World Mental Health Day: New IFRC report reveals why mental health must be part of any emergency response.

Urgent humanitarian needs remain in Myanmar, over six months after devastating earthquakes – IFRC.

Yangon, Kuala Lumpur, Geneva, 10 October 2025 – Six months after powerful earthquakes struck central Myanmar, thousands of families are still living in fragile and unsafe conditions, particularly households headed by women, the elderly, those with special needs, and those in hard-to-reach areas and with limited means to rebuild.The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) urges continued attention on the humanitarian needs in Myanmar and seeks further support for meaningful assistance and recovery for affected populations.Since the earthquakes on 28 March 2025, Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), working with the IFRC network and other partners, has reached more than 200,000 people across 30 affected townships.MRCS has been providing multisectoral assistance, including essential food and water relief, emergency shelter assistance, community health services through mobile clinics, assistance to address basic daily needs in a dignified manner that enables affected people to choose their own priorities, community-based initiatives such as water and sanitation solutions, psychosocial support, and child-friendly spaces which provide joy and respite to children and their carers alike.The IFRC has been working hand in hand with the MRCS throughout this response and will continue efforts to help the most vulnerable communities recover and rebuild their lives, working in a neutral and impartial manner.The IFRC emphasizes the critical importance of ensuring sustainability of humanitarian services through deepening localization and stronger community-based approaches, as the MRCS and IFRC network are promoting. Through local presence, strong community participation and acceptance, recovery activities must be based on dignity and protection for affected populations.Six months after the earthquakes, Mr. Xavier Castellanos, Under Secretary General for National Society Development and Coordination of the IFRC, met with earthquake affected communities, Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) volunteers, and local community leaders in Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw.In Sagaing Region, MRCS operates a community mobile clinic serving earthquake-affected and displaced communities twice a week. Many of the patients seek care for non-communicable diseases, underscoring the importance of continuous community health services in disaster-affected areas. In parallel, other communities are receiving essential relief items and assistance to address their immediate needs, and dozens of affected families in Amarapura and Sagaing are receiving support on safe shelter approaches. Elderly sisters in Tatkon township, Naypyitaw, point to the rubble of their destroyed home which they could not afford to clear, before they could even start thinking about rebuilding.“Affected families consistently told us about their top priority needs: repairing or rebuilding their damaged or destroyed homes, accessing healthcare and medicine especially for chronic illnesses among the elderly, accessing education and ensuring livelihoods to enable them to provide for their families and sustain themselves,” said Mr. Castellanos. “These choices reflect the dignity and priorities of people who know best what their families need.”MRCS volunteers, working tirelessly every day over the past six months, have delivered critical humanitarian assistance despite ongoing challenges: essential relief items, safe drinking water, psychosocial support, and care for children, creating child-friendly spaces of hope and humanity amidst crisis. Inspiring youth volunteers, motivated by wanting to be helpful to those in need, have a key role in growing understanding, trust and acceptance within communities.“Seeing the teams in action and meeting communities recovering from this devastating earthquake reconfirms the critical role of the Myanmar Red Cross Society in this complex setting, working alongside IFRC and our partners. I was very touched by the volunteers’ stories about how they provided any assistance they could, first to their families then to their communities, and how deeply that was appreciated by affected populations, both elderly and young,” Mr. Castellanos noted. “Their efforts are saving lives, restoring dignity, and giving people hope for the future.”Despite significant progress on the earthquake response, the damage was so massive in scale that considerable urgent needs remain. Too many families still live in damaged or unsafe shelters. Many more are affected by the multi-layered humanitarian situation in Myanmar, including unprecedented floods last year, with their vulnerability most recently impacted by the earthquakes. Damaging coping mechanisms are pushing these communities further into crisis.The Federation-wide Myanmar Earthquake Emergency appeal is currently 25% funded, with a significant funding gap. The IFRC expresses its gratitude for the generous funding received to date as well as the strong solidarity and humanitarian response capacities throughout the IFRC network. IFRC also underlines the complimentary work of the components of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, based on their areas of expertise.Further resources and donor support are urgently needed to continue providing humanitarian services, to scale up support for recovery and resilience and to invest in long-term recovery for affected communities. Recovery will continue to take time and based on continuing exchanges with communities and market analysis, it will be more costly than initially planned. Linking sustainable recovery efforts with integrated community resilience, disaster preparedness and consolidation of community mechanisms will be critical to ensuring a safer and more dignified future for families affected by the earthquakes and other shocks.To support the ongoing response of IFRC and MRCS, please contribute to the Myanmar Earthquake Emergency Appeal.Audiovisual materials: https://shared.ifrc.org/collections/5562For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Kuala Lumpur: Afrhill Rances, +60 192 713 641In Geneva: Scott Craig, +41 76 370 3575 Notes for editors:Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) Response (up to 30 September 2025) and the IFRC network’s support The earthquakes of 28 March 2025 are reported as having caused widespread damage, over 1.35 million people have been affected from more than 55 townships across five states and regions (Mandalay, Sagaing, Naypyitaw, Southern Shan and Bago).  3,815 lives were lost, over 5,104 injured, and more than 200,000 people were displaced.Since 28 March 2025, Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) has reached more than 200,000 people across 30 townships with the support from Movement partners and external partners.More than 99,359 people have received health care, and more than 1.3 million liters of safe drinking water have been distributed. Sanitation and hygiene services have reached 170,961 people through the clean water supply, construction of latrines, distribution of water tanks and water filters, distribution of hygiene kits and cleaning materials, and hygiene awareness sessions.More than 157,904 people have received shelter and household items such as shelter kits, tarpaulins, mosquito nets, and kitchen sets. Multipurpose assistance reached over 100,000 people. In addition, 150 households received assistance for latrine construction.More than 126,922 people have received food and livelihood assistance, mainly mobilized locally from individuals and non-Movement partners of MRCS.Considering protection, gender and inclusion (PGI), more than 19,220 people have been reached with gender and age specific items such as dignity kits, infant kits, and delivery kits.MRCS received 300 metric tonnes of relief and goods in country, from the IFRC Network, other partners, and donor governments.32 National Societies globally have, to date, supported MRCS in this operation (financially, with in-kind donations, or with technical support).MRCS has deployed over 698 volunteers from its network of trained and experienced volunteers countrywide. 

IFRC Donor Advisory Group visits Indonesia to spotlight community resilience and Anticipatory Action

JAKARTA, INDONESIA – This week, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Donor Advisory Group (DAG) begins its 2025 field visit to Indonesia, with a focus on locally-led humanitarian action, community resilience, and anticipatory approaches to disaster preparedness. The visit will take place from 13 to 17 October, spanning Jakarta, Banten, and Lombok.The Donor Advisory Group serves as a strategic forum for dialogue between the IFRC Secretariat and its major donor partners, including both governments and National Societies. It plays a critical role in shaping shared priorities, strengthening collaboration, and supporting the IFRC network to respond effectively to local humanitarian needs.This year, the IFRC Donor Advisory Group is co-chaired by the IFRC, the government of Sweden, and the Swedish Red Cross, with a thematic focus on anticipatory action, localisation, and financial sustainability of National Societies. Participating members in this year’s field trip to Indonesia include representatives from the governments and National Societies of Australia, Canada, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.The Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), Jusuf Kalla, welcomed the delegates at the PMI Headquarters on Monday (13 October).“Welcome to all our humanitarian partners. This visit will further strengthen our partnerships, broaden our shared learning, and open new opportunities for collaboration. Every partnership built with sincerity and a common purpose brings us one step closer to a world where no one is left behind,” said Jusuf Kalla.Nena Stoiljkovic, IFRC Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, who is also part of the visiting team, added: “Indonesia offers a compelling example of how sustained investment in local institutions leads to long-term impact. The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has, through sustained support by the IFRC, become one of the strongest National Societies in the Asia Pacific, showing how a locally-led model can deliver real resilience at scale.”Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, facing regular threats from earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and climate-driven hazards. Against this backdrop, the Indonesian Red Cross has evolved into a leading actor in disaster response and preparedness, able to respond nationwide within hours, while strengthening community resilience before disasters strike.In 2025, PMI finalized its first Early Action Protocol (EAP) for floods, under the IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). This milestone marks a significant step forward in shifting from reactive response to anticipatory action, allowing early, targeted support to at-risk communities before disaster hits. During the visit, DAG members will see how this approach is being translated into practice on the ground.Field Visit Highlights:Jakarta: Strategic meetings with the Indonesian Red Cross leadership, government ministries, UN agencies, ASEAN, AHA Centre, and anticipatory action actors.Banten: Visit to PMI’s provincial branch to observe local partnerships, volunteer engagement, and financial sustainability efforts.Lombok: Community level engagement featuring mangrove restoration, early warning systems, and nature based solutions.This year’s visit will not only showcase the power of local leadership and volunteerism but also demonstrate how anticipatory action and strategic partnerships can protect lives and improve long-term outcomes for vulnerable communities.For more information or to request and interview: [email protected] contact PMI:Andreane Tampubolon, Head of Communications and International Relations Unit, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Email: [email protected]

Jordan Red Crescent Hospital brings hope, safety and new life to Gaza’s children

On the first floor of the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital in Amman, the shy smiles of Gaza’s children—who were evacuated for medical reasons last September from the Gaza Strip—intersect with pain beyond their years.Their timid smiles conceal memories of a brutal conflict ongoing for two years, leaving them with invisible and unforgettable wounds. Loss, hunger, bombing, and repeated displacement have made childhood a deferred dream, and even the simplest right to education a rare luxury.The pain is not just a story from the past; it is a daily reality for these children, who suffer from spinal injuries, loss of sight, physical disabilities, and chronic illnesses that weigh down their small bodies that have barely begun to grow."We received several children from Gaza suffering from severe spinal cord and spine injuries,” saysDr. Qasim Sallam, a general practitioner at the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital. “We conducted the necessary examinations under specialist supervision and also provided social care to their companions.""Once the children feel they are in a safe place, their psychological condition begins to improve. We notice a big difference between the moment they arrive and today."Asmaa Abu Ghosh, the psychosocial support officer at the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital.Stories of injury, recovery and resilienceYahya, a 9-year-old boy, is one of 13 children received by the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital for treatment after their medical evacuation from Gaza. His mother, Norhan, recounts that his injury occurred during the second truce on February 27, 2025, while he was playing in front of their house. He was hit by shrapnel, affecting his spinal cord."Yahya began his treatment at the European Hospital, then received two months of physical therapy in Khan Younis at the Palestine Red Crescent Hospital," she says.Although doctors reassure the possibility that he may be able to walk again using an assistive device, Yahya still suffers from pain in his diaphragm, which nearly caused him to choke, along with problems in his intestines and stomach.Hassan is another child injured on June 8, 2025, while playing in front of his house in an area categorized to be safe. He lost his sight due to bombing shrapnel. He underwent two abdominal surgeries, during which a part of his intestines was removed. The shrapnel also injured his toes."Hassan was studying in first grade when the conflict broke out, and at the start of second grade, schools stopped,” says his grandmother, who accompanies him today at the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital.“We moved from Sheikh Radwan in Gaza to Rafah, then to Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis. We thought we would return in two days, but it turned into a year and a half of displacement in tents under indescribable conditions."The grandmother recalls the hardships: "We returned home during the first truce, but it had been bombed, and some belongings were stolen, while others were left in the street. During the second escalation, we stayed despite the fear and hunger. A few days before leaving Gaza for Jordan, we prepared to relocate again to the south; we rented a piece of land, where we set up a tent."About daily life in Gaza, she says: "Hunger is deadly. A kilo of flour reached 180 shekels ($US 55), so how can a family of seven live without income? Surgeons were amputating limbs without anaesthesia due to a lack of resources."She expresses sorrow that Hassan's father couldn’t accompany him to Jordan. He is still in Gaza, hoping his parents will be allowed to join her, as Hassan needs advanced treatment available at a hospital in Britain.Compounded suffering and the struggle for survivalThe stories of complex medical needs and family separation continue. Khadija also arrived in Jordan with two of her children, one of whom suffers from lung, heart, and kidney problems that began during the conflict that erupted in 2008, while four of her other children remain in Gaza.“I don’t want my daughter to lose her future,” she says. “I want her to continue her education in better conditions.” She also calls for the opportunity to bring her other son to Jordan for treatment that is unavailable in Gaza.A safe place for psychological recoveryThe role of the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital is not limited to providing medical treatment for sick children from Gaza and their companions, but also extends to psychosocial support, attempting to mend what the conflict has broken inside them.Asmaa Abu Ghosh, the psychosocial support officer at the hospital, says: "Once the children feel they are in a safe place, their psychological condition begins to improve. We notice a big difference between the moment they arrive and today."But the care here goes beyond therapeutic and psychosocial support aspects to gently touch hearts with rare humanity. The medical, nursing staff, and volunteers work to bring back the features of childhood stolen by the conflict. They do this by creating moments of joy, celebrating children’s birthdays, organizing entertainment sessions and other activities such as hair styling that fill empty days and give them space for laughter and play.In late September, Jordan Red Crescent staff celebrated the birthdays of two girls, Tala and Alma. Alma had a very particular birthday wish:"I want to become a doctor… to treat people just like the doctors at the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital."Mothers' plight and the journey to safetyMothers also face compounded suffering from malnutrition, pregnancy complications, harsh displacement, and constant anxiety for their children. This is especially the case with families split between Gaza and Jordan, where some children were evacuated for treatment under King Abdullah’s initiative to treat around 2,000 children."I am pregnant and need a C-section,” says one mother. “I left my two young children with their father and their disabled grandfather in Deir al-Balah. We rely on the kindness of people there."She continues tearfully: "They destroyed our house, and we moved from Al-Baraka to Deir al-Balah. No food, no vitamins, only lentils and beans. I have not tasted eggs or fruit for months. I leave bread for my children while anemia and malnutrition wear me down."Despite depression and psychological pressures, she affirms that the medical staff at the Jordan Red Crescent Hospital did not neglect her and provided care "like family."Another woman from Khan Younis recounts her struggle with her daughters’ illnesses, one suffering from neurological seizures since childhood, with a condition stable before deteriorating due to theconflict, and the other unable to balance and falling while walking or sitting.Families recount the hardship of accessing medical care amid transport cuts and high costs. One woman describes her daughter collapsing before evacuation, receiving urgent help from the Palestine Red Crescent.Another mother, in Jordan with four children, seeks advanced treatment for her son’s liver disease and she is urging authorities to let her 15-year-old son still in Gaza join them."We spent a year and nine months in a tent, living on aid amid daily suffering," she says. "A hot lentil dish fell on Amir’s back while he tried to get food from humanitarian aid centers that do not meet humanitarian standards, and he got burned. The children competed to fill water and food amid chaos and violence under continuous bombing. Some days, we did not even have a loaf of bread."Her son, Odai, adds: "I am happy in Jordan, but I miss my brother Amir. I witnessed scenes of tension and fear at the distribution centers, where overcrowding and scarcity created extremely unsafe conditions." He hopes to have laser eye surgery to improve his vision, as he has worn glasses since being injured in the 2008 conflict.Despite the painful experiences they endured, the children and their mothers do not lose feelings of gratitude for leaving Gaza and starting a treatment journey that gives them a glimmer of hope. While some families dream of reunion after losing everything, others still demand saving those remaining under the bombing and hunger.About this arduous mission, Zeina Al-Masri, head of the Protection Family Links unit at the Jordan Red Crescent, says: "What always strikes me is the joy in the children’s eyes the moment they enter Jordanian territory. The electricity lights amaze them; they have not seen them for a long time, and their bodies are exhausted from hunger. When we distribute food and light drinks to them, I feel as if something from heaven has descended upon them."A call for continued supportThe life-saving and life-changing work of the Jordan Red Crescent is supported in part by an international Emergency Appeal by the IFRC for the ongoing Middle East crisis. Among many other things, it aims to support patients medically evacuated from Gaza to Jordan, along with their companions, as part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ efforts to save lives and preserve the dignity of the sick and wounded, in cooperation with the Jordan Red Crescent.These efforts go beyond receiving patients; the Jordan Red Crescent continues to provide essential medical check-ups for Gazans and Palestinians of various nationalities within the framework of a family reunification program, coordinated with 18 accredited embassies in Jordan. The Jordan Red Crescent also sends humanitarian assistance—food and medicines—into Gaza whenever the crossings are opened.Dr. Sallam concludes by stressing the “need for greater financial support to enable us to provide the necessary health and psychosocial support for these children and their companions,” amid expectations of receiving new groups soon.Story by Mey Al Sayegh, IFRC Head of Communications for the Middle East and North Africa Region

Regional Director for Africa

Charles Mbeeta Businge, who is from Uganda, has over 30 years of experience in professional development and humanitarian work, focusing on social justice issues.His career began in 1990 as a Research Assistant at the Ministry of Information (Education Broadcasting) and continued at the Uganda Constitutional Review Commission in 1991-1992. He then served as a Cooperative Officer with the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Uganda from 1992 to 1997. In 1997, he joined ActionAid International in Uganda, holding various roles - including Project Manager, Head of Education Policy and Regional Manager for the Northern Region. In 2004, he became the Civil Society Adviser for DFID in Uganda. He returned to ActionAid International as Country Director in Uganda in 2008, later moving to their regional office in Nairobi (Kenya), where he served as Head of Country Coordination and then Regional Director from 2015 to 2017. In 2017, he joined Plan International as Director of the subregion for East and Southern Africa and became Director for the subregion of the Middle East, North, and Horn of Africa in 2021.Charles has served on several governance boards, including Raising Voices (Uganda), Twaweza East Africa, ActionAid International (Bangladesh), Fair Green and Global Alliance (Netherlands), and the Cross-cultural Foundation Uganda.He holds a Master of Development Studies degree from University College, Dublin, Ireland; a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda; and a postgraduate diploma in Computer Science, also from Makerere University. He has also participated in various professional trainings.Charles is fluent in English, has intermediate proficiency in Swahili and Luganda, and is learning French. His native language is Runyakitara. Charles is married and has three children.

Regional Director for the Americas

Loyce Pace, a United States citizen, most recently served as Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In this capacity, she oversaw HHS’s engagement with foreign governments and international institutions.Previously, Loyce served as President & Executive Director of Global Health Council (GHC) and was a member of the Biden-Harris Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board. In these roles, she has influenced U.S. global health policy and related funding streams.Prior to her U.S. policy roles, Loyce spent more than a decade working with community-based organizations and grassroots leaders in many countries across Africa and Asia on campaigns calling for person-centered access to health. Additionally, she has held positions on various global and regional advisory committees and boards that focus on equity and inclusion.Loyce holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Human Biology from Stanford University in California (U.S.) and a Master’s degree in International Health & Human Rights with the distinction of Delta Omega from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland (U.S.). She is a native English speaker with strong command of Spanish and limited proficiency in French.Ms. Pace is also an adjunct professor at Meharry Medical College, one of the oldest and largest historically Black health science institutions in the U.S.She will be based in Panama City with her partner. They have no children but treasure nieces and nephews whom they love dearly.

Regional Director for Asia Pacific

Alexander Matheou has worked in the humanitarian sector for 20 years, both within and outside the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. He has worked across a variety of fields, including: disaster response, food security, social exclusion, displacement and migration, HIV/TB prevention and institutional development. Prior to taking on his current role at IFRC, Alexander was the Executive Director of International at the British Red Cross. Previously, Alexander held several high-level positions at the IFRC in Africa and the former Soviet Union. He was also Director of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance in India and worked for the Open Society Foundations and the International Finance Corporation in Russia and Central Asia. Alexander is a regular contributor of opinion pieces on humanitarian and development issues to an assortment of audiences and forums.

Migration learning resources

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and our Reference Centres produce a wide range of resources on how to best support migrants and displaced people. Discover them below.

Your questions answered

This page addresses frequently asked questions about the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s work during the Russia-Ukraine international armed conflict. It will be regularly updated with new information and questions.

National Society Development

The IFRC supports our 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world to fulfil their full potential as effective local humanitarian actors. We are committed to supporting their long-term development and programmes. And we tailor our support to each National Society's contexts, needs and priorities.

Trust and accountability

Trust is the foundation of humanitarian action. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement depends on trust—of the people and communities we serve, of our donors and partners, and between each other—to deliver our lifesaving work.

Voices that pave the way: Women's leadership in humanitarian action

IFRC on five Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers killed: 'We are horrified'

Geneva, 28 October 2025 – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is horrified, shocked, and deeply saddened by the killing of five volunteers of the Sudanese Red Crescent (SRC) who were on duty in the city of Bara, North Kordofan, on 27 October. Another three volunteers are still missing.The Sudanese Red Crescent team was on an official mission as part of a food distribution team in the city of Bara. They were clearly identified by wearing Red Crescent vests, which are supposed to provide them with full protection, and carried identification cards issued by the local branch.Any attack on humanitarian teams is unacceptable. We strongly reiterate our call for unwavering respect for the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems and the crucial humanitarian services they represent.The IFRC sends its deepest condolences to the families of those killed and to their friends and colleagues.The Sudanese Red Crescent has lost 21 colleagues on duty since the beginning of the conflict.Since the beginning of 2025, 25 Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers from across the globe have lost their lives while carrying out their humanitarian duties.This is unacceptable.For information, please contact: [email protected] Nairobi: Susan Mbalu, +254 733 827 654In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 43 67

Kenya: Complex Emergency

Millions of people across Kenya’s arid and semi-arid counties are facing worsening hunger, with over two million people projected to experience crisis-level food insecurity through early 2026. Drought, water scarcity, disease outbreaks, and funding cuts have left families without enough food, clean water, or access to health care. The Kenya Red Cross is scaling up emergency food, water, and health assistance while helping communities build long-term resilience to future shocks. Donate now to help the Kenya Red Cross provide life-saving assistance.

5 things you need to know about storms and hurricanes

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is still active in the Americas. Meteorologists, disaster management experts and public authorities are keeping a close eye on hurricane Melissa, the 13th storm of the year, which is currently moving slowly towards Jamaica.Out of the 19 storms forecast this year, 13 have formed. Four of those became hurricanes categorised as either 1 or 2. Three of these reached major hurricane status, meaning Category 3 or higher.But how much do we really know about how storms and hurricanes form, their characteristics, and how to prepare for them? Below, we answer five of the most common questions about storms and hurricanes.️️1. What is the difference between a tropical storm and a hurricane?Both are part of the same system: the tropical cyclone. This is defined as a low-pressure system that rotates counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere.The intensity varies. A tropical storm is characterized by winds of between 63 and 118 km/h, whereas a hurricane is characterized by winds exceeding 119 km/h.These phenomena have different names depending on where they develop:Cyclones when they occur in the waters of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.Typhoons occur in the waters of East Asia and the Pacific.Hurricanes occur in the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.Each type is associated with a season that can last up to seven months a year.A major hurricane does not need to form in order to endanger people's lives. The rain and winds caused by a single storm can pose a threat to people's health and well-being, and even to their survival, particularly in communities where climate change, poverty, misinformation and previous disasters increase population vulnerability.In 2024, storms were classified as the second most frequent type of disaster worldwide, recorded in the EM-DAT database, affecting 29.5 million people globally.Due to a combination of geographic, climatic, political and socioeconomic factors, countries such as Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda are particularly vulnerable in the Americas.Countries affected by Hurricane Beryl in 2024, such as Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, also entered the 2025 season while still recovering.2. How do storms and hurricanes form?They form over the sea. For this phenomenon to occur, the ocean water must be warm, with a temperature above 26°C. When warm, moist air rises, the vapour releases heat, strengthening the system and causing it to grow. If humidity and wind conditions are favourable, the system can grow into a hurricane.An eye forms in the centre of the hurricane, creating an apparent calm. Meanwhile, dense clouds and intense winds form around it in an area known as the eyewall. The spiralling clouds release large amounts of water, which can cause flooding and landslides.Hurricanes are driven by wind and follow paths that can vary depending on the direction and speed of currents at different levels of the atmosphere. When they make landfall, they lose the heat from the ocean — their source of energy — and begin to weaken.We must pay close attention not only to the number of hurricanes forecast but also to how rapidly they intensify.Rapid intensification—defined as an increase in wind speed of 35 mph or more within 24 hours—has become more common due to warmer ocean temperatures fueled by climate change.This sudden strengthening leaves little time for preparation, increasing the risk of catastrophic damage and loss of life. Notable examples include Hurricane Otis in 2023, which escalated from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in less than a day before striking Mexico's Pacific coast.3. Why are storms and hurricanes named?Names make it easy to identify each storm. Naming storms is the fastest way to issue alerts and prepare the population.The World Meteorological Organization has lists of names that are reused every six years. These lists are arranged in alphabetical order, with male and female names taken in turns. If a hurricane causes significant destruction, its name is retired.Names make it easier to track and analyze each storm, particularly when several are active at the same time. They also facilitate historical record-keeping and help avoid confusion among meteorological personnel, the media, emergency response agencies and the general public.When compiling lists of names, certain factors are taken into consideration.They should be short.They should be easy to pronounce.They should have an appropriate meaning in different languages.They should be unique: the same names cannot be used in other regions.4. How predictable are hurricanes?Thanks to weather forecasts, we can anticipate the arrival of storms and hurricanes and prepare before disasters strike.Technology enables us to track their path and speed across the sea with great accuracy. Hurricane Melissa, for example, is moving slowly, which means it poses a greater risk. The slower a storm or hurricane moves, the longer communities in its path will suffer strong winds and heavy rain. Rather than lasting a few hours, these conditions could persist for days, causing flooding or landslides. This is why it is crucial for communities to complete their preparations before conditions deteriorate. It is important to combine forecasts with risk analysis to take early action in anticipation of hurricanes rather than simply responding to events as they happen.The Red Cross, governments, communities and other humanitarian organisations can act before a disaster strikes by implementing early warning systems and evacuation protocols and carrying out drills, or by strategically placing humanitarian aid to ensure its rapid delivery to affected areas in the event of an emergency.This approach enables us to anticipate disasters, minimise their impact, and prevent suffering, loss of life and loss of livelihoods.5. What should I do before, during and after a hurricane?Before hurricane season begins, it is important to familiarise yourself with the risks in your area and develop an evacuation plan for your family and community. Identify the nearest shelters and map out safe routes. Make sure that everyone in your household knows what to do in an emergency.To reinforce your home's structure, make sure the roof is securely fastened, install shutters, clean the gutters and trim any branches that could fall. You should also prepare supplies such as drinking water, non-perishable food, torches, medicines and a first-aid kit.Once a hurricane warning or advisory has been issued, be prepared to evacuate if the local authorities instruct you to do so. Secure important documents in waterproof bags and place valuables in high places. Fill your car's petrol tank when it is half empty, in case you need to evacuate.During the hurricane, stay informed through official media outlets and follow the authorities' instructions. If you are staying at home, reinforce your doors and windows and stay away from them. Seek shelter in an interior room without windows.Bring pets inside, unplug small appliances and, if instructed, turn off the electricity, gas and water supplies.Do not be fooled by the calm in the eye of the hurricane; stay safe until the authorities confirm that the danger has passed.After the hurricane has passed, check for injuries and provide first aid, but do not move seriously injured people unless they are in danger.Avoid damaged buildings and downed power lines, as these can cause electrocution. Do not consume water or food that may be contaminated and maintain good hygiene.Support your neighbours and only participate in clean-up and recovery efforts when it is safe to do so. Stay informed about new alerts or secondary risks, such as flooding or landslides.