Fundamental Principles
The Fundamental Principlesexpress the values and practices of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. They have served as both a guide for action and a common identity for our Movement for over 50 years, and are written in the Statutes of the Movement.
Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine
The Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine was a publication and storytelling hub run by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement from 1986 to 2023. The Magazine uncovered powerful stories of disasters, climate change, health emergencies and conflict, as told by people around the world.
DREF Council
Our Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF)has enabled National Societiesto deliver fast and effective humanitarian assistance, in response to and anticipation of crises, for 35 years. As we continue to grow and improve the Fund, the IFRC has set up a DREF Council to advise on its development and make sure it remains relevant to donors and to the people it supports.
Green response
Climate and environmental crises threaten the survival of humanity now and in the future. We must do our part to ensure that our humanitarian response and recovery operations do not cause harm to local environments, and to minimize the contribution we make to further climate change.
Media hub
The IFRC media team is available 24/7 for the latest updates on disasters and emergencies. We can also provide experts and comment on the world’s biggest humanitarian issues.For media enquiries, please contact us [email protected]
World Health Day 2024
Everyone, everywhere should have access to good health care and the basic ingredients to a healthy life. The theme of World Health Day in 2024 is 'My Health, My Right', and we could not agree more. Access to health care is a basic human right. My health, my right also means a healthy environment, safe food and water, and strong community readiness for emergencies and epidemics. Sadly, access to those basic ingredients are under threat, due to conflict, climate events, natural calamity and extreme poverty. We invite you to join our ongoing efforts to help people around the world access this most basic of human rights.
Mental health and psychosocial support
Disasters and emergencies take an immense toll not only on people’s physical health, but on their mental health and wellbeing too. Addressing global mental health and psychosocial needs is a vital part of the IFRC’s work supporting healthy communities.
Learn with us
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) offers a wealth of learning opportunities and resources to our National Societies, volunteers, partners and the general public. Discover them below.
World Immunization Week
Humanly Possible. This is theme of World Immunization Week 2024. Humanly Possible is a testament to what can be achieve when humanity works together for a better future. Since the latter half of the 20th Century, coordinated, global immunization campaigns have saved millions of lives. Humanly Possible also reflects our continued commitment to ensure that every community has access to the vaccines and information they need for a healthy future, free from unnecessary illnesses and deaths.
Communicable diseases
Communicable diseases are diseases that spread from person to person or from animals to humans. Learn about various communicable diseases below and about what the IFRC and our National Societies do to keep communities around the world healthy.
Malaria
Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease transmitted by mosquitoes.According to the WorldHealthOrganization (WHO), malaria kills more than 619,000 people every year. Pregnant women and children are at highest risk, with an estimated two thirds of malaria deaths among children under the age of five.