siti’sstoryin her own words.“Local health authorities came to investigate and it turned out to beanthrax, an infectious disease spread through animals which is caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis.“My mother fell sick, too, because she had handled a piece of meat that was apparently infected. She then had wounds on her hands and I immediately took her to the nearest hospital so she could be treated.“I knew I had to act quickly and because when she was treated quickly, she healed faster. I was living elsewhere at the time, but I stayed with my mother and took care of her until she got completely better.“I thought, if I can help my mother, I can help my community too. I wanted to motivate people and give them advice on how to stay healthy so we can avoid another outbreak—of anthrax or of any other disease. So that’s why I became a Red Cross volunteer.“In 2018 I joined the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme, which we call ‘CP3’. It’s a programme that helps communities like mine in Indonesia to be prepared for and to prevent disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics.“When I joined, I was trained inepidemic control andcommunity-based surveillance so I could advise my community on different infectious diseases and report anything unusual.“Communities may not be very well-informed about anthrax. But it is a serious disease which can infect animals and humans, and old people in my community are especially vulnerable.“The other year there was an anthrax outbreak in Yogyakarta and several people died. So I keep educating my village with my fellow volunteers because I want my family to be healthy and I want my community to be healthy.“The best thing about being a volunteer is being useful to my family and the community. I know that if I can detect and report diseases quickly, we will all be safer.”---The activities featured in this article were delivered as part of the multi-country Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3) which ran from 2018-2025. Funded by theU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),CP3 supported communities, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats.To learn more about anthrax and other infectious diseases,visit the IFRC’s Epidemic Control Toolkit.If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more, sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter.  For World Humanitarian Day 2025, learn how you can support those who #ActforHumanity.World Humanitarian Day 2025: An urgent call to honor, respect and protect those who #ActforHumanityStand with us to protect humanityHonor the fallen: visit the IFRC In Memoriam pageSupport the Red Family FundMake a donation to the Red Family Fund

The Lebanese Red Cross, IFRC and Gavi protect 19,000 displaced children from preventable diseases in Lebanon

Produced in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance's VaccinesWork platform. Written by Sara Matar.On a sun-scorched, treeless hilltop in Hermel, northeastern Lebanon, more than twenty tarpaulin tents cluster together on dry, cracked earth. This makeshift settlement — one of several recently established camps — is now home to around 280 refugees from Syria. There is no running water or electricity. Open sewage threatens to contaminate drinking and cooking water, and disease spreads rapidly, as it often does in overcrowded, displaced communities. Life here is difficult for everyone, but especially so for children.Eight-year-old Batoul Jardo, who fled Homs, Syria, with her family a few months ago, has tears in her eyes as she asks, "How are we supposed to live in the midst of this hell?"Seven-year-old Baneel Kazem Hammoud, also from Syria, scratches her arms in discomfort, the result of a painful skin infection. Thankfully, her illness is not life-threatening. But even small gaps in healthcare access can spark deadly outbreaks. In high-risk environments like this, vaccination is more than healthcare, it’s protection.A protective shieldBetween December 2024 and April 2025, a vaccination campaign led by the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC), in coordination with the IFRC and the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, immunized 19,000 children — Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian — living in the country’s most vulnerable and underserved communities.The campaign, funded by Gavi, targeted children in four of Lebanon’s most affected governorates: Mount Lebanon, Baalbek-Hermel, Bekaa, and Akkar."Given the displacement, poor access to primary healthcare, and Lebanon’s ongoing crises, this programme helped us reach the most at-risk children and reconnect them with the routine immunization system,” said Tasneem Obeid, Senior Immunization Officer at IFRC. “Raising awareness and delivering vaccines in underserved communities remains critical."Lebanon’s recent history has been shaped by a series of overlapping crises: a financial collapse, a global pandemic, the catastrophic Beirut port explosion in 2020, and multiple regional conflicts spilling into the country. These events have compounded public health challenges.The Lebanese Red Cross, supported by over 12,000 trained volunteers and equipped with robust data systems, is playing a vital role in bridging gaps in healthcare access, and is working to rebuild trust in vaccines and restoring routine services disrupted by COVID-19.Closing the gap after COVIDThe pandemic not only disrupted health services, but it also eroded public confidence in vaccines. Misinformation surged in 2021, prompting the Lebanese Red Cross to launch a nationwide campaign. In October and November of that year, the National Society deployed 33 mobile clinics to remote and underserved areas, delivering life-saving vaccines and reliable health information.Kassem Shaalan, Director of the LRC’s Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, says the recent Gavi-funded project significantly expanded their reach:"From October 2021 to April 2025, LRC vaccinated over 700,000 children,” he said. “Thanks to Gavi’s latest support, we reached 19,000 children in just five months, a vital response to the growing needs of displaced families following the recent escalation of hostilities."He added: "With this new funding, we increased the number of mobile vaccination teams from seven to twelve. These teams were deployed based on need, especially in overcrowded areas like Akkar, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel."Building trust, one mother at a timeIn a refugee camp in Zahle, Bekaa Governorate — home to around 200 Syrian children — an LRC mobile team is working to prevent outbreaks. The team includes a medical supervisor, a lead nurse, a data officer, a team leader, and two volunteers.One of their strongest allies is Rabea’a Al-Hussein, a mother of five who has been living in the camp since 2014. Her youngest children were vaccinated by LRC teams, and now she volunteers to help. She moves between tents to notify other parents of upcoming visits and comforts nervous children during the vaccination process.For her, the trust-building aspect is just as important as the medical care. "It’s not only the vaccines that matter," she says, "It’s how they calm our fears."In Fakeha, Baalbek, 34 kilometres north of Zahle, Nermine Waleed Hussein — a displaced Lebanese mother of two — agrees:"Awareness sessions helped mothers like me understand how crucial vaccines are. I always check my phone for updates to make sure my children are safe. I’m truly grateful for all the support we’ve received."Hope amid hardshipBaalbek-Hermel Governorate alone hosts 150 shelters, ranging from small hilltop clusters like the one Batoul and Baneel live in, to much larger settlements. These shelters are home to nearly 90,000 displaced people. Health staff report recent outbreaks of measles and hepatitis — both vaccine-preventable diseases. But in these conditions, controlling fast-moving infections is a constant challenge.Still, the lines of children queuing for vaccinations offer a sign of hope. Nurses say the turnout is always strong, and communities are increasingly engaged.For Hala Hassan Jardo, Batoul’s mother, the presence of Lebanese Red Cross health workers is a rare comfort."We fled Homs five months ago," she said. “No one helped us except the Red Cross, they brought vaccines, medicine, awareness — real healthcare.”

Hurricanes in sight: the Red Cross scales up training and preparedness

With the Americas region now well into the 2025 hurricane season, Red Cross teams in the region have been busy working alongside communities to prepare for what forecasters say will be yet another above-normal storm season.But even an average hurricane season can have devastating consequences for the people, as all it takes is one storm to affect entire towns and cities. That is why Red Cross preparedness work was already well underway even before this year’s forecast.The National Societies of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are among the most vulnerable to these extreme events due to their geographical location. The scale of the preparedness work now going on across the Americas is largely due to the experience with extremely devastating storms in the past – in particular Hurricane Mitch in 1998.Hurricane Mitch’s devastating passage left more than 11,000 people dead and millions affected, marking a turning point in the way National Societies in the region prepare for such extreme events. For people involved in emergency response and risk reduction, the storm was a game changer.Two decades later, in 2020, hurricanes Eta and Iota affected more than seven million people, most of them — more than four million — in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala, the countries that had also been hardest hit by Mitch.But the results were different. In the time between one tragedy and another, the region and humanitarian organizations prepared in advance with response plans, training, drills, and institutional strengthening to reduce the impact of these disasters. This allowed the number of fatalities from Eta and Iota to be much lower than that of Mitch.From Mexico to South America, many National Societies have transformed the terrible experience of Hurricane Mitch into concrete action. Their mission: to be better prepared each year to respond more quickly and effectively to the arrival of potential hurricanes.Here are just a few of the many ways Red Cross National Societies in the region are working to get ahead of the storms and help communities prepare.Salvadoran Red Cross: Pre-positioning of humanitarian aid and access to weather forecastsThe Salvadoran Red Cross has contingency and response plans, which allow for more agile responses to extreme rainfall and landslides caused by tropical storms and hurricanes. According to Omar Ayala, Head of Crisis and Disasters at the Salvadoran Red Cross, the National Society has pre-positioned materials for humanitarian aid in its branches, guided by the nationalHazards Observatory’s forecasts.“This strategy has significantly reduced response times: what could previously take up to two days, is now done in just two hours,” assures Omar. Furthermore, in the context of monitoring and early warning, the Salvadoran Red Cross has recently signed a letter of understanding with the Hazards Observatory: “This agreement allows us to access weather forecasts early to be better prepared for the eventual arrival of a hurricane,” says Omar.In preparation for this and the coming hurricane seasons, the National Society wants to promote the preventive outreach of populations in at-risk areas even more, so they know what to do before, during and after a hurricane strikes.Honduran Red Cross: Early Warning Systems and strategic alliancesIn Honduras, Red Cross teams has invested in technical training for volunteers and staff in topics such as water rescue, pre-hospital care, cash transfer systems, water, sanitation and hygiene, and unmanned aerial systems.The Honduran Red Cross also highlights its investment inEarly Warning Systems (EWS) (specific measures guided by early warnings or forecasts to protect people before a disaster strikes), implemented in watersheds such as Chamelecón and Aguán."The experience withTropical Storm Sara, the last of the 2024 hurricane season, which affected more than 300,000 people in Honduras, showed the value of communities taking ownership of these early warning systems to ensure that the vulnerable populations receive the necessary information in time. That preparedness saved lives," says Manuel Isaula, risk and disaster manager for the Honduran Red Cross..Another good practice in the face of tropical Storm Sara was establishing strategic alliances with national and international actors: “Effective coordination between government, non-government, and community organizations to ensure the appropriation of knowledge, risk analysis, monitoring, and response capacity was and will always be key in our preparedness and response plans,” Isaula concludes.Guatemalan Red Cross: Development of Anticipatory Actions and Contingency PlansTeresa Marroquín, Director of Risk and Disaster Management at the Guatemalan Red Cross, says the National Society has strengthened its hurricane response capacity through several key actions –In particular the development of “early-action plans” that lay out key steps to take before the storms make landfall.“Early Action Plans (EAPs) funded by the IFRC have been developed to respond to flooding caused by extreme storms,”Marroquin says. “One successful example was the activation of Early Actions Plans duringTropical Storm Julia in October 2022, which helped us to provide a better response to those who needed it most.”Close coordination with official weather forecasting sources is key to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian operations during the hurricane season. Teresa also stresses the importance of developing contingency plans, providing training, and equipping volunteers for pre-hospital care and search and rescue in floods, especially in high-risk areas.'A key tool for understanding'Another key element to prepare for the hurricane season within the Red Cross world is the continuous learning and training of National Society staff and volunteers.In 2024, with support from theReference Centre for Institutional Disaster Preparedness (CREPD) in the Americas, more than 6,000 people were trained, both online and in person, through courses and practical training at the regional level, with the aim of strengthening their knowledge in search and rescue, health, humanitarian assistance, and logistics coordination.According to Edgardo Barahona, CREPD Coordinator, these training sessions, based on practical exercises and emergency simulations, not only strengthen the technical capacities of National Societies, but also promote comprehensive preparedness in line with IFRC global standards:"They are a key tool for understanding the usefulness of response, contingency, and anticipation plans,”he says.“Through experiential methodologies and simulated scenarios, teams can directly experience the challenges of an emergency, allowing for better operational coordination." says Barahona.According to the CREPD Coordinator, preparing teams at the local level allows National Societies to lead high-quality, timely responses, tailored to address the demands of each specific context, especially in the face of events such as hurricanes or other frequent disasters in the region.This type of preparedness is critical because the hurricane season threatens not only countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, but also more than 30 territories in the Americas, which face increasing risks due to extreme weather events aggravated by climate change.That said, the experiences in Central America confirm a vital lesson: preparedness is not optional, it is key to save lives. It requires sustained investment, strong partnerships, and the strengthening of National Society capacities to deal with crises and disasters – all of which are core elements of the IFRC’s regional approach to helping communities prepare for every coming storm season.Learn more about the IFRC’s approach to:Climate-smart disaster risk reductionDisaster and crisis preparednessEarly warning, early action

'A grave betrayal of humanity': Abhorrent attacks on aid workers must stop

Geneva (IFRC/ICRC)— In 2025 alone, 18 staff and volunteers of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement were killed while carrying out their lifesaving work in Gaza, in Sudan, in South Sudan, in Iran, in Ethiopia and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Many others have been killed off duty – in their homes, with their families or simply going about daily life. Others have been injured, arbitrarily detained or kidnapped.Deliberately targeting humanitarian organisations through false and harmful information adds to the threats faced by aid workers, notably by portraying them as legitimate targets.Despite these risks, our colleagues continue to show up not because they are fearless, but because the suffering is too urgent to ignore. Yet, courage is not protection, and dedication does not deflect bullets.The Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, which seeks to unite states in reversing this tragic trend, is a critical step and must translate into tangible action on the ground.The rules of war are clear: humanitarian personnel must be respected and protected. Every attack is a grave betrayal of humanity, and the rules designed to protect them and the communities they serve. Each killing sends a dangerous message that their lives were expendable. They were not.We call on all states, parties to conflict and global leaders to take immediate concrete steps to protect those who risk everything to save lives. When humanitarian workers are protected, so is our shared humanity.

The price of humanity: Protecting those who serve

By Kate Forbes, IFRC PresidentWhen I decided to run for the position of IFRC President, I never thought that one of my most painful responsibilities in this role would be writing condolence letters. Yet, over the past years, I have written far too many - to our National Societies, to grieving families, to colleagues mourning the loss of their friends and loved ones.Each letter is written with a heavy heart.Each letter is a reminder of the immense sacrifice borne by those who choose to serve humanity.Nothing prepares you for the message that another of our staff or volunteers has been killed while carrying out humanitarian work.Each time I receive the devastating news of another colleague killed in the line of duty, I am overwhelmed with sorrow and with anger.Sorrow, because every loss is personal. Behind every statistic is a face, a name, a life dedicated to service. They are fathers and mothers, daughters and sons, friends and neighbours. They are people who believed in compassion, who wore our Red Cross and Red Crescent emblem as a promise of humanity. Their absence leaves an unfillable void in their families, in their communities, and in our Red Cross and Red Crescent network.Anger, because this should not be happening. Humanitarian workers are not and must never be a target. Yet they continue to be attacked, abducted, and killed. We issue statement after statement, appeal after appeal, reminding governments and parties to conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law. Still, the violence persists. And still, families are left to grieve in silence while the world moves on too quickly.We must raise our voices louder, together. We must demand accountability where there is impunity. We must continue to insist on the protection and respect that humanitarian law guarantees.We must raise our voices louder, together. We must demand accountability where there is impunity. We must continue to insist on the protection and respect that humanitarian law guarantees.IFRC President Kate ForbesThe weight of this reality is difficult to bear. It is the most difficult part of my role as President and yet, it is also the most urgent reminder of why we must persist. To honour those we have lost, we cannot afford to be silent.Humanitarian workers embody the best of humanity. They enter danger when others flee. They provide medical care under bombardment. They rescue, comfort, and protect with no other agenda than to affirm life and dignity. Their courage is not abstract - it is lived daily in places where compassion is scarce, and fear is abundant.Their deaths are not just tragedies. They are violations of the laws that exist to protect civilians and those who serve them. Violations of the most basic principles of humanity. Violations of the moral fabric that holds us together as a global community.To the families who have lost their loved ones in this noble cause: please know that their sacrifice is not forgotten, and it will never be in vain. They remind us of what it means to be humanitarian, of the cost of compassion, and of the urgency of protecting those who protect othersToday and every day, I stand in solidarity with the families of the fallen, with the countless volunteers and staff who continue their work in danger, and with every person who has ever carried the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblem into situations of risk. Their courage humbles me, their sacrifice compels me, and their memory fuels my determination.We must raise our voices louder, together. We must demand accountability where there is impunity. We must continue to insist on the protection and respect that humanitarian law guarantees. And we must never stop honouring those who, in their final act, showed us the truest meaning of humanity.Today, I bow my head in grief. But I also lift my voice in resolve:Protect humanity. Protect those who protect others.Learn more:Join the call to #ProtectHumanitySupport the families of fallen Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers

World Humanitarian Day: An urgent call to honor, respect and protect those who #ActForHumanity

On a conflict-torn night in Tehran, Morteza Zakeri, head of a relief and rescue team, was dispatched to a residential building struck by airstrikes. He arrived to find devastation – collapsed homes, shattered glass, and streets filled with terrified women and children.“There was no time to pause,” he says. “We began clearing debris immediately. The screams of trapped families pushed us to move faster, despite the constant risk of further collapse.”Yet in the middle of fear and rubble, Zakeri found pride in the courage of his team. “It’s not just duty anymore,” he says. “It’s love. We stand by our people until the very end.”On World Humanitarian Day 2025 (19 August), we unite with humanitarians around the world under the banner #ActForHumanity to honour the courage of people like Morteza who rush toward danger to save lives - often at great personal risk.We also join with others in pledging to further heighten our resolve to ensure humanitarian workers and emergency responders are respected and protected as they carry out their life-saving duties.This year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), the lead sponsor of World Humanitarian Day, is directing its fund-raising efforts for the day to the Red Family Fund, which provides support to the families of Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian workers who die in the line of duty.Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 50 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and workers have been killed in the line of duty. 18 of those deaths occurred in 2025. Each one of them stood under the protective emblems of the Red Cross, Red Crescent, or Red Crystal – which under international humanitarian law means they must be respected, protected and never become a target.This includes five people from the Iranian Red Crescent Society, whose volunteers and staff responded with extraordinary bravery during a deadly escalation of violence in June 2025.Some of them made the ultimate sacrifice. Others survived, but carry with them the scars, stories, and spirit of what it means to be a humanitarian. In this story, we pay tribute to both: those who gave their lives while helping others, and to those who continue, against all odds, to serve with love, resilience, and act with unwavering humanity.Nima Ahmadi: A lens and a lifelineFor nearly two decades, Nima Ahmadi has served with the Iranian Red Crescent, both as a rescuer and a storyteller. During the 12-day conflict, he embodied both roles.When explosions shook his neighborhood on the first night, Nima rushed to the scene in his own car, first - aid kit in hand. He treated the injured before other responders arrived - and documented the devastation through his camera lens.“I put on my relief uniform and went to the explosion site,”he recalls. “I drove my own car to the location. People had already crowded into the area. I entered the scene as a relief worker. No one had arrived yet to aid; I had my aid kit with me, and I provided first aid to injured people. When emergency services and other rescue agencies arrived, I continued providing support. Alongside the relief work, I was also documenting the scene with photography.”In another neighborhood, he found three children lying in the street, covered in dust. “I was alone. I aided them, then moved on to another area. I didn’t stop - neither providing aid nor reporting and photographing.”Kianoush Fallahi: When a mission turns into mourningKianoush Fallahi, a search and rescue dog trainer, was responding alongside his dog Zhiro in western Tehran. As they began operations, a second wave of airstrikes hit the area.“A powerful explosion rocked the area; Zhiro was shaken by the shockwave. I quickly moved him to safety and tried to continue the operation on my own - but the strikes kept coming. Every time we approached, another blast would follow.”But the cost of service soon became personal. As he approached an Iranian Red Crescent ambulance to greet fellow responders, a strike hit.“As I was leaving the Doukhouheh area, my colleague Mojtaba Maleki and another colleague were standing near an ambulance parked along the highway. I walked over to greet them, but seconds later, that same ambulance was struck.“I was thrown by the blast. When I got up, I couldn’t find my colleague Mojtaba. Someone told me he had been killed. I just stood there and wept.”Honouring the fallen: A call to protect those who protect othersThe death of Mojtaba Maleki was not an isolated tragedy. He was one of five Iranian Red Crescent staff and volunteers who lost their lives during the recent escalation of violence - each of them killed while fulfilling their humanitarian duty to protect and save others.On 13 June, Mehdi Zartaji Saray, a staff member of the IRCS rescue team, was killed in East Azerbaijan province while responding to wounded civilians.On 14 June, Yaser Zivari, a volunteer firefighter and rescuer, was seriously injured while providing humanitarian assistance in Hamedan. He succumbed to his injuries eight days later.On 16 June, during a rescue operation in northwest Tehran, an ambulance was struck in an airstrike, killing Mojtaba Maleki and his colleague Amir Hassan Jamshidpour- both dedicated IRCS volunteers.On 22 June, Seyyed Ali Akbar Mir Mohammadi, a volunteer offering humanitarian aid in Isfahan, was killed during an attack.These five lives - cut short while helping others - represent the deepest cost of humanitarian service. They were not carrying weapons. They carried stretchers, medical kits and hope.On World Humanitarian Day 2025, we remember these five brave people, and countless others across the world, who gave their lives in service to humanity. We hopestand with us to protect humanity; our call is urgent and clear:Protect humanitarian workers.Respect humanitarian emblems.No one should ever die while saving lives.Learn how you can support those who #ActForHumanity:Stand with us to protect humanityHonor the fallen: visit the IFRC In Memoriam pageSupport the Red Family FundMake a donation to the Red Family Fund

From grain to gain: A story of women’s empowerment and food security in Cameroon

At first glance, Kartoua may seem like any other rural village in the Mayo-Danay division. But this border community, vulnerable to seasonal floods and food insecurity, has become the stage for a quiet revolution led by women.Twelve women came together to form the Soubota Common Initiative Group (GIC). Their mission: to fight food scarcity by creating a cereal bank that buys millet and rice at low prices after harvest, stores them, and resells them during the lean season at affordable, community-friendly rates.“When we started, many didn’t believe in us, especially the men,” says Ahmadou Sergeline, a mother of nine, farmer, and president of the Soubota women’s cereal bank. “But over time, as they saw how we were helping the village, everything changed. Even my husband now supports and advises me.”From scarcity to sustainable strategy“When the floods hit, millet became impossible to find,” Sergeline recalls. “But thanks to the Red Cross support, we had 20 sacks ready. Every morning, women would line up with small bowls, buying just enough to feed their children.”The support came at a crucial time. The Cameroon Red Cross provided the women’s group with 20 bags of millet, along with training in stock management and basic accounting.“Before, we didn’t keep proper records. Now we have ledgers for everything — what comes in, what goes out, and what belongs to whom. People even entrust us with their own cereal bags, which we store safely for a small fee.”Equity first: feeding the most vulnerable“We made rules to protect the poorest,” explains Sergeline. “We limited purchases to four measures per household, and we refused to sell to wealthier buyers just looking for bargains. We know our community. We know who truly needs help.”Grains are sold directly at the warehouse, always below market prices. This solidarity pricing ensured that widows, the elderly, and female-headed households could make it through the lean season with dignity.The initial stock was only the beginning. Revenues from the first sales were used to purchase 45 new sacks of rice, allowing the cycle to continue. After sharing the dividends from the sales, the group decided to reinvest all profits into the next round of cereal purchases.“We put everything back into stock because we saw that demand was even higher than expected,” Sergeline explains.Normally, profits would be transparently allocated to different committees responsible for various activities:50 per cent to the management committee (day-to-day running of the GIC),30 per cent to the community hygiene committee,20 per cent to cereal restocking.But in a strong show of collective responsibility, the entire committee agreed to reinvest their shares, strengthening the group’s next cycle.More than grain: a space for growth and leadershipCereal banks like the one in Kartoua are one of many initiatives supported by the Programmatic Partnership between the IFRC network and the European Union. The partnership provides strategic, flexible, predictable, and long-term funding, so that National Societies can act before a crisis or health emergency occurs. It is being implemented in 24 countries around the world.In this case, the Cameroon Red Cross also works alongside the Soubota Common Initiative Group to support their activities, with the French Red Cross teams also working as an implementing partner.For Sergeline and the women of Kartoua, the cereal bank has become a safe space — a platform to learn, grow, and lead.“When we meet, we don’t just talk about millet. We talk about running our households, educating our daughters, strengthening our marriages. I have seven girls. I want them to see that women can lead too.”The training and engagement provided by Red Cross teams empowered the women not only technically, but also emotionally and socially.“They didn’t just bring us grain. They brought us respect. They listened to us. They saw us not as beneficiaries, but as partners.”“It wasn’t just food. It was dignity,” adds Marie, a grandmother who bought grain from the cereal bank during the lean season. “I didn’t have to beg. I bought what I could afford, and I fed my grandchildren.”“We are asking for more support,” Sergeline says. “Not just for us, but for the whole village. The needs are huge. But the solution is here — it just needs to be strengthened.”Her dream is clear: to ensure that no family goes hungry during the next flood or lean season. In the hands of women like Sergeline, a sack of millet becomes a shield against hunger, a symbol of dignity, and a seed for the future.

Finding a new way of life in the camps of Cox’s Bazar

Sayedul was thirty-five-years-old when he and his wife Setara fled violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar and took shelter in the camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, carrying nothing but fear and a newborn in his arms.The journey was long and painful, walking through forests, surviving on nothing, and constantly worrying about what awaited them.When they finally found refuge in what is now known as Camp 13 in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, Sayedul thought the worst was over. But life in Camp 13 proved otherwise.The shelter was cramped, the surroundings were unhygienic. Common diseases like diarrhea and scabies spread fast. With his health deteriorating, Sayedul was unable to work. Moreover, there was no work to be had.With two little children to care for, the couple lived in fear, uncertainty and hopelessness.“I would just sit in front of our shelter and stare at nothing. I had no strength, no purpose. Everything felt like it was falling apart,” Sayedul recalls.But that despair has now been transformed. Over years of living in the camp — it’s now been eight years since the crisis began — Sayedul Amin is a respected figure, a source of inspiration and a role model for the community.Neighbours come to him with questions about health, hygiene or even family planning, and he loves using his time to talk to neighbours. His story inspires many others who are still struggling with life in the camp.“I tell them—look at me. I was once sick and hopeless. But someone believed in me, and I decided to change,” he says.Today, Setara and Sayedul’s home stands as a quiet example of healthy, dignified living. Their shelter is clean and organized, with a small homestead garden where fresh vegetables grow.Their two sons practice the habit of handwashing and cleanliness as their parents had regularly taught these practices to them.According to Sayedul and Setara, the turnaround was due in large part to the diligence of a volunteer from the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society named Marijan. Also a resident of the camp, Marijan came by regularly to talk about how to maintain good hygiene practices in a camp setting.As a result, Sayedul then began cleaning the surroundings of the family shelter regularly, ensuring his wife and children followed hygiene routines. The benefits have been apparent: during the last scabies outbreak in Camp 13, for example, Sayedul’s household remained incredibly unaffected.Setara herself found purpose as well—she started to work as a volunteer for a local non-governmental organization in the camp. Every day, she goes out to help others.“She puts on her volunteer vest with pride,” Sayedul stated proudly. “And while she’s away, I take care of the kids and make sure they don’t skip their school.”The family finally found a rhythm. Their two sons, now old enough to attend the learning center, are picking up reading, writing, and even basic life skills.‘What could a stranger do?’The new life of Sayedul and Setara did not come about overnight. It was a gradual journey. And, this happened because of the persistence and dedication of Marijan, who works on something called evidence-based Community-Based Health and First Aid.The flagship health initiative of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, this approach is designed to put communities — and the detailed information they share about their collective health — at the centre of health initiatives.When Marijan first visited Sayedul Amin’s shelter in the camps of Ukhiya, he was doubtful.“What could a stranger do for us?” he thought. But Marijan kept returning, encouraging and sharing small tips about health and hygiene.Gradually, her presence became familiar and comforting. She helped Sayedul understand how small changes could make a big difference. She taught Setara about handwashing with soap, safe drinking water, and how to keep their children clean and healthy. Marijan also introduced them to the idea of family planning—a concept that was entirely new to them.“It wasn’t easy to talk about such personal matters with someone outside the family,” Setara says with a smile. “But Marijan made us feel respected and comfortable.”The couple began to discuss their future openly for the first time in months. They decided together to use family planning methods and focus on raising their two sons in a healthier, more stable environment.A journey from despair to refound dignityHis journey from despair to dignity was not easy, Marijan’s regular visits, gentle counseling, and tireless support were a turning point in Sayedul’s life.In this way, organizations like the IFRC and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society are redefining what it means to support the displaced people in their population movement operation.By focusing on health, hygiene, family planning, and community mobilization, they are helping individuals take control of their lives, one visit, one conversation at a time.“We didn’t just survive; we learned to live again,” Sayedul says with quiet pride.There are many stories of hope like this in the camps of Coxs Bazar. But many also continue to face tremendous hardship and challenges as the crisis now enters its eighth year. With the support of the IFRC's Population Movement Operation, and an international appeal for support, the Bangladesh Red Crescent continues to work every day in the displaced camps, bringing a wide range of support and services.Through this operation, more than 650,000 people in the camps of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar have been supported so far with shelter, health care, wash and hygiene, livelihoods, as well as other initiatives aimed at ensuring protection and inclusion of all people impacted by the crisis, as well as ongoing community, engagement and accountability.

Climate-related disasters force millions from their homes in Asia Pacific, but local action offers hope

Across Asia Pacific, disasters and the impacts of climate change continue to force millions from their homes. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, in 2024 alone, there were 24 million disaster displacements across the region – more than half of the global total.From floods to supercharged storms, the Asia Pacific region is one of the most significantly impacted by disaster displacement. However, a new report from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reveals not only how the scale of the crisis affects communities in the region, but also the power of local action in supporting people to adapt, prepare and become more resilient.“For millions of people across Asia Pacific this is not a distant possibility, it is a daily reality,” says Alexander Matheou, IFRC Regional Director for Asia Pacific. “Whether on a tiny island or in a sprawling city, the stories are the same: disasters, driven and amplified by climate change, are uprooting lives and erasing the familiar.”The report, Forced to Flee in a Changing Climate, collates 39 stories from 21 National Societies that are supporting communities through every stage of displacement – from preparedness, early warning and evacuation, to recovery and rebuilding.While the impacts are devastating, there is hope.“Hope is found in the strength of communities and in the tireless work of those who stand with them,” said Matheou. “This report is a call to see what is at stake – and to recognise the possibilities for change.”Quick factsIn 2024, Asia Pacific experienced more displacement linked to disasters than any other region in the world.Hazards like storms, floods, heatwaves, and droughts are becoming more intense and frequent and people are experiencing repeat displacement.People are displaced for longer periods, as disasters overlap with conflict, poverty and food, water and resource insecurity.Marginalised groups – including women, children, older people and those experiencing poverty – are disproportionately affected.How are we addressing these challenges?National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are not just responding after disasters – they’re working with communities before risks worsen and disasters strike, supporting people to adapt, prepare and stay in their homes or move in safety and with dignity when and if they decide to do so."The impacts of displacement do not end with the decision to move,” said Matheou. “Risks and uncertainties follow people into new, and often precarious places, testing their ability to rebuild and find stability.”This is why the ways people and communities respond takes many forms. In many cases, people who have themselves experienced displacement are taking the lead in preparedness and response, often with support of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.Better forecasting, anticipatory action and community-driven early warning systems are also playing a critical role, among other things.Here are just three of the many examples cited in the report.Cyclone preparedness powered by refugees - BangladeshIn Cox’s Bazar, home to the world’s largest refugee camp, the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has trained more than 3,300 camp volunteers to deliver early warnings and help their communities evacuate before disasters strike. The national Cyclone Preparedness Programme helps to ensure that early action saves lives – even in the most fragile settings.Forecast-based support for fisherfolk and farmers to reduce losses – FijiThrough the Pacific’s first Anticipatory Action Framework, the Fiji Red Cross Society is providing early warning messages, kits for securing boats, and crop storage materials before cyclones hit. By activating assistance based on forecasts, they’re helping remote communities safeguard their livelihoods in advance and reduce risks of displacement.Psychosocial support for herder communities– MongoliaMongolia is facing harsh winters, with dzud – a combination of summer drought and extreme winter temperatures – impacting herder families.To strengthen resilience and support traditional livelihoods, movements, and ways of life, the Mongolian Red Cross Society provides cash assistance and livestock nutrition kits, constructs animal shelters, and promotes alternative livelihoods.The message at the heart of the report is clear: as displacement linked to disasters and climate change affects millions of people, communities across Asia Pacific are not standing still. With support from National Red Cross and Red Crescent teams, they are preparing, adapting, and leading the way toward a safer, more resilient future.Explore the full report: Forced to Flee in a Changing Climate – Displacement in Asia PacificRead more about climate-related displacement:IFRC report: Forced to flee in a changing climate - AfricaRead about IFRC's approach to migration and displacement

Cape Verde: Thousands of people devastated by sudden, severe floods

For many inhabitants of the Cape Verde archipelago, the night of 10-11 August 2025 will never be forgotten. Never before had they faced such devastation. In just a few hours, torrential rains brought by Tropical Storm Erin turned streets into raging torrents, triggered landslides, and destroyed vital infrastructure.Countless homes were destroyed or severely damaged, and the livelihoods of hundreds of families were wiped out. At least nine people lost their lives, and thousands were forced to seek refuge with relatives, neighbours, or in temporary shelters after losing everything.“My house collapsed in just a few hours. My children lost everything… and so did I,” says Alcídia dos Reis Fortes, a mother of five now sheltering in a school converted into a reception centre managed by the Red Cross.In the face of such destruction, the government declared a state of emergency and two days of national mourning. The islands of São Vicente and São Antão have been the hardest hit.Red Cross volunteers in Cape Verde were mobilized as soon as the first warnings were issued.“We immediately informed communities and helped evacuate families at risk,” explains Jamilson José Dos Santos Rodrigues, a volunteer, youth representative and currently head of operations for the local committee in São Vicente. He has been on the ground with a Red Cross team since the first hours of the disaster.The floods also caused the collapse of the central water supply system, leaving thousands without access to safe drinking water. In a country already weakened by drought and food insecurity, this disruption poses a serious additional threat: the spread of waterborne diseases.“Many families have nothing left to drink or cook with. We are distributing emergency kits, drinking water, and clothing, as well as providing psychosocial support. But the needs are far greater than what we can cover,” says Jamilson.“Today, every vital sector is affected—shelter, water, health, and food. International support is essential to meet the scale of this crisis,” stresses Sadrack Matanda, an emergency preparedness and response specialist deployed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Cape Verde Red Cross.As an initial response, the IFRC plans to release emergency funds to assist affected families by providing shelter, water and sanitation services, and livelihood support. Shelter and water and sanitation specialists will also be deployed to strengthen the response.“We are continuing our assessments and do not rule out launching an emergency appeal to help communities overcome this unprecedented crisis,” Sadrack added.On 13 August, the Cape Verde Red Cross launched the national campaign #ReconstruirComEsperança to support affected.

Statement: IFRC mourns the loss of Ethiopian RC staff member

The IFRC is deeply saddened by the tragic death ofAto (Mr.) Honelegn Fentahun, a dedicated staff member with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society and stands in solidarity with the Ethiopian Red Cross (ERCS) during this difficult time.Ato Honelegn Fentahun was on duty when he lost his life.On 14 August, a security incident occurred in the Cheneq area of Janamora Woreda, North Gondar Zone, Amhara Region. Three ERCS staff members including Ato Honelegn Fentahun, were abducted by unidentified armed individuals while returning from delivering an ambulance. They were released on 15 August, but upon release, Ato Honelegn Fentahun required immediate medical attention and was transported to hospital, where he tragically passed away shortly after arrival.Today marks World Humanitarian Day, and this heartbreaking loss highlights once again the dangers faced by humanitarian workers who put themselves at risk serving vulnerable communities. Since the beginning of 2025, 18 Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers from across the globe have lost their lives while carrying out their humanitarian duties.Any attack, abduction, or obstruction targeting humanitarian personnel compromises the ability of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to deliver life-saving assistance. The Movement strongly condemns such incidents and calls on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of humanitarian workers, who dedicate their lives to helping those in need.Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Ato Honelegn Fentahun, as well as with our colleagues at the Ethiopian Red Cross Society during this very difficult time.For more information or to request an interview, please contact:[email protected]

IFRC statement about the incident on the Ocean Viking

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is deeply concerned by the incident that occurred on Sunday afternoon (24 August 2025), when the humanitarian rescue vessel Ocean Viking was struck by multiple gunshots.Thankfully, no individuals were physically harmed. However, this serious event has jeopardized the safety and well-being of both our humanitarian personnel and the rescued individuals on board.The IFRC is actively working to support all those affected and to look into the circumstances surrounding this violent act.Today, humanitarian workers operate in increasingly perilous environments, often putting their own lives at risk to save others. Their mission must be respected and protected at all times. Humanitarian operations must always be respectedandprotected.

IFRC Secretary General in new op-ed: ‘Our aid workers were brutally killed and thrown into a mass grave. This must never happen again’

The following op-ed article by IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain was first published by the UK Guardian on 5 April, 2025.Which was most horrific? The agonising week-long wait – silence after our colleagues went missing, as we suspected the worst but hoped for something different? Or the confirmation, seven days later, that bodies had been found? Or, since, the ghastly details of how they were found, and killed?Their ambulances were crushed and partly buried. Nearby were their bodies – also buried, en masse, in the sand. Our dead colleagues were still wearing their Red Crescent vests. In life, those uniforms signalled their status as humanitarian workers; they should have protected them. Instead, in death, those red vests became their shrouds.Ambulance officers Mostafa Khufaga, Saleh Muamer and Ezzedine Shaath, and first responder volunteers Mohammad Bahloul, Mohammed Al-Heila, Ashraf Abu Labda, Raed Al-Sharif and Rifatt Radwan were good people. Alongside fellow Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance officer Asaad Al-Nasasra – who is still missing – and medical and humanitarian workers from other organisations, they were in emergency vehicles, rushing in to do what they do.Post-ceasefire Gaza is dangerous, of course. But these men were not cavalier. They believed their Red Crescent-marked vehicles would make it clear who was inside and their purpose. They believed international humanitarian law meant something; that healthcare workers would be protected. They assumed that meant they would not be a target. But they were wrong. Tragically, horrifically wrong.So I’m writing with a plea. Make that assumption right again. Those deaths in Gaza – while especially awful – were part of a growing trend. More and more humanitarian aid workers are being killed around the world. The trend must be reversed.As the secretary general of a worldwide humanitarian federation, a network of 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies with more than 16 million staff and volunteers, I’m well used to trauma. Helping people prepare for crisis and then dealing with it when it hits is what our people do. Right now, thousands of colleagues from the Myanmar Red Cross are helping people with their immediate post-earthquake needs. In Russia and Ukraine our members are helping people affected on both sides of the conflict.Our teams can help people deal with trauma. But they should not be subjected to it because of what they do. International humanitarian law requires that. Health and humanitarian aid workers must be protected. They wear emblems for a reason. Yet according to the Aid Worker Security Database, they are being killed in growing numbers. In 2023, that number was 280.Our network lost 18 that year on duty – including six from our national society in Israel, Magen David Adom, on that awful day in October. Last year, a record 382 humanitarians are known to have been killed. Of those, 32 were members of our Red Cross or Red Crescent societies, including 18 from the Palestine Red Crescent Society. A further eight were killed while working in Sudan. This year is looking even worse.We cannot allow these deaths – any of these attacks – to become normalised. We must reject any narrative that they are inevitable, or part of the risk of the job. I’m grateful for the political, media and online outrage over the deaths of our workers last month. I share it. But we must all go further.First, we must see the same when any humanitarian is killed, wherever and whenever. Too often when a worker is local to the community they serve, there is far less attention than when an “international” worker dies.Second, we must demand that governments change their behaviour and that of those who answer to them. Whatever the circumstances, states have a legal responsibility to protect all civilians, including humanitarian workers. There must be tangible consequences for those who commit the atrocity of killing – through malice or recklessness – humanitarians trying to help.Third, other governments have a duty to put diplomatic and political pressure on their peers.This week, leaders of the Palestine Red Crescent Society have travelled from the West Bank to New York to brief the UN security council and demand more protection for humanitarian workers. In Geneva, I have made “protect humanity” central to my engagement with governments, publicly and privately.But at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) we tread a fine line. Neutrality and impartiality are at our core – constitutional, fundamental principles of our organisation. Straying from them could impede our work. Our job is to manage consequences, not point fingers at causes. Even in circumstances as horrific as those of last month, or 18 months ago in Israel, neither I nor my organisation assign blame towards people, groups, institutions or governments. You’ll notice I don’t in this article, even as others on this website and elsewhere do exactly that.Why? Because we believe in sticking to our principles just as we demand others stick to laws, especially international humanitarian law. We hope our commitments to neutrality and impartiality mean our voice carries even more weight when we demand justice.And demand justice we do. In Gaza, independent investigators must be allowed access and given full details of what happened two Sundays ago, however uncomfortable for those who have them. There must be respect for those who died through consequences for those who killed them. Impunity in any place breeds impunity in every place. That can never stand.Last week the IFRC’s president and I sent letters of condolence to the families of three of our network’s members in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Syria. We mourned their loss and, through an EU-supported Red Family Fund that we wish we didn’t need, offered token financial contributions. Similar letters will be sent soon to grieving families in Gaza.But letters of condolence, of course, are far too little, far too late. What will make a difference is if the tide of disrespect for international humanitarian law is turned.I am outraged. But I’m also tired of being outraged. Humanitarian aid workers must be protected. For the sake, quite simply, of humanity.