IFRC mourns the killing of one Iranian Red Crescent colleague

Tehran/Beirut/Geneva, 14 January 2026: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is deeply saddened by the killing of Amir Ali Latifi, an Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) staff member, and the wounding of five other IRCS colleagues, who were all in the line of duty in Gillan province, on 10 January 2026.The IFRC expresses its sincere condolences to his family, loved ones, and all IRCS colleagues.We stand in solidarity with the Iranian Red Crescent Society and all medical and humanitarian workers providing life-saving assistance during this difficult time. Humanitarian workers must be protected.The Iranian Red Crescent Society is a humanitarian organization and part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, operating in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of Humanity, Neutrality, Impartiality and Independence.The safety and protection of humanitarian personnel, as well as respect for the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems, are essential to ensure the continued delivery of impartial, life-saving assistance to people in need.The IFRC is deeply concerned about the consequences of the ongoing unrest on the people of Iran and is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the Iranian Red Crescent Society.For more information: [email protected] BeirutMey Al Sayegh, +961 761 744 68   In GenevaTommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 43 67   

Faster, closer, safer: Local action backed by global solidarity.

Statement: IFRC mourns the killing of Sudanese Red Crescent volunteer

The IFRC is deeply saddened by the death of Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) volunteer, Iman Abbas. On 1 February, she was killed while participating in a SRCS cleaning campaign at the Sabreen open market in Omdurman, which was struck by artillery shelling. The IFRC sends its deepest condolences to Iman's family, her SRCS colleagues and loved ones. In 2024, 32 of our IFRC network volunteers and staff died or were killed while performing their humanitarian duties. Iman is the first colleague we’ve lost this year. Any attack on humanitarian personnel weakens entire communities and compromises our ability to help the people who need it most. 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 or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected]    

Double disaster duty: Three months ago, a devastating typhoon hit a part of the Philippines that had just suffered a catastrophic earthquake. As always, volunteers in hard-hit communities played a critical role.

In the face of heatwaves and flooding, the Mexican Red Cross and the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance are promoting local solutions to measure and strengthen community resilience

This is an adaptation of the original article written by Brenda Ávila Flores, Francisco Gabriel Reyes Gil, Jessica Rosales, Karla Hernandez, and Daniela Aguilar, published on December 15, 2025.Mexico is vulnerable to a variety of climate-related risks. These include droughts in the northern desert region, frosts in the north-west and north-east, heavy rainfall in the south, and tropical cyclones along the coast.According to Mexico’s National Centre for Disaster Prevention, approximately 80 per cent of disaster-related costs in Mexico between 2000 and 2022 were associated with water-related events. Flooding in the country has consistently caused damage to infrastructure, loss of life, displacement of communities and economic losses.Heat waves are also common in Mexico during the summer; however, the National Water Commission reports that most of the country has experienced above-average temperatures due to climate change.Two contrasting locations are Mexicali and Veracruz (Sotavento). These locations differ widely in terms of their geography, the threats they face, their vulnerabilities and their capacities.Mexicali is an urban centre on the northern border where people work in agriculture, industry and services, but face extreme heat, scarce rainfall and limited cooling options.In contrast, peri-urban and rural communities in the Sotavento region depend on agriculture, experience abundant rainfall and have access to river systems. However, they are constantly exposed to flooding and tropical cyclones.Climate Resilience Measurement for CommunitiesIn recent months, the Mexican Red Cross has used the Climate Resilience Measurement for Communities (CRMC) framework to guide a holistic and participatory process. The CRMC is a data-driven process that help communities evaluate and measure their resilience to climate hazards. And then, using the results, they can identify and implement resilience-building interventions and run additional measurements to track improvements.This measurement process included people's concerns about flooding in Veracruz communities, as well as the health implications of heat-related vector-borne diseases in Mexicali. The framework enables context-specific information on climate resilience to be obtained. By linking local knowledge with regional action, the Mexican Red Cross and its partners are addressing the immediate risks of extreme heat and flooding while also shaping systemic solutions for Mexico's future.The programme works with local populations to strengthen flood resilience at household and community levels by implementing interventions such as forming community brigades, developing family emergency plans and raising risk awareness through community resilience fairs.In both rural and urban areas, the Mexican Red Cross facilitates collaboration and integration with various sectors, including health, education, universities, and civil protection. This knowledge and experience is shared with communities, professionals, and political leaders, and is used to promote better laws, policies, and plans.Heat wavesIn recent years, Mexicali has experienced record temperatures in summer and an increasing number of heat waves. In 2024 alone, 47 deaths were directly attributed to extreme heat, marking a notable rise compared to previous years. This trend highlights the urgent need to address extreme heat as a critical public health issue.In Mexicali, families and workers depend on improved infrastructure and protective equipment, such as air conditioning, thermally insulated buildings and public cooling centres. This is not only to safeguard their health, but also to maintain their livelihoods and economic activities.However, air conditioning is not accessible to all, and marginalised communities often experience power outages, which increases their vulnerability. This highlights the need to explore affordable, accessible alternative cooling solutions to ensure heat protection for the most vulnerable. The assessment conducted through the CRMC identified opportunities to improve understanding of, and implementation of, Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), which protect, manage and restore ecosystems in order to address climate challenges.“There is no single approach to increasing climate resilience”.Mexican Red Cross Resilience Programme TeamHurricanes and stormsThe municipalities of the Sotavento region in Veracruz are regularly affected by hurricanes and tropical cyclones. These events bring heavy rainfall, which causes flooding in the basin and in low-lying areas. A key factor in the region's resilience is the presence of community brigades: local groups trained in disaster preparedness and response. The CRMC analysis identified an opportunity to strengthen these brigades by providing them with training and coordination, and by linking them to Early Warning Systems (EWS), which currently have limited reach at the local level. This will ensure that the most vulnerable groups receive timely information that will prompt life-saving actions and reduce losses and damage. “While each community has its own particular circumstances, the CRMC's research in multiple communities reveals trends in the impact of floods and extreme heat on social and economic structures”.Mexican Red Cross Resilience Programme TeamA collaborative approachThe CRMC process generates localised, up-to-date information that provides valuable insight into both gaps and opportunities.The Mexican Red Cross uses these findings to design and implement resilience actions that address real needs while strengthening existing capacities. Guided by the programme's objectives, the Mexican Red Cross works to integrate climate resilience with disaster risk management and expand access to SAT for floods and heat among the most vulnerable populations. These findings emphasise the importance of promoting context-specific resilience measures and influencing local and regional stakeholders to address shared challenges.In implementing the CRMC, the Mexican Red Cross adopted an innovative approach to data collection, adapted to urban contexts and designed to protect staff and volunteers in complex environments. Rather than conducting door-to-door surveys, resilience fairs were organised in Mexicali and Veracruz. These events brought community members together to participate actively in measuring the CRMC and in interactive activities designed to raise awareness of the risks in their territories. Additionally, data was collected through focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders. These included community leaders and government authorities from various civil protection organisations.This timely engagement enabled critical stakeholders and potential partners to become involved from the outset, thereby building trust and credibility. This engagement continues today as the Mexican Red Cross communicates the main results of the CRMC to decision-makers and communities, strengthening shared responsibility, empowering local actors to lead resilience efforts and ensuring that actions are appropriated by those most affected.To complement the actions of the Mexican Red Cross at a local level, the IFRC will work to ensure that the lessons learned from this initiative are recognised, adopted and replicated internationally in various strategic areas.

Beyond limits: Part 2 in Red Vest podcast's series for the International Year of Volunteers

Statement: IFRC outraged by the killing of a Palestine Red Crescent colleague in Gaza

Ramallah/Beirut/Geneva, 4 February 2026: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is outraged by the killing of Hussein Hassan Hussein Al-Samiri, a dedicated paramedic with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). Hussein was killed while performing life-saving humanitarian duties in Khan Younis during an attack in the Al-Mawasi area, on 4 February 2026.The IFRC sends its deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues and expresses its full solidarity with PRCS.Humanitarian workers and medical personnel must be respected and protected at all times to ensure life-saving assistance can reach people in need.The Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems are symbols of protection, humanity, neutrality, and hope. Yet too often, our volunteers and staff are killed while performing life-saving work. The loss of Hussein is a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by those who dedicate their lives to helping others.The IFRC calls for the protection of civilians, humanitarian workers and medical personnel: it is a legal and moral obligation.This tragedy brings the number of PRCS staff and volunteers killed in the line of duty to 30 in Gaza and 2 in the West Bank since the beginning of the conflict in October 2023.For more information, please contact: [email protected] Beirut:Mey Al Sayegh, +961 761 744 68 In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 43 67Scott Craig, +41 76 370 35 75

Surviving the storm: Just more than two months after a deadly cyclone in Sri Lanka, volunteers continue to help people restart their lives

The Colombian Red Cross has assisted in the return of over 5,300 people so far in 2025 as part of its National Migration Strategy

Today, on International Migrants Day, we honour the journeys, dignity and resilience of those who move, as well as the humanity behind every act of welcome.The Colombian Red Cross demonstrates this commitment every week in its auxiliary role, when its staff and volunteers support Colombians returning on flights from the United States.What started as an unexpected request has evolved into a well-organised, compassionate and deeply humane response centred on protection, active listening and adaptability.As of 16 December 2025, the Colombian Red Cross has assisted 5,334 people arriving on 47 flights operated by the Colombian Air Force to El Dorado Airport, thanks to support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF).The first step: facing the unknownElizabeth Becerra, leader of the Colombian Red Cross migration team, recalls the chaos of those first few hours:“When we received the call from the Foreign Ministry the night before the flight arrived, we immediately activated the preparation process together with the different mission areas of our National Society,” she recalls. “Although we were facing an unknown scenario, our staff and volunteers arrived with a clear mission: to assist our fellow citizens with compassion and dedication. Some accompanied children, while others provided psychosocial support, shared a hot meal or provided primary healthcare, once again demonstrating the humanitarian commitment that characterises us.”That first night marked the start of a learning journey that has led to a response grounded in the principles of humanity, impartiality, and profound respect for people's rights.As the flights continued, support increased. Volunteers brought colours, plasticine and open hearts to welcome those returning home.Then, at the request of the Foreign Ministry, teams began accompanying people on their journey home and providing care during the flight. They listened to stories for over five hours, bearing witness to moments of catharsis and relief, and adapted each service to meet people's individual needs.“The children told us about events they had experienced months earlier. For them, it was reassuring to be on a plane that would take them home,” explains Elizabeth.As they got to know and understand the needs and preferences of the migrants, the team adapted their response. A hot empanada or a ponimalta became more than just food — they were a symbol of a warm welcome home.“The faces are etched in your memory when you give someone an empanada, they look at it, look at you, and start crying. It's strange for you because it's just an empanada, but for someone who has gone through this process, it's a psychosocial empanada; it's food that makes them feel at home,” says Fabiana Parra, Project Officer at the Colombian Red Cross.Expanding the scope: support from IFRC-DREF“We then realised that we needed both an air and a ground response. So we started looking for resources and deployed even more,”Elizabeth explains.That's when the support of the IFRC network came into play. Thanks to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF), the Colombian Red Cross was able to increase its on-the-ground assistance, providing hydration, food, legal guidance, psychosocial support, personalised care, safe shelter and the simple yet powerful gesture of asking, "Would you like some coffee? How would you like it?” Because dignity begins with choice."It's impossible not to be moved when you see their faces as they enter the accommodation service. After so much uncertainty and exhaustion, it's almost unimaginable for many to be able to rest in a clean bed in a quiet room with privacy and choose from a buffet breakfast,” says Elizabeth. “In those small gestures, they feel they can finally breathe. For them, it's like touching the sky.”“This humanitarian response has transformed the way we understand our daily work. We have witnessed hugs that had been years in the making, parents and children being reunited after long periods of silence” Elizabeth continues.“We have accompanied families who arrive at the airport on flight after flight, clinging to the hope of hearing news from their loved ones, with our hearts in our hands. Amidst all these stories, we have also felt how love can bridge distances through a simple phone call, bringing comfort, relief and dignity to those who need it most.”National Migration Strategy 2024–2030The immediate response work at El Dorado Airport is just one visible sign of a deeper commitment.In line with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement's Global Migration Strategy, the Colombian Red Cross formalised its National Migration Strategy 2024–2030 in 2024. This long-term, rights-based framework recognises migration as a human right, committing the institution to providing multisectoral, humane and inclusive support throughout the country.The strategy strengthens protection pathways, expands access to healthcare, integrates legal and psychosocial support, promotes social inclusion and reinforces humanitarian diplomacy and coordination with local, national and international authorities."Everyone has been involved in this process, from our managers to those who support us in administrative areas and the mission teams,” explains Elizabeth. “It has been deeply meaningful to see how, even from behind a desk, humanity can be transformed into a concrete response for our fellow citizens. That is priceless.”Every Thursday over the past year, as the flights arrive, Red Cross teams have encountered people who are exhausted and emotionally drained. The following morning, after resting, showering and eating a hot meal, the teams see renewed faces, reunited families and people who feel at home again.

Where art meets education, resilience grows

Forced to flee, compelled to help: They were living normal lives as students, volunteers and neighbours until conflict forced them to leave all behind. But these dedicated Sudanese volunteers are still helping others.

Message on World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day

Every day, in communities around the world, the Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff choose to stand on the side of humanity. On this 8 May, we pay tribute to their unwavering dedication – to the communities they serve, the principles they uphold, and the people they assist and protect.This year’s World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day comes at a time of profound change and increasing complexity in the humanitarian landscape. Around the world, Red Cross and Red Crescent teams are working in environments where access is limited, needs are rising, and the rules designed to protect civilians and humanitarian workers are too often ignored. From armed conflicts to disasters and health emergencies, the challenges are immense. Polarization and mistrust are deepening in many places, making our principled humanitarian action more important than ever.In a divided world, our Movement brings people together in the name of humanity. Even in the most challenging conditions, our Movement continues to act. Humanity is our collective compass. Our independence, neutrality, and impartiality remain essential to ensure we can stand with those in need.To stand on the side of humanity also means standing with those who make humanitarian action possible. Volunteers and staff, often from the very communities affected, are at the heart of our Movement’s reach and impact. It is through their daily presence, perseverance, and compassion that we can respond swiftly, build trust, and remain alongside people in crisis. Despite the uncertainty, despite the obstacles, they continue to show up – donning their vests, offering care, and upholding our shared humanitarian mission.We also pause to remember and honour the 10 colleagues we have lost already this year, following the loss of 38 colleagues from the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement who were killed in the line of duty in 2024. Many of them were deliberately targeted – a tragic reminder that even our emblems, protected under the Geneva Conventions, are too often disregarded. Their loss is felt deeply by their loved ones, communities, and teams they leave behind. We honour their memory not only with words, but with continued action. Together, we are steadfast in our commitment to protect humanitarian workers and to call on parties to conflict to respect international humanitarian law.Across the world, in the face of conflicts, disasters, and crises, our Movement is able to reach people because of who we are: the world’s largest humanitarian network anchored in local action. Our volunteers and staff come from the very communities they serve. They bring knowledge, trust, and presence – and a deep commitment to humanitarian values that transcend borders. It is this solidarity and shared purpose that enables our Movement to respond, to remain, and to stand alongside people in their most difficult moments. Humanity. Impartiality. Neutrality. Independence. Voluntary Service. Unity. Universality. As we look toward the 60th anniversary of the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, we recommit to them – not as abstract ideals, but as the foundation of everything we do, grounded in compassion, dignity, and hope.And to the volunteers and staff who bring these principles to life each day – who carry forward our mission with courage, empathy, and resolve – we offer our deepest gratitude.On this World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, we raise our voices together as one global family to say: we remain, always, on the side of humanity.Kate ForbesIFRC PresidentMercedes BabéStanding Commission ChairMirjana SpoljaricICRC President

World Health Day 2026: How quick local action helped a small community in Nepal beat back Cholera

In late October 2025, the quiet rhythm of life in Ward 5 of Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality, was abruptly broken. Families in this remote corner of Nepal’s Saptari District began rushing loved ones to the nearest health post as a sudden wave of Cholera swept through the settlement.Within days, three lives were lost: a young child, a toddler, and an elderly grandparent. For a small, marginalised community already living on the edge, the losses felt unbearable.“We didn’t understand what was happening,” one mother later shared with Red Cross teams. “We only knew our children were getting sick, and so fast.”Most families here depend on nearby ponds and rivers for drinking, cooking, and washing. Those same waters carried invisible dangers.With open defecation widespreadand no proper sanitation facilities, contamination was unavoidable. Illness was common. Reporting it was not.This time, the consequences were devastating. Yet in the midst of this chaos, something powerful began to unfold communities began to reach for one another.When every hour mattersAs cases rose, frontline health workers quickly recognized the signs of cholera. Their swift action set off a chain of alerts that travelled from village lanes to Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), led by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD).Several months earlier, the EDCD had deployed rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for cholera provided by Gavi. To ensure their effective use for surveillance, a project hosted by the IFRC (the Country Support Platform - Global Task Force on Cholera Control) supported nationwide training of health professionals on the use of cholera RDT kits.This meant that the community got a quick answer what disease they were confronting.For families who had already watched loved ones die, the diagnosis brought both fear and clarity. This time, though, they were not facing it alone. Within days, health authorities, local officials, and humanitarian partners were on the ground.Drawing on the lessons from the cholera outbreak in Birgunj, a neighboring community, just months earlier, the response was very rapid. (The Birguni response was supported in part by funding from the IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund, or IFRC-DREF).In Chhinnamasta, action began within 3–4 days, an achievement rooted not in only in epidemic response systems, but in people: the health worker who raised the alarm, the laboratory teams who worked through the night, the volunteers who went house to house to warn neighbours.While the response in Chhinamasta did not come directly under the Nepal Red Cross response funded by IFRC-DREF, it did benefit from the experiences and lessons learnt from other recent IFRC-DREF operations in Birgunj and other municipalities.Partnerships grounded in trustWhen EDCD asked for support, Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) volunteers became the bridge between institutions and families. They knew the settlements. They knew the languages. Most importantly, families trusted them.Provincial and local health offices, including health posts and hospitals, worked in close coordination. They rapidly convened emergency meetings, clarified roles, addressed logistical gaps, and mobilizied resources for an effective response.These partnerships weren’t abstract. They took concrete shape as health workers held urgent planning meetings under a single light bulb in the district office, or asneighbours helpied Red Cross teams navigate the narrow footpaths between homes.Bringing care to the heart of the communityOne of the turning points came when an Oral Rehydration Point (ORP) was opened right inside the affected settlement. Instead of walking long distances to seek help and losing precious time, families now have life-saving care just steps away.Parents arrived carrying children. Elderly people were supported by neighbours holding their arms. More than 1,200 people received immediate care.At the same time, 31 health workers received management training on cholera cases. These were the same nurses and health assistants who had known these families for years. Strengthening their skills meant strengthening the entire community’s resilience.Protecting families in their daily livesBecause cholera thrives where water is unsafe, families had to be protected not only in clinics, but in their kitchens, courtyards, and daily routines. Nepal Red Cross teams and volunteers facilitated settling these in the communities:Teaching families to treat water at homeShowing mothers how to keep drinking water covered and cleanReminding children when and how to wash their handsSharing messages in the languages people spoke at homeFM radio announcements and e-rickshaw loudspeakers carried urgent messages through the villagesEvery visit, every conversation, helped calm fears and rebuild confidence.A strong collaboration“I am amazed by how the Red Cross works from the central level right down to our communities,” said Dr. Mukesh Poudel, Chief of the Outbreak Section at EDCD. “I look forward to collaborating not only on cholera but also on other public health priorities.”Brahmadev Yadav from the Nepal Red Cross Saptari District branch added: “Even with our limited staff, the way EDCD and the IFRC stood with us was extraordinary. We were recognized and appreciated by local authorities.”Stronger than beforeStopping the outbreak was only the beginning. What happened in Saptari pushed everyone: health officials, responders, and families, to think beyond the emergency. New plans are now in motion to:Formalize partnership agreements between EDCD and the IFRCPrioritize preparedness for other epidemics.The experience in Saptari showed that with rapid detection, coordinated action, community engagement, and strong partnerships, even resilient communities can withstand deadly outbreaks and emerge stronger for the future."With its strong volunteer network and close coordination with government counterparts, the Nepal Red Cross Society continues to play a vital role in the cholera response,“ said Bal Krishna Sedai, acting director of the Nepal Red Cross Society.“In its auxiliary role to public authorities, the National Society stands ready to intensify efforts to contain the outbreak, strengthen community engagement, and build resilience.We call on all partners, donors, and stakeholders to act together to implement the National Cholera Elimination Plan to preventfuture outbreaks.”

Forced to move: Communities stand together across Benin

New Red Vest podcast episode: 'Quiet strength' – Three years of conflict in Sudan have forced millions from their homes. While the crisis gets little outside attention, the people of Sudan persevere.