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One of the unique aspects of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is their auxiliary role to the public authorities in the humanitarian field. This guide, focused on examples from Europe, provides anoverview of the origins, meaning and implications of the auxiliary role.
One of the unique aspects of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is their auxiliary role to the public authorities in the humanitarian field. This guide, focused on examples from Asia-Pacific, provides anoverview of the origins, meaning and implications of the auxiliary role.
This report examines how national laws, policies and institutional frameworks can support gender equality in disaster risk management (DRM) and help prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in disasters.
It contributed to the implementation of two resolutions of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 2015. These were Resolution 3 on ‘Sexual and gender-based violence: Joint action on prevention and response’, and Resolution 6 on ‘Strengthening legal frameworks for disaster response, risk reduction and first aid’.
This guide provides staff and volunteers across the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movementwith a common approach to build Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) systematically into our ways of working. It provides an overview of CEA approaches and activities that can be applied to any type of programme or operation at any point in the programme cycle.
This guide can be used alongside our comprehensiveCommunity Engagement and Accountability (CEA) Toolkit.
In engaging in the area of migration, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have the purpose – individually and together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)– to address the humanitarian concerns of migrants in need throughout their journey. They strive to provide assistance and protection to them, uphold their rights and dignity, empower them in their search for opportunities and sustainable solutions, as well as promote social inclusion and interaction between migrants and host communities.
The approach of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to migration is strictly humanitarian and based on the recognition of each migrant’s individuality and aspirations.It focuses on the needs, vulnerabilities and potentials of migrants, irrespective of their legal status, type, or category.
Learn more about our work supporting people on the move.
The risk of technological and biological (CBRN) disasters is increasing due to greater population density, urbanization and industrialization, ageing infrastructure, and the wider use of technological and other hazardous materials.
This roadmap provides recommendations on how the IFRC network can adapt to growing CBRN risks and fully include CBRN risk management into our multi-hazard approach. It can be read in conjunction with our background information on CBRN preparedness.
Heat waves are deadly disasters that are increasingly common and can seriously affect human health and well-being.
This guide is based on our comprehensive heat wave guide for cities and is tailored towards practical actions that Red Cross and Red Crescent branches can take to prepare for, and respond to, heat waves in towns and cities.
This case study gives an overview of the Japanese Red Cross Society's response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (GEJET) and the subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in March 2011. It includes a timeline of events and a summary of key challenges and actions taken.
The IFRC Global Plan 2024 provides a blueprint for responding at scale and strengthening community resilience. The IFRC will continue to create global partnerships that strengthen local action, invest more to improve transparency and accountability, and innovate and develop new ways to deliver resources, facilitate local action and listen to the communities we serve.
Along some of the world's toughest migration routes, Humanitarian Service Points provide a safe space for migrants and displaced people, giving them access to vital services that might otherwise be unreachable. This report provides numerous concrete examples of Humanitarian Service Points in operation along migration routes around the world and it explains why they are critical to the safety and well-being of people in very vulnerable situations.
Geneva, 11 December 2023:American humanitarianand businesswoman, Kate Forbes, was elected the new President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) today.
Kate Forbes's election as President of the IFRC is a historic moment, marking her as only the second woman to hold this position. This milestone underscores the IFRC's continued commitment to diversity and gender equality in its leadership.
Upon her election,Forbes said,“Communities around the world are witnessingthe impacts of climate change, geopolitical tensionsand health emergencies. We know the challenges of our modern world demand addressing multiple issues at once. Now is the time to lean into our fundamental principles to deliver on our mission and make communities stronger.”
Forbes's presidency marks a pivotal shift towards addressing the complexities of the modern world. A key area of focus under her leadership will be tackling the urgent issues of climate changeand migration. Local solutions and community empowerment are at the forefront of her agenda. Sheunderstands the critical role local actors play in humanitarian aid and is dedicated to working closely with local leaders to address their most pressing needs.
Additionalpriorities include youth engagement and financial sustainability. She aims to leveragethe potential of young volunteers, acknowledging their crucial role in the organization. Strengthening relationships with governments and donors is a cornerstone of her vision for the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
The role of IFRC President is a volunteer position, one that Forbes is well-prepared for, given her extensive background. She comes with over four decades of experience with the IFRC network, beginning her journey as a local volunteer at the Phoenix chapter of the American Red Cross. These roles include Vice-Chairman of the American Red Cross Board of Directors and National Chairpersonof Volunteers, where she managed over one million volunteers.
An auditor by training, Forbes has been a member of the IFRC Board for the past 17 years. She most recently served asChairpersonof the IFRC Audit and Risk Commission. In this role, sheincreased transparency, implemented stronger financial controlsand establishedsafeguarding policies across the organization.Kate Forbes's election as President is a significant step forward for the IFRC, signaling a new leadership ready to focus on integrity and accountability.
For more information or to request interviews with President Forbes, contact:[email protected]
Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67
Mrinalini Santhanam: +41 76 381 50 06
Ever since armed violence erupted in Israel and the Gaza Strip on October 7, the work of emergency service crews has continued non-stop, often in the most harrowing of circumstances.
Every day, Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance crews head out into the streets of Gaza, saving lives while risking their own, as even ambulances and hospitals have come under attack.
Since the beginning, PRCS teams have been tirelessly responding, providing first aid and psychosocial support, transporting the dead and distributing essential aid as the fighting continues.
Sadly, four PRCS volunteers lost their lives while on duty, making their colleagues’ work even more difficult as they try to cope with the loss.
“To be completely honest, I am afraid, much like everyone else,” Haitham Deir, a PRCS paramedic working at the Rafah branch. “I left my children at home with no access to food, water or electricity. When I’m on duty, I call them periodically to check on them, and this constant worrying is overwhelming, adding to the fact that we face gunfire and constant bombing, and some of us get injured or die.
“All of these challenges take a toll on our psychological well-being. Nevertheless, we persist. It’s a moral obligation, and I will continue to work until the very end.”
‘Our eyes and ears’
Apart from the incessant bombing and gunfire, PRCS crews have been struggling with intermittent communications blackouts, which means there’s often no way for people to call in for an ambulance when there is an attack.
This has heavily obstructed their response. However, the PRCS ambulance teams have found creative ways to ensure paramedics can find people when there is an urgent need.
“We strategically placed our ambulances, and we had to use our eyes and ears to watch out for bombings,” says Mohammed Abu Musabih, director of operations and emergencies for the PRCS in the Gaza strip. “Teams were then dispatched to areas that were bombed, because that’s where people will most likely need assistance.”
“We also placed ambulances near hospitals, and we relied on arriving ambulances carrying injured people to give us information about the location they came from,” he continued. “The ambulance crews then headed off to the location.”
Unfortunately, in most cases, even the most creative attempts have been ineffective as PRCS teams find it extremely difficult to reach people in need due to infrastructure damage, roadblocks and military sieges going on in various parts of the city.
Supplies running out, winter coming on
The situation inside Gaza hospitals has been all the more tragic, with doctors and nurses resorting to traditional medicine as supplies ran out. Many hospitals were forced to suspend their services due to lack of fuel.
Thousands of Palestinians have also sought refuge in hospitals, but after coming under siege, many people - including the sick and wounded - had to evacuate, with nowhere to go.
A great deal of affected people in Gaza are currently living in tents or open spaces; this leaves them extremely vulnerable as winter approaches, and with it comes the threat of flooding and the potential spread of disease. PRCS ambulance crews and other volunteers will be there doing whatever they can to ensure people get the best possible care under the circumstances.
As of December 11, PRCS crews have provided emergency care to more than 11,000 people and they transported the bodies of more than 3,500 people who died due to the fighting. Crews in the West Bank have cared for more than 3,000 injuries and transported more than 80 people killed in the conflict.
“Ever since the hostilities began, the Palestine Red Crescent Society teams and volunteers were on the frontline saving lives, day-in and day out, with no break,” says Hossam Elsharkawi, regional director for Middle East and North Africa.
“The unprecedented level of challenges they faced is beyond comprehension. We highly salute them; they have shown humanity at its best. In parallel, we call on the international community to fast-track diplomatic solutions that address root causes, including an end to the inhumane siege on Gaza, and enable more humanitarian aid to get into all parts of Gaza, including fuel.”
Storm Daniel hit north-eastern Libya on Sunday 10 September, bringing strong winds and sudden heavy rainfall, which led to massive flooding, devastation and deaths. Infrastructure was severely damaged, including dams near Derna that burst, causing flooding that swept away entire neighbourhoods. Libyan Red Crescent teams and volunteers were first on the ground, evacuating people and providing first aid and search and rescue.
The IFRC quickly allocated resources through its Disaster Response Emergency Fund.The IFRC then launched an emergency appeal to support the Libyan Red Crescent in providing emergency shelter, psychosocial support, healthcare, clean water and food to affected communities. Teams also worked tirelessly to help people reconnect with family members.
With the IFRC network backing it up, Libyan Red Crescent workers performed heroic work. But there’s more to be done. The IFRC emergency appeals sought to raise CHF 25 million (CHF 20 million of which is expected to be raised by the IFRC Secretaria) to support the Libyan Red Crescent. So far, just more than CHF 8.3 million has been raised.
And the needs continue as many are still displaced from their homes and the psychological and economic shock lingers.
The disaster also garnered support from around the IFRC network. To support the response of the Libyan Red Crescent in the aftermath of the devastating floods, the Turkish Red Crescent dispatched cargo planes from Türkiye, carrying search and rescue, emergency medical teams and relief teams along with equipment and humanitarian supplies.
What happened in Derna should be a ‘wake up call for the world’ on the increasing risk of catastrophic floods in a world changed by climate change, according to the IFRC. A rapid analysis by the World Weather Attribution group — a group of scientists supported by the IFRC — analyzed climate data and computer model simulations to compare the climate as it is today, after about 1.2°C of global warming, with the climate of the past.
The scientists found that human caused climate change has made heavy rainfall in north-eastern Libya up to 50 times more likely to occur than it would have been in a world not experiencing human-caused climate change. They also found there was up to 50 percent more intense rain than there would have been in a comparable rainstorm in a pre-climate change world.
Something as ordinary as rainy days and nearby seashores have sadly become a source of fear for those living in eastern Libya, especially for those who experienced first-hand the massive floods that swept-away homes, cars, and loved ones in the blink of an eye.
Signs of experienced trauma, such as children screaming during their sleep or sleepwalking, have become a nightly occurrence in Derna, and even in the nearby city of Benghazi, where most of families fled to following the devastation.
“People are associating rain with death," said Ali Gharor, mental health and psychosocial support officer at the Libyan Red Crescent Society, which has provided a wide range of continuing mental health and psychosocial support to survivors of the flood. “All groups of people in the city need psychological support, including volunteers.”