If you are searching for an appeal document, please visit our dedicated Appeals page. If you are searching for an evaluation of, or research related to, our work, please visit our dedicated Evaluations and research page.
Every year, disasters and crises have devastating impacts on people, communities and entire societies around the world.The IFRC and our 191 National Societies respond to, and workto prevent or lessen the impacts of, all types of crises and disasters. We do so for all people, with a focus on supporting the most vulnerable.Our priorities are to save lives, reduce suffering and uphold human dignity.
Everyone, everywhere has the right to good health. Within their communities, our millions of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are working hard to promote good health, prevent disease, and reduce suffering.
Excellencies,
The human suffering in Gaza is a permanent stain on our shared humanity.
A month since we last met, we face a collective moral failure to forge political and peaceful solutions to end this conflict, release all hostages, protect civilians and civilian infrastructures.
On the ground, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza and the Egyptian Red Crescent across the border work tirelessly to save lives and provide medical aid, food, and relief.
The Egyptian Red Crescent has delivered nearly 3000 trucks of medical, food and relief supplies into Gaza while the Palestinian Red Crescent Society continues to provide emergency health services and coordinate the receipt and delivery of aid.
They are operating under constant severe restrictions and life-threatening danger.
As we sadly know, the Palestine Red Crescent Society just lost another volunteer this week and a staff member was injured.
The IFRC is supporting these efforts.
In partnership with ECHO, we have delivered 890 tons of supplies through our humanitarian air bridge for Gaza.
Let’s be unequivocal--no amount of humanitarian assistance or funding alone will stop the destruction of Gaza and its people without protection and a political solution.
In this darkest hour, we call on you to turn these urgent asks into powerful actions:
De-escalation - Prioritize concrete solutions to stop the bloodshed and establish lasting peace. This will allow scaling up of aid efforts so that hospitals, ambulances, water facilities, and waste management can function.
Protection- Ensure neutral, independent humanitarian action with full respect of international humanitarian law.
Protect civilians and healthcare workers.
Access - Grant unhindered and safe access to reach all parts of Gaza.
Thank you.
Armed violence in the Sahel region of northern Africa is causing the displacement of tens of thousands of people seeking safety and security, including into the Savanes region of Togo. Throughout 2023, the number of displaced persons in the Savanes region has continued to grow, from just a few thousand in January to nearly 60,000 by September. The IFRC and its membership seek CHF 6 million (CHF 4 million of which to be raised by the IFRC Secretariat) to support the Togolese Red Cross reach 58,000 people in need.
We are deeply alarmed to hear that the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) teams at the Al-Quds hospital have again this morning been told to immediately evacuate the hospital. Hospitals are places of help and refuge; they must be protected at all cost.
PRCS’s Al-Quds hospital in Gaza city is caring for hundreds of injured people and bed-ridden, long-term patients. Evacuating patients, including those in intensive care, on life-support and babies in incubators, is close to, if not impossible in the current situation. Our teams also report violent attacks and shelling very close to the hospital further endangering people. Al-Quds Hospital is operated by PRCS, a component of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and together with other medical missions and facilities are protected under international humanitarian law.
We are deeply concerned about the safety of patients, health care workers and the thousands who have taken refuge in Al-Quds Hospital. Healthcare workers should never be put in front of the impossible dilemma of leaving patients behind or risking their lives staying in the hospital.
In the past weeks, we have again and again called for the protection of civilians, hospitals and health care workers. This is not just a moral obligation but also a legal imperative. We urge everyone to exercise restraint and adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law. There is an urgent need to deescalate to save lives, including by ensuring that hospitals can safely operate and allowing for an unhindered, continuous flow of critical humanitarian aid into Gaza.
We cannot stress this further. Civilian lives must be protected. Hospitals, doctors and nurses must be protected. We must preserve humanity.
Port Vila/Kuala Lumpur/Geneva,26October 2023– Thousands of people have been greatly affectedby the recent Category 5 Cyclone Lola in Vanuatu.Making landfall on 25 October2023, the cyclone hasleft a path of destruction with damage to houses,schools, infrastructure, plantations,and roads – making some of the mostaffected communitiescurrently inaccessible to outside assistance. The devastationleft by the cyclone is immense,especially in the northern provinces of the country. Connectivity to theseprovinces–where the cyclone’s most destructive winds were felt at Category 5-remains down.
Lola- thethird cyclone for the country in seven months, has meant that communities only just beginning to recover from the twin cyclones, Judyand Kevin, are now reeling in the wake of theircompounded impact.
Vanuatu Red Cross Society Secretary General, Dickinson Tevi, said:
"From the information we have gathered, we believe some communities have suffered moredamagethan from Cyclone Harold in 2020, which was also a Category 5. The only difference is that Lola was very slow-moving - which meant more destructionin some places.
Our Red Cross volunteers are part of these communities and are already in action.An initialrapid assessment in Torba, for example, came within hours of the cyclone passing yesterday.We are ready to be mobilized into othercommunitiesonce we cangain access.
Our priority right now is to reach the worst affected areas with immediate reliefitems. Some of the reports coming back highlight the immediate need for temporary shelter. Some families have lost everything."
Vanuatu Red Cross Society is ready to distribute immediate pre-positioned relief items such as tarpaulins for shelter, hygiene kits for washing and cleaning, solar lanterns, mosquito nets and cooking items.
Head of the IFRC Pacific Office, Katie Greenwood, said:
"IFRC, together with Vanuatu Red Cross, has all hands-on deck, ready to mobilize support to Vanuatu Red Crossin whatever way is required.
It is great to see, as bad as the damage appears to be, that preparedness and early warnings once again saved lives.Our local Red Cross teamsare acting asswiftly as possible, through a coordinated approach with authorities, to reach the most affected people.
One of our greatest concerns,however, is that Cyclone Lola, an out-of-season Category 5 nightmare for the communities of Northern Vanuatu – has just sent an 'Early Warning' shot for this cyclone season to the country and its neighbours in the Blue Pacific. This season will likely have an above-average number of severe tropical cyclones (between 5 to 7) dueto the heightened ferocity that can come with a forecasted 'strong' El Nino event. We are all on notice to prepare for what may lie ahead."
For more information:
To request an interview, contact:[email protected]
In Port Vila:
Soneel Ram:+679 9983 688
In Kuala Lumpur:
AfrhillRances: +60 192 713 641
In Geneva:
Mrinalini Santhanam: +41 76 381 50 06
Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67
Geneva,14 October 2023 – The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movementis appalled to see the human misery that has unfolded over the last week in Israel and Gaza. Civilians - including women and children, the elderly, and the wounded and sick - are currently paying the highest price.
Nothing can justify the horrific loss of civilian lives in Israel last weekend. Our hearts go out to people who lost family members or are anxiously awaiting news about their missing loved ones, which they should receive without delay.But such tragedy cannot in turn justify the limitless destruction of Gaza.
We are deeply alarmed by the call for relocation in Gaza. Our volunteers refuse to leave and abandon those who need them most. They must be protected so that they can protect others.
Human suffering is happening on all sides. And it is always devastating. The death of a son or daughter, a sibling, a parent, is a human tragedy no matter where it happens or who it happens to. Civilian life must be protected on all sides.
In international humanitarian law – the law of armed conflict – there is no hierarchy in pain and suffering. These rules exist to help preserve humanity in the darkest moments, and they desperately need to be followed today. They are and should remain our compass to ensure that we put humanity first.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society and The Magen David Adom in Israel have been working around the clock to provide critical assistance, including ambulance and health services, to those affected. Their staff and volunteers are risking their lives every day to save others. Just this week, we have lost colleagues from both National Societies, who were killed in the line of duty, carrying out life-saving humanitarian work. This is a tragic reminder of the dangers humanitarian and medical workers face and we offer our deepest condolences to their families, friends and colleagues. We reiterate our call that humanitarian workers must be protected.
The Movement is committed to continuing to provide protection and life-saving relief to the people suffering the horrors of the ongoing violence. To do so, our teams need to be able to operate safely. Humanitarian organizations must be given the access to do their work to alleviate the growing human suffering.
The needs are staggering and will only continue to increase if the hostilities persist. We call on all parties to exercise restraint, to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, and to protect civilians – which must remain at the core of everything we do.
Russian
Совместное заявление Джагана Чапагайна, генерального секретаря Международной Федерации обществ Красного Креста и Красного Полумесяца, и Роберта Мардини, генерального директора Международного Комитета Красного Креста, в связи с эскалацией военных действий в Израиле и секторе Газа.
14 октября 2023 г.
Женева – Международное движение Красного Креста и Красного Полумесяца потрясено человеческими страданиями, захлестнувшими в прошедшую неделю Израиль и сектор Газа. Самую высокую цену сейчас платит гражданское население — в том числе женщины и дети, старики, раненые и больные.
Ничто не может оправдать чудовищные потери среди мирных жителей в Израиле в прошлые выходные. Мы от всей души сочувствуем тем, кто потерял родных или с тревогой ждет известий о пропавших без вести близких — известий, которые они должны получить без промедления. Однако эта трагедия не может в свою очередь служить оправданием безоглядному разрушению Газы.
Мы глубоко обеспокоены призывом к перемещению населения Газы. Наши добровольцы отказываются уезжать и бросать тех, кто больше всего в них нуждается. Им нужна защита, чтобы они могли защищать других.
Люди страдают одинаково, к какой бы стороне они ни принадлежали. Их горе всегда мучительно. Смерть сына или дочери, брата или сестры, отца или матери — всегда трагедия, где бы и с кем бы она ни происходила. Защитой должна пользоваться жизнь гражданских лиц всех сторон.
В международном гуманитарном праве — праве вооруженных конфликтов — не существует иерархии боли и страданий. Эти нормы созданы, чтобы помочь людям сохранять человечность в самые мрачные времена, и сегодня их крайне необходимо соблюдать. Мы должны сейчас и впредь руководствоваться ими, чтобы гуманность всегда оставалась на первом месте.
Палестинское общество Красного Полумесяца и израильское общество «Маген Давид Адом», включая их службы скорой помощи, работают сутками напролет, оказывая пострадавшим незаменимую помощь, медицинскую и иную. Их сотрудники и добровольцы каждый день рискуют жизнью для спасения других. На одной только этой неделе мы потеряли коллег из обоих национальных обществ — они были убиты при исполнении своих обязанностей, в ходе гуманитарной работы по спасению людей. Это трагическое напоминание об опасностях, которым подвергаются гуманитарные и медицинские работники, и мы приносим глубочайшие соболезнования их семьям, друзьям и коллегам. Мы вновь повторяем свой призыв защищать гуманитарных работников.
Движение полно решимости и дальше предоставлять защиту и спасительную помощь людям, переживающим ужасы неослабевающего насилия. Для этого нам нужна возможность действовать в безопасности. Гуманитарным организациям должен быть предоставлен соответствующий доступ, чтобы они могли делать свою работу, облегчая растущие человеческие страдания.
Потребности людей огромны и будут только расти, если военные действия не прекратятся. Мы призываем все стороны проявлять сдержанность, соблюдать свои обязательства по международному гуманитарному праву и защищать гражданских лиц, о которых мы всегда должны заботиться в первую очередь.
In the last two years, villages like Cheplewa in the southewestern county of Bomet have witnessed a significant increase in diseases such as Cholera and Hepatitis B — two diseases triggered by consumption of contaminated water.
To ensure comprehensive protection of water sources, the Kenya Red Cross and the IFRC have mobilized to educate communities on measures they can take to protect natural springs from contamination and then ensure that they remain clean.
Springs serve as the main source of water in this region but it’s common practice for animals to be taken to the springs to drink. Meanwhile, residents also come to the spring and scoop the same water for domestic use.
Chebett, a community health worker trained by the Kenya Red Cross, believes the lack of springs in neighboring villages accelerated the increase in Cholera cases. In the previous months, those villages also experienced an outbreak of Hepatitis B.
A massive checkup
”At the time of screening and sensitizing communities about Covid-19, and about the importance of getting vaccinated, some people were diagnosed with Hepatitis B”, Chebett said. “We reported this to the Ministry of Health and they called for a massive checkup”.
That checkup included community-wide screenings for Hepatitus B as well as continued sensitization on sanitation practices. Those found to be negative for Hepatitus B were vaccinated, while positive cases were given drug treatments.
After several months, medical personnel from the Cheplewa dispensary embarked on another massive screening and vaccination, with the aim of eradicating the Hepatitis B virus in the area.
But complete eradication became difficult because the Hepatitis B vaccine is given in two doses. Some community members took the first dose, but did not return. It was not long before symptoms — such as non-stop talking or speaking incoherently — began to appear. Mass screening is still ongoing to hasten the identification of new cases.
The efforts come as part of IFRC’s focus on working with communities to build their resilience and support to break the cycle of disaster impacts amidst the changing climate. In the Horn of Africa, the alternating weather patterns have continued to cause drought and flooding, impacting water sources, livelihoods and food security. All these factors leave people more vulnerable to infectious diseases.
Erasing fear by engaging communities
Chebett said that when speaking with community members, she tells them that springs must be protected and the area kept clean. To avoid contamination of the water, communities were encouraged to build underground water tanks to collect spring water. Water taps were then installed next to these tanks at a distance of 10 meters. Community members were involved in the construction of the underground tanks.
Though the spring water flowing through the taps is now clean, families were encouraged to boil the water used for drinking and cooking and store it in clean containers, and to keep the containers closed. Water pans for animals to drink were also created.
Improved hygiene through education
Because this area is between two hills, rainwater flowing down the hills also carries debris. Those who drink the water before boiling it could suffer from Acute Water Diarrhhoea. This led some families and community members to claim that the water had been poisoned and so they stopped drinking water altogether.
But, after receiving information from community health workers who were trained by the Kenya Red Cross, they started boiling water used for drinking and cooking, and washing their hands before and after eating. The hygiene standards have also generally improved. Every household was encouraged to build a toilet, and to wash their hands after using the toilet.
“The education we give is bearing fruit,” Chebett said of the community engagement efforts, which were made possible through support by USAID funded Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness (CP3) programme.
Geneva/Beirut/Benghazi, 11 October 2023 — One month after devastating floods struck Libya, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Libyan Red Crescent Society (LRCS) are urgently calling for support to meet immediate needs in clean water, sanitation, cash assistance, and crucially, psychosocial support. The floods have wreaked havoc, displaced thousands and straining already fragile infrastructures in regions such as Derna and Tobruk.
The disaster led to overwhelming destruction, with people losing homes, family members, and their sense of security. Libyan Red Crescent Society teams were the first responders, providing vital services from search and rescue to first aid. To date, 450 dedicated volunteers have been actively involved in these efforts, some even losing their lives while saving others.
Tamer Ramadan, IFRC Head of Delegation in Libya, said:
"The emotional and physical toll of this disaster has been immense. While we have been diligent in our immediate response, the recovery process is far from over. Attention must not wane."
In Libya, the focus of aid is not just immediate relief but also long-term recovery. Cultural norms favor financial autonomy; hence cash assistance is essential. Furthermore, with damaged sewerage systems contaminating water sources in Derna, there's a heightened risk to community health. Teams are also focusing on providing holistic psychosocial support, especially given the emotional toll of losing entire families.
The LRCS has been indispensable in relief efforts. With a central emergency operation room in Benghazi and two temporary centers in Derna, their services range from family reunification to relief item distribution. They've supported over 54,000 people through various services to date.
In light of the escalating needs, IFRC has officially launched an appeal for 10 million Swiss francs to support the ongoing efforts of LRCS in providing comprehensive aid and care for survivors. As of now, 3 million Swiss francs have been raised, leaving a crucial 70 percent of funding appeal yet to be met. Donations can be made through participating national societies and directly via the IFRC website.
More information
To fund the emergency appeal and support the people of Libya in their time of dire need, visit the IFRC website.
For b-roll footage, visit the IFRC newsroom.
To request an interview, contact: [email protected]
In Geneva:
Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67
Mrinalini Santhanam: +41 76 381 50 06
In Beirut/Bengazhi:
Mey Alsayegh: +961 3 229 352
“Gargaar” is a local Somali word used in Djibouti to express community solidarity. Evident throughout the country, gargaar means communities are hospitable and welcoming, ready to host and help anyone they encounter.
With fighting and insecurity in neighbouring Ethiopia and Somalia, more people are coming into Djibouti and so gargaar is on full display in many communities across the country. But with the area also going through one of the worst series of successive droughts in history, it’s clear that much more must be done to meet the mounting needs of people hit by the combined impacts of conflict, migration and climate change.
Most travel more than 500 kilometres by foot, some continuing to the Gulf countries such as Yemen and Saudi Arabia across the Red Sea. The arduous and long journey, through harsh heat, across wild terrain and over rough seas, bears a heavy toll on men, women, and children. Many die along the way.
‘By God’s grace we have made it here,” says Fatouma, who came to Chekeyti, in southwestern Djibouti, from Ethiopia with her two young children. She is exhausted and her baby is restless from fatigue. They walked over 600 kilometres in unimaginable heat, through a landscape full of hyenas and snakes, and always in danger of harassment.
“I had no choice; life was unbearable because of the clashes in Afar-Somali region and the lack of food because of drought,” she explains. “I heard life is better and more peaceful in Djibouti. We walked for days. Some days the thirst was unbearable. My children came very close to death. Some of the people we were with did not make it.”
The community in Chekyeti welcomed them to settle and even use their water from a ‘barkaad’ (an underground water reservoir) nearby. When Djibouti Red Crescent in a recent assessment asked the community leader the most vulnerable households to receive cash distribution, they did not hesitate to also nominate the Ethiopian migrants living among them.
This shows how deep rooted gargaar is in Djibouti, despite the host communities being themselves stretched of resources such as food and water. Successive droughts in the last decade means that many Djiboutian pastoralists have lost their livestock and livelihoods and have found themselves internally displaced, impoverished and dependent on humanitarian assistance.
To ‘die trying’
The generosity of strangers therefore can be a critical lifeline and the Djibouti Red Crescent Society (DRCS) plays a critical role, reaching out to people at critical points in their journey when they are most vulnerable.
Young men, some not more than thirteen years old, undertake the journey unaware of the dangers ahead. Family members back in Ethiopia invest all their life savings so these young people can search for a better life. As a result, the migrants cannot bear to turn back and be seen as failures. They often say they would rather ‘die trying’.
The DRCS therefore has endeavored to bring services through mobile units that meet many of these young men, women and children out on the migration routes. Using only one vehicle, a driver and volunteers, the Red Crescent here has assisted more than 7,000 migrants within seven months through first aid, water, energy dry food, family links and psychosocial support.
These mobile units and humanitarian service points offered lifesaving interventions in both the northern and southern parts of Djibouti’s key migration route. Unfortunately, DRCS had to stop this operation due to lack of resources.
“The situation of drought-induced hunger is alarming,” says Amina Houssein, the secretary general of DRCS. “Unemployment and low levels of social protection, along with rising food prices and very low levels of food production means families are likely to go by with just a meal a day.”
“The incidences of floods, high heat, droughts, as well as the prevalence of diseases and shocks have hit rural communities the hardest,” Hussein adds. “Our priority actions have been lifesaving basic needs assistance through multipurpose cash assistance, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene for human and animal consumption.”
Through a Disaster Relief Emergency Fund, or DREF, allocation from IFRC in August, the DRCS has been able to deliver assistance to 45,000 people. But the needs are still enormous. Projections from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification indicate that around 285,000 people, representing 24 percent of the total Djibouti population, will be acutely food insecure, and around 100,000 people will be in emergency food insecurity, by the end of the year. More than 30,000 children under 5 years of age are also expected to face acute malnutrition this year.
Dire need of support
A small National Society of just 37 staff, five branches and some 1,000 volunteers, DRCS is committed to doing the most with its incredibly stretched resources. With availability of funds, DRCS would like to revive its Mobile Humanitarian Service Points assistance to migrants, including those who entered the country outside legal channels.
Such “irregular migrants”, as they are often called, face high vulnerability to economic exploitation by smugglers, abuse, physical and/or gender violence, potential for disease transmission, poor humanitarian conditions and loss of life.
But these are not the only challenges the National Society faces. Recent sudden floods, mostly in the highlands of neighbouring Ethiopia, has also displaced more Djiboutians and left some communities completely cut off.
“With the predicted El-Nino set to happen end of the year, we will need more help to mitigate the effects of flooding in this area,” says Mohamed Abass Houmed, governor of the Tadjourah region, which faces high risk of continued flooding. “Our biggest disadvantage is the poor shelter and road network especially in remote communities. In the event of a flood, some already vulnerable communities will be cut off”.
Surviving with cash support and charcoal
As part of its hunger crisis respone, the Djibouti Red Crescent distributed cash to a targeted 1,500 households. In one locality, they were able to do so through mobile money transfers. Meanwhile, families are doing whatever they can to survive. For most, the three rounds of cash distribution, which they used mostly for food and medicine, were not enough.
To adapt to the erratic weather patterns and make ends meet, most communities abandoned pastoralism and farming and resorted to charcoal burning. Cutting down of trees for charcoal, however, inadvertently worsens conditions and increasing their climate risk.
“Ask any community here in Djibouti what is their greatest need — you will get a resounding call for water,” says DRCS’s Houssein. “With the availability of funds, we at DRCS would additionally like to support communities through water rehabilitation projects, as well as tree planting as a mitigation measure for future climatic shocks.”
Geneva/Beirut/Marrakesh, 6 October 2023: Nearly one month since the devastating earthquake in Morocco, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) highlights urgent humanitarian needs as winter approaches. Immediate requirements include warm shelter for those who have lost or incurred damage to their homes and crucial hygiene infrastructure like latrines and showers.
From the start, the Moroccan Red Crescent Society has been on the ground. Together with IFRC support, the teams are closely collaborating with local authorities to assess needs and deliver assistance. Active in the four most impacted provinces—Taroudant, Marrakech, Chichawa, and Al Haouz—the Moroccan Red Crescent currently has hundreds of volunteers engaged, providing relief items and psychosocial support. One month into the response, the need to scale up shelter and sanitation efforts remains critical.
To date, the Moroccan Red Crescent, supported by the IFRC, have reached over 50,000 people. More than 290 volunteers have been deployed across affected provinces. They have supported search and rescue operations, organized medical caravans and established makeshift medical tents. The teams have also conducted blood donation drives and offered psychosocial support to affected people, even in the most remote villages.
Gwendolen Eamer, Head of Emergency Operations for the IFRC, said:
"The earthquake has devastated thousands of families, exposing them to harsh conditions. Our teams are working tirelessly, but the scale of the need is overwhelming, particularly as winter is closing in on the High Atlas Mountains. Time is of the essence. We are racing against the clock to provide insulated shelters and winter essentials. Our appeal targets not just immediate needs but is intended to prepare these communities for a harsh winter and build their resilience for the years to come."
Given the region's high altitude of between 1500-2000 meters, the cold is especially piercing for those without adequate shelter. While initial relief has provided some basic accommodations, the pressing need for insulated shelters and winter provisions is escalating.
Sami Fakhouri, Head of Delegation, Morocco, IFRC, added:
“Coordination with local authorities has been pivotal in sustaining our response efforts. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of these operations, often reaching places others can't. Yet, as winter approaches, some families are worried not just about the cold but about living in dignity and reuniting with their loved ones. We are actively seeking solutions to upgrade or adapt shelters for the winter months. The real test lies ahead, and failing is not an option."
The IFRC Emergency Appeal seeking CHF 100 million to support the Moroccan Red Crescent’s response has been funded up to around CHF 19 million, with a current funding gap of approximately 81%. Continued support and funding are desperately needed to significantly impact those affected, enabling them to rebuild their lives and contribute to local economies.
More information
To fund the emergency appeal and support the people of Morocco in their time of dire need, visit the IFRC website.
For b-roll footage, visit the IFRC newsroom.
To request an interview, contact: [email protected]
In Geneva:
Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67
Mrinalini Santhanam: +41 76 381 50 06
In Beirut:
Mey Alsayegh: +961 3 229 352
This statement is available in English and in Belarusian, Russian and Ukrainian below.
Geneva, 3 October 2023– The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) investigation found that the current Belarus Red Cross Secretary General breached Red Cross Red Crescent Fundamental Principles, misused the emblem, and breached the IFRC integrity policy.
The IFRC’s Compliance and Mediation Committee (CMC) performed an investigation into the allegations related to the Belarus Red Cross Secretary General’s statements, including on nuclear weapons and on the movement of children to Belarus, and his visit to Luhansk and Donetsk.
The IFRC Governing Board endorsed the CMC findings and recommendations, and sanctioned Mr Dmitry Shevtsov, Secretary General of Belarus Red Cross, due to him having acted in breach of the Integrity Policy, by preventing him from holding any governance positions in the IFRC until further notice.
The Governing Board also called for the following:
On the Belarus Red Cross to dismiss Mr Dmitry Shevtsov, the current Secretary General, by 30 November 2023.
For the suspension of any new partnership and funding to the Belarus Red Cross, if the National Society does not comply with the decision of the Governing Board by 30 November 2023, asking the other components of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement to do the same.
Although there was a lack of access to Luhansk and Donetsk, the investigation still found that the movement of children from these territories to Belarus was led by another organization, and not by the Belarus Red Cross, nor funded by the IFRC. The investigation found that the Belarus Red Cross’ involvement in activities with children is focused inside Belarus, supporting people displaced by conflict.
The Belarus Red Cross needs to comply with these decisions by 30 November 2023. This gives the Belarus Red Cross the time to comply with its internal rules and call for its Congress to take the requested actions. If the Belarus Red Cross does not take the necessary actions to remove the current Secretary General, its membership rights will be suspended automatically on 30 November 2023. At that point, any new funding will be suspended until the removal of the current Belarus Red Cross Secretary General as he was found to be solely responsible for all the allegations: his actions were carried out alone and not with the agreement of the National Society.
If suspended from membership status, the Belarus Red Cross will lose its rights as a member of the IFRC. Funding through the Belarus Red Cross will be suspended, and the Belarus Red Cross will not be able to participate in the General Assembly of the IFRC, vote or be elected in any IFRC statutory meeting.
Neutrality is critical in every context, even more so during an international armed conflict: the IFRC cannot accept any politicization or manipulation of its humanitarian activities. Every National Red Cross Red Crescent Society needs to follow the Fundamental Principles and be far from every political action. This makes the difference between life and death for many.
Neutrality and integrity are essential to the delivery of the IFRC’s mission, which is why as the world’s largest humanitarian network we have protocols in place to sanction individuals and National Societies who do not live up to these principles. Though rare, these decisions ultimately make this mission stronger.
In the case of suspension of membership, the suspension will be revoked by the Governing Board and the Belarus Red Cross will be reinstated immediately to the IFRC, and funds will be released, after the removal of the current Secretary General that would indicate the distancing of the National Society from his actions.
The IFRC’s commitment to Belarus remains strong. The IFRC will help develop a transition plan to ensure that services to vulnerable communities do not suffer.
Belarus Red Cross volunteers work tirelessly to help communities prepare for and respond to crises. IFRC is hopeful that this decision will help them move forward in delivering our mission.
The IFRC remains committed to supporting a strong and vibrant Belarus Red Cross—and encourages Belarus Red Cross volunteers, staff and members to remain engaged in their National Society.
--
Belarusian
МФТЧКіЧП апублублікавала вынікі расследавання дзейнасці Генеральнага сакратара Беларускага Чырвонага Крыжа. Заклік да адстаўкі.
Жэнева, 3 кастрычніка 2023. Расследаванне Міжнароднай Федэрацыі таварыстваў Чырвонага Крыжа і Чырвонага Паўмесяца (МФТЧКіЧП) паказала, што дзеючы Генеральны сакратар Беларускага Чырвонага Крыжа парушыў Асноўныя прынцыпы Руху Чырвонага Крыжа і Чырвонага Паўмесяца, правілы выкарыстання яго эмблем і Палітыку добрасумленнасці МФТЧКіЧП.
Камітэт па выкананні прававых нормаў і пасярэдніцтве МФТЧКіЧП правёў расследаванне абвінавачанняў, выкліканых афіцыйнымі заявамі Генеральнага сакратара Беларускага Чырвонага Крыжа, у тым ліку аб ядзернай зброі і перамяшчэнні дзяцей у Беларусь, а таксама ў сувязі з яго візітам у Луганск і Данецк.
Праўленне МФТЧКіЧП падтрымала высновы і рэкамендацыі Камітэта па выкананні прававых нормаў і пасярэдніцтве і, у сувязі з парушэннем Генеральным сакрактаром Беларускага Чырвонага Крыжа Дзмітрыем Шаўцовым Палітыкі добрасумленнасці, падвергнула апошняга абмежавальным мерам, забаранiўшы яму займаць якія-небудзь кіруючыя пасады ў МФТЧКіЧП да далейшага апавяшчэння.
Праўленне таксама заклікае:
Беларускі Чырвоны Крыж вызваліць Генеральнага сакратара Дзмітрыя Шаўцова ад займаемай пасады не пазней за 30 лістапада 2023 года.
Устрымацца ад новых партнёрскіх абавязацельстваў у дачыненні да Беларускага Чырвонага Крыжа, у тым ліку фінансавання, у выпадку, калі Нацыянальнае Таварыства не выканае рашэнне Праўлення да 30 лістапада 2023 года. Праўленне звяртаецца да іншых кампанентаў Руху Чырвонага Крыжа і Чырвонага Паўмесяца з просьбай зрабіць тое ж самае.
Нягледзячы на адсутнасць доступу ў Луганск і Данецк, у выніку расследавання было ўстаноўлена, што перамяшчэнне дзяцей з гэтых тэрыторый у Беларусь ажыццяўлялася не Беларускім Чырвоным Крыжом, а іншай арганізацыяй, а таксама не фінансавалася МФТЧКіЧП. У ходзе расследавання было ўстаноўлена, што ўдзел Беларускага Чырвонага Крыжа ў дзейнасці з дзецьмі засяроджаны ўнутры краіны і накіраваны на падтрымку людзей, перамешчаных у выніку канфлікту.
Беларускі Чырвоны Крыж павінен выканаць гэтыя рашэнні да 30 лістапада 2023 года. Дадзеная ўмова дае Беларускаму Чырвонаму Крыжу час выканаць унутраныя правілы і звярнуцца да З'езду Беларускага Чырвонага Крыжа з просьбай прыняць патрабаваныя меры. Калі Беларускі Чырвоны Крыж не прыме неабходных дзеянняў для адхілення дзеючага Генеральнага сакратара, членскія правы Нацыянальнага таварыства будуць аўтаматычна прыпынены 30 лістапада 2023 года. Пасля гэтага любое новае фінансаванне не будзе прадастаўляцца да моманту адхілення ад пасады дзейнага Генеральнага сакратара Беларускага Чырвонага Крыжа, паколькі было ўстаноўлена, што ён нясе поўную адказнасць за ўсе абвінавачанні. Яго дзеянні ажыццяўляліся аднаасобна і без узгаднення з Нацыянальным таварыствам.
У выпадку прыпынення членства Беларускі Чырвоны Крыж страціць свае правы як член МФТЧКіЧП. Фінансаванне праз Беларускі Чырвоны Крыж будзе прыпынена і Нацыянальнае таварыства не зможа ўдзельнічаць у Генеральнай Асамблеі МФТЧКіЧП, галасаваць або быць абраным на любой статутнай нарадзе МФТЧКіЧП.
Нейтральнасць вельмі важная ў любым кантэксце; асаблівую важнасць яна набывае ва ўмовах міжнароднага ўзброенага канфлікту. МФТЧКіЧП не можа мірыцца з палітызацыяй ці маніпуляваннем гуманітарнай дзейнасцю. Кожнае Нацыянальнае таварыства Чырвонага Крыжа і Чырвонага Паўмесяца павінна прытрымлівацца Асноўных прынцыпаў і захоўваць дыстанцыю ад палітычных дзеянняў. Ад гэтага залежаць жыцці шматлікіх людзей.
Нейтральнасць і добрасумленнасць з'яўляюцца найважнейшымі ўмовамі выканання місіі МФТЧКіЧП. Таму, будучы найбуйнейшай у свеце гуманітарнай арганізацыяй, МФТЧКіЧП мае пратаколы, якія прадугледжваюць санкцыі ў дачыненні да асобных асоб і Нацыянальных таварыстваў, якія не выконваюць такія прынцыпы. Няхай такія рашэнні і прымаюцца рэдка, мы перакананыя, што ў канчатковым выніку яны робяць нашу місію мацнейшай.
У выпадку прыпынення членства, пасля адхілення дзеючага Генеральнага сакратара, якое сведчыць аб дыстанцыяванні Нацыянальнага таварыства ад дзеянняў апошняга, Беларускі Чырвоны Крыж будзе зноў неадкладна прыняты ў МФТЧКіЧП.
У выпадку прыпынення членства прыпыненне будзе адменена Праўленнем, і членства Беларускага Чырвонага Крыжа будзе неадкладна адноўлена ў МФТЧКіЧП, а таксама будуць выдзелены сродкі, пасля адхілення дзейнага Генеральнага сакратара, што будзе сведчыць аб дыстанцыяванні Нацыянальнага таварыства ад яго дзеянняў.
Прыхільнасць МФТЧКіЧП Беларусі застаецца цвёрдай. МФТЧКіЧП дапаможа распрацаваць план дзеянняў на пераходны перыяд, каб не дапусціць пагаршэння паслуг, якія прадстаўляюцца ўразлівым супольнасцям.
Валанцёры Беларускага Чырвонага Крыжа нястомна працуюць, дапамагаючы насельніцтву рыхтавацца да крызісных сітуацый і рэагаваць на іх. МФТЧКіЧП спадзяецца, што сапраўднае рашэнне дапаможа ім рушыць наперад у выкананні нашай місіі.
МФТЧКіЧП па-ранейшаму адданая падтрымцы моцнага і энергічнага Беларускага Чырвонага Крыжа і заклікае валанцёраў, супрацоўнікаў і членаў Беларускага Чырвонага Крыжа працягваць удзельнічаць у працы свайго Нацыянальнага таварыства.
--
Russian
МФОККиКП обнародовала результаты расследования деятельности Генерального секретаря Белорусского Красного Креста. Призыв к отставке
Женева, 3октября2023г. Расследование Международной Федерации обществ Красного Креста и Красного Полумесяца (МФОККиКП) показало, что действующий Генеральный секретарь Белорусского Красного Креста нарушил Основополагающие принципы Движения Красного Креста и Красного Полумесяца, правила использования его эмблем и Политику добросовестности МФОККиКП.
Комитет по соблюдению правовых норм и посредничеству МФОККиКП провел расследование обвинений, вызванных официальными заявлениями
Генерального секретаря Белорусского Красного Креста, в том числе о ядерном оружии и перемещении детей в Беларусь, а также в связи с его визитом в Луганск и Донецк.
Правление МФОККиКП поддержало выводы и рекомендации Комитета по соблюдению правовых норм и посредничеству и, в связи с нарушением Генеральным секретарем Белорусского Красного Креста Дмитрием Шевцовым Политики добросовестности, подвергло последнего ограничительным мерам, запретив ему занимать какие-либо руководящие должности в МФОККиКП до дальнейшего уведомления.
Правление также призывает:
Белорусский Красный Крест освободить Генерального секретаря Дмитрия Шевцова от занимаемой должности не позднее 30ноября2023года.
Воздержаться от новых партнерских обязательств в отношении Белорусского Красного Креста, включая финансирование, в случае, если Национальное общество не выполнит решение Правления до 30ноября 2023года. Правление обращается к другим компонентам Движения Красного Креста и Красного Полумесяца с просьбой поступить аналогичным образом.
Несмотря на отсутствие доступа в Луганск и Донецк, в результате расследования было установлено, что перемещение детей с данных территорий в Беларусь осуществлялось не Белорусским Красным Крестом, а другой организацией, а также не финансировалось МФОККиКП. В ходе расследования было установлено, что участие Белорусского Красного Креста в работе с детьми сосредоточено внутри страны и направлено на поддержку людей, перемещенных в результате конфликта.
Белорусский Красный Крест должен выполнить настоящие решения до 30ноября 2023года. Данное условие дает Белорусскому Красному Кресту время соблюсти внутренние правила и обратиться к Съезду Белорусского Красного Креста с просьбой принять требуемые меры. Если Белорусский Красный Крест не предпримет необходимых действий для отстранения действующего Генерального секретаря, членские права Национального общества будут автоматически приостановлены 30ноября 2023года. После этого любое новое финансирование не будет предоставляться до момента отстранения от должности действующего Генерального секретаря Белорусского Красного Креста, поскольку было установлено, что он несет полную ответственность за все обвинения. Его действия осуществлялись единолично и без согласования с Национальным обществом.
В случае приостановления членских прав Белорусский Красный Крест перестанет быть членом МФОККиКП. Финансирование через Белорусский Красный Крест будет приостановлено, и Национальное общество не сможет участвовать в Генеральной Ассамблее МФОККиКП, голосовать или быть избранным на любом уставном совещании МФОККиКП.
Нейтральность крайне важна в любом контексте; особую важность она приобретает в условиях международного вооруженного конфликта. МФОККиКП не может мириться с политизацией или манипулированием гуманитарной деятельностью. Каждое Национальное общество Красного Креста и Красного Полумесяца должно следовать Основополагающим принципам и сохранять дистанцию от политических действий. От этого зависят жизни многих людей.
Нейтральность и добросовестность являются важнейшими условиями выполнения миссии МФОККиКП. Поэтому, будучи крупнейшей в мире гуманитарной организацией, в МФОККиКП имеет протоколы, предусматривающие санкции в отношении отдельных лиц и Национальных обществ, не соблюдающих такие принципы. Пусть такие решения и принимаются редко, мы убеждены, что в конечном итоге они делают нашу миссию сильнее.
В случае приостановления членства, после отстранения действующего Генерального секретаря, свидетельствующего о дистанцировании Национального общества от действий последнего, Белорусский Красный Крест будет вновь немедленно принят в МФОККиКП.
Приверженность МФОККиКП Беларуси остается твердой. МФОККиКП поможет разработать план действий на переходный период, чтобы не допустить ухудшения предоставляемых уязвимым сообществам услуг.
Волонтеры Белорусского Красного Креста неустанно работают, помогая населению готовиться к кризисным ситуациям и реагировать на них. МФОККиКП надеется, что настоящее решение поможет им продвинуться вперед в выполнении нашей миссии.
МФОККиКП по-прежнему привержена поддержке сильного и энергичного Белорусского Красного Креста и призывает волонтеров, сотрудников и членов Белорусского Красного Креста продолжать участвовать в работе своего Национального общества.
--
Ukrainian
МФТЧХіЧП оприлюднила результати розслідування діяльності Генерального секретаря Білоруського Червоного Хреста: заклик до відсторонення
Женева, 3 жовтня 2023 р. – Розслідування Міжнародної Федерації Товариств Червоного Хреста і Червоного Півмісяця дійшло висновку, що чинний Генеральний секретар Білоруського Червоного Хреста порушив Основоположні принципи Руху Червоного Хреста і Червоного Півмісяця, правила використання його емблеми і Політику добросовісності МФТЧХіЧП.
Комітет із дотримання вимог і посередництва МФТЧХіЧП (далі – Комітет) провів розслідування звинувачень, пов’язаних із заявами Генерального секретаря Червоного Хреста Білорусі, зокрема щодо ядерної зброї та переміщення дітей до Білорусі, а також із його візитом до Луганська та Донецька.
Правління МФЧХіЧП (далі – Правління) схвалило висновки та рекомендації Комітету і наклало санкції на пана Дмитра Шевцова, Генерального секретаря Білоруського Червоного Хреста, через те, що він діяв всупереч Політиці добросовісності, заборонивши йому обіймати будь-які керівні посади в МФЧХіЧП до подальшого розпорядження.
Правління також закликає до наступного:
Білоруський Червоний Хрест має звільнити пана Дмитра Шевцова, чинного Генерального секретаря, до 30 листопада 2023 року.
Утриматися від будь-яких нових партнерських зобов'язань та від фінансування Білоруського Червоного Хреста, якщо Національне Товариство не виконає рішення Правління до 30 листопада 2023 року. Правління також звертається до інших компонентів Руху Червоного Хреста і Червоного Півмісяця з проханням вчинити так само.
Попри відсутність доступу у Луганськ і Донецьк, під час розслідування було встановлено, що переміщення дітей з даних територій у Білорусь здійснювалося не Білоруським Червоним Хрестом, а іншою організацією, а також не фінансувалося МФТЧХіЧП. Під час розслідування також було встановлено, що Білоруський Червоний Хрест здійснює діяльність пов'язану з дітьми на територіїБілорусі, і вона спрямована на підтримку людей, переміщених внаслідок конфлікту.
Білоруський Червоний Хрест має виконати ці рішення до 30 листопада 2023 року. Ця умова дає Білоруському Червоному Хресту час на дотримання внутрішніх правил та на заклик вжити необхідних заходів на період до наступного З'їзду Білоруського Червоного Хреста. Якщо Білоруський Червоний Хрест не вдастся до необхідних заходів для звільнення чинного Генерального секретаря, права Національного Товариства, як члена МФТЧХіЧП, будуть призупинені автоматично з 30 листопада 2023 року. З цього моменту будь-яке нове фінансування буде призупинено до моменту звільнення чинного секретаря Білоруського Червоного Хреста, адже було встановлено його повну відповідальність у всіхзвинуваченнях. Його дії були одноосібними і неузгодженими з Національним Товариством.
У разі призупинення членства Білоруський Червоний Хрест більше не буде членом МФТЧХіЧП. Фінансування Білоруського Червоного Хреста буде призупинено, і Національне Товариство не зможе брати участь у Генеральній асамблеї МФТЧХіЧП, голосувати чи бути обраним на будь-якій статутній зустрічі МФТЧХіЧП.
Нейтральність має вирішальне значення в будь-якому контексті, особливо під час міжнародного збройного конфлікту: МФТЧХіЧП не може прийняти будь-яку політизацію або маніпулювання своєю гуманітарною діяльністю. Кожне Національне Товариство Червоного Хреста і Червоного Півмісяця має дотримуватись Основоположних принципів і бути відстороненим від політичних дій. Від цього залежать життя багатьох людей.
Нейтральність і добросовісність є важливими для виконання місії МФТЧХіЧП, тому, як найбільша гуманітарна мережа в світі, ми маємо протоколи для застосування санкцій до осіб і Національних Товариств, які не дотримуються цих принципів. Хоча такі рішення приймаються рідко, ми впевнені, що зрештою вони роблять нашу місію сильнішою.
У разі призупинення членства, після відсторонення чинного Генерального секретаря, що свідчитиме про дистанціювання Національного Товариства від дій останнього, Білоруський Червоний Хрест буде негайно прийнято до МФТЧХіЧП знову.
Зобов’язання МФТЧХіЧП щодо Білорусі залишаються міцними. МФТЧХіЧП сприятиме розробці плану дій у переходний період, щоб гарантувати, що послуги для вразливих громад не постраждають.
Волонтери Білоруського Червоного Хреста невтомно працюють, щоб допомогти громадам підготуватися до кризових ситуацій і реагувати на них. МФТЧХіЧП сподівається, що це рішення допоможе їм рухатися вперед у виконанні нашої місії.
МФТЧХіЧП продовжує підтримувати сильний і активний Білоруський Червоний Хрест і заохочує волонтерів, співробітників і членів Білоруського Червоного Хреста продовжувати роботу у своєму Національному Товаристві.