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The world is facing increasingly frequent and complex humanitarian and development issues. To address them, we need coordinated action from a diverse range of actors—including the private sector.
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IFRC and Takeda initiate ‘United Against Dengue’ alliance to combat escalating threat of dengue
Dengue fever, a rapidly escalating public health crisis, casts a long shadow over millions in Asia. With climate change and urbanization fuelling its spread, the figures are stark: with Asia shouldering approximately 70 percent of the global disease burden.In response to this urgent challenge, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC APAC) and Takeda have joined forces in a landmark collaboration: United Against Dengue.This multi-year strategic collaboration is dedicated to advancing the World Health Organizations’s goal of achieving zero preventable dengue deaths by 2030, by championing collective action through community programs."Eliminating dengue in the Asia-Pacific region requires a collective effort," states Dr. Sushma Bhusal, Regional Thematic Lead, Health and Care, Asia Pacific, IFRC. "The response must go beyond the health sector alone."A synergistic approach to a complex problemUnited Against Dengue is designed to catalyze community-led action, empowering individuals and families to protect themselves. This partnership leverages the unique strengths of both organizations."We were drawn to partner with Takeda because of their commitment to global health and their expertise in the scientific and healthcare sector," Dr. Bhusal explains."This partnership allows us to combine IFRC's strong volunteer networks and exceptional community-based expertise with Takeda's scientific expertise, resources, and global network to elevate dengue awareness, advocate for enhanced disease prevention measures, and protect at-risk populations more effectively."Dion Warren, Area Head, India and Southeast Asia, Takeda, underscores the critical nature of the threat and the importance of a synergistic approach to fighting dengue."Factors like climate change and urbanization are fuelling the spread of dengue, which poses a significant public health threat, potentially affecting millions across Asia," he notes."Joining forces with IFRC, we aim to strengthen the foundation of community resilience by advancing disease literacy, enhancing early action capabilities, and empowering local health systems.“United Against Dengueis designed to strengthen and complement existing public and community efforts to combat dengue collectively and ensure that communities are better equipped to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to dengue outbreaks.This collaboration is a call to action, underlining the urgent need for a unified, multi-sectoral action."Three pillars for comprehensive actionThe United Against Dengue collaboration is structured around three strategic pillars, ensuring a holistic approach:The first pillar is Educate, which focuses on building community resilience and readiness through impactful disease education and early preparedness. Efforts include community awareness campaigns, volunteer training using the Epidemic Control for Volunteers (ECV) toolkit, and hygiene promotion through community engagement. Enhanced surveillance systems and early action protocols will also be introduced to guide community responses and improve outcomes.A cornerstone of the Educate pillar is leveraging relatable content to drive community action. Kicking off the United Against Dengueinitiatives is the launch of a themed comic developed by popular cartoonists The Woke Salaryman.The comic is focused on discussing the importance of collaborative efforts between communities to prevent the spread of dengue. It will be translated into different languages and will be shared through IFRC APAC channels for community education and leveraged for community engagement activities in the long run."Relatable educational content is absolutely essential," Dr. Bhusal emphasizes. "Dengue prevention requires a change in behaviour, and that change is far more likely to occur when people understand the risks in a way that connects with their daily lives."Mr. Warren adds, "Leveraging their unique brand of storytelling, the series brings to light the impact of urbanization on community ties in Asia and beyond. The series not only raises awareness about dengue but also underscores the critical role of community collaboration in disease prevention efforts."The second pillar, Advocate,is centered around ensuring the sustainability of preventative measures through policy work and stakeholder engagement. This includes working closely with policymakers, medical societies, and community organizations to support the integration of dengue prevention, management and control into national strategies.Regional and national alignment across public health stakeholders is also prioritized to drive unified action and strengthen health system resilience for long-term impact.The third pillar, Support, focuses on providing care and assistance to communities and individuals affected by dengue.These efforts represent the initial focus of United Against Dengue and are not exhaustive. Additional efforts will be introduced as the initiative continues to respond to evolving community needs and opportunities for greater impact.A unified front for a healthier futureThe escalating global spread of dengue demands a robust, coordinated response. "As the global spread of dengue intensifies, it is evident that a coordinated and strategic approach is essential," says Dr. Bhusal. "By working together – as communities, across the public and private sectors, and as a region – we can pool our resources, share our expertise, and leverage our collective influence to achieve greater impact."The United Against Dengue initiative represents more than a program; it is a commitment that complements existing public health efforts by empowering communities to combat dengue through a multi-pronged approach: disease education, early action protocols, targeted public awareness campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and support for affected individuals and communities.Aimed to enhance dengue awareness and bolster protection efforts, the initiative will be rolled out across Asia and beyond. Additional regional and local programs will be launched to further drive collective action, enhance dengue awareness, and support dengue prevention efforts.Read the full comic strip illustrated by The Woke Salaryman
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Halting a sheep and goat plague outbreak to protect livelihoods in Sierra Leone
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting small animals, such as sheep and goats. PPR can be fatal and outbreaks, if left undetected, can have devastating consequences for people's livelihoods, particularly in pastoral communities.In Kamasasa, a village in north-west Sierra Leone where people are reliant on goat and sheep farming to make a living, an outbreak of PPR struck in September 2022 and threatened to wreak havoc in the community.“It was all over the town," explains Pa Adikali Sesay, Chief of Kamasasa village. "Everywhere you would go, people would say that their goats were sick. Some people would be crying because they were losing hope. If there was an emergency and they or their children got sick or if they need to pay school fees for their children, how would they pay for those things if all the animals died?”Having never experienced a PPR outbreak before, people were unsure what to do. And misinformation was spreading alongside the disease. Some farmers even fled the village, believing that their animals were under some form of mystical attack.But thankfully, local Sierra Leone Red Cross Society volunteers were on hand to support the community. Trained in epidemic control and community-based surveillance through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3), they immediately recognized the disease as PPR, rapidly reported the outbreak to local animal health authorities, and mounted an effective response to halt its spread.“Our volunteers started mobilizing the community, sensitizing them, telling them not to eat these animals," says Osman Justin Conteh, CP3 Manager with the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society. "We separated the sick from those that are not sick so that then the disease will not continue to spread. Then specimens were collected and sent to the lab. We supported the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to treat these animals, vaccinating more than 10,000 goats and sheep against PPR."This quick, coordinated action made sure that PPR stopped spreading in the community and that sick animals were able to recover, with volunteers earning thanks and recognition from community members.Sorie Daba Sesay, a farmer from Kamasasa village, says: “The Red Cross arrived and told us to look for animals that were sick or had died. They helped get medicine to the sick goats so they would get better and not get sick again. We say to the Red Cross, thank you!”And Kamasasa village chief, Pa Adikali, adds: “The Red Cross did an incredible job. Without their intervention, we could have lost all our animals. The Red Cross arrived right when we needed their help.”This PPR outbreak response is just one example of many disease outbreaks detected, reported and responded to through the CP3 programme in Kambia. Since the programme began in 2018, Sierra Leone Red Cross Society teams have improved their capacity to prepare for and respond to epidemics and developed close partnerships with human, animal and environmental health authorities to keep communities healthy and safe.“The coming of CP3 and the Red Cross has helped us greatly in trying to mitigate the death toll of goats and sheep," says Ibrahim Harri Sesay, District Livestock Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Kambia. "They have trained over 250 volunteers across the districts here. CP3 volunteers are all over in the communities. They are with them, they know their problems. If there are any problems with disease, be it animal or human, they report to us directly and we react appropriately.”--The activities featured in this article were delivered as part of the multi-country Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3) which ran from 2018-2025.Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), CP3 supported communities, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats.If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more, sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter.
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IFRC’s World Refugee Day message: ‘We are with you’
Imagine you are 24 years old and a mother of two. Suddenly, armed conflict within your country sweeps through your town and you have to escape to save your life. You leave on foot, with your children and anything you can carry.This is the fate that befell 24-year-old Munana, who had to flee her home in Sudan’s Darfur region with her children in 2024. Arriving in Adré, Chad, close to the border with Sudan, her family immediately receivedsupport from the Red Cross of Chad.“The journey between Sudan and here was very difficult,”she says. “When we arrived here the Red Cross welcomed us. They have given us a tent, lights, toiletries and water.”This is just one story among thousands of people around the world who areforced to flee simply to find safety for themselves and their family. And it’s another example of Red Cross and Red Crescent actions that say to people like Munana that they are not alone – we stand with you.As we markWorld Refugee Day 2025 on 20 June, this year under the theme of “solidarity”, the IFRC asks people around the world to express their solidarity through action, by helping us to build empathy and understanding for the plight of refugees and to support our life-changing work in places where refugees need us most.We ask youto stand in solidarity with people like Abdel, who supervises the volunteers who welcomed Munana at the Chad Red Cross’s humanitarian service point (HSP) in Adré, which in this case is funded by theBritish Red Cross.At humanitarian service points like this one, the Red Cross supports refugees where they are – along routes, in camps, in host communities – by providingfood, psychosocial assistance, protection services for the most vulnerable, shelters, and relocation support.In some areas, the Red Cross also providescash assistance, so people can choose what they and their families need most while retaining some control and dignity. Surrounded by so much suffering, Abdel sees this work as a source of comfort and happiness. “Often people ask, what is happiness? For me, happiness is helping people,”he says.A global crisisSolidarity with refugees is more critical than ever, given the scope of displacement due to violence around the world. Even some of the world’s largest crises do not always get the attention they deserve.Sudan, for example, is experiencing the world's largest displacement crisis, with over 12.3 million people forced from their homes due to ongoing civil conflict. Most were displaced within Sudan, but nearly one third – 4 million people –have become refugees in neighbouring countries such as Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan. Yet this massive crisis receives relatively little international media attention.Sadly, this is not the only conflict causing people to leave their homes to find safety elsewhere. The UN Refugee Agency estimates that more than 123 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced.Among them, 36.8 million are refugees (meaning they sought safety in a country other than their own) and another 8.4 million are asylum seekers (people who have sought international protection and recognition as refugees outside their home country).A global responseThe scale of population movement around the world is one reason more than 165 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world are working to support people on the move, including migrants and refugees, wherever they need assistance.A total of 115 of those Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are supporting refugees and asylum seekers through both emergency response efforts and longer-term programmes. This support spans emergency and crisis settings, including countries such as Bangladesh, Sudan’s neighbouring countries, and Ukraine’s neighbouring countries. National Societies also assist and protect migrants and refugees traveling along dangerous migration routes in all corners of the globe.This includes the 63 National Societies participating in the IFRC’s GlobalRoute-Based Migration Programme, which aims to save lives and improve the safety and dignity of 4.7 million people on the move each year, including migrants, refugees, displaced people, and host communities.Red Cross and Red Crescent teams are in call centres, connecting people to lost family members. They are at airports, bus stops and train stations, providing people with a safe space to rest.The support given is as individual as the story and experiences of each person on the move, and can include healthcare, Restoring Family Links, mental health and psychosocial support, protection, information, food and other essential supplies. There is even a humanitarian service point at sea. TheOcean Viking rescue vessel regularly rescues migrant vessels in distress in the Central Mediterranean Sea.An ongoing journeySolidary with refugees continues even after people arrive in a new community or country. That’s because, very often, a new journey, full of challenges has just begun.While some refugees successfully establish themselves in new communities, many others face dire challenges. They risk losing connections with their families and they often lack access to essential health and social services. They also may come face to face with discrimination, human trafficking, exploitation, legal and cultural hurdles and even violence.And even when things go relatively smoothly, it is not always easy to feel at home in a new country and a new culture. Often, it takes a while to start feeling at home.This is one reason why National Societies such astheRed Crescent Society of Tajikistan work tohelp people settle and feel at home.With the support of theProgrammatic Partnership, funded by ECHO PP, for example, the IFRC supports theRed Crescent Society of Tajikistan inproviding cash, food parcels, housing supplies and hygiene kits, among other things, to refugees in Tajikistan. The support has also helped the Red Crescent to organize vocational courses, including culinary, driving, beauty courses, and English classes for Afghan kids.Changing attitudesThere are numerous examples of this kind of Red Cross and Red Crescent solidarity work around the world. Numerous National Societies in Europe, for example, offermental health and psychosocial support as well aslanguage classes to refugees from Ukraine.Others work to promote better understanding of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. As part of its longstanding commitment to anti-racism, for example, the Finnish Red Cross developed the Identify and Act Navigator – a digital tool designed to help people recognize their own biases and understand when and how to intervene in racist situations.In three months the Navigator app was viewed by approximately 20, 000 people; roughly 8 000 people completed all the various stages and scenarios presented in the programme.Learn more about how you can join us in solidarity with refugees around the worldIFRC’s approach to migration and displacementGlobal Route-Based Migration ProgrammeHumanitarian Service PointsCase study: Red Cross of Boznia Herzegovina mobile teamCase study: Red Cross of Cyprus mobile migration teamCase study: Local branch of Palilula, Serbian Red CrossCase study: Slovenian Red Cross humanitarian service pointCase study: Red Cross of Montenegro reception centreWorld Refugee Day: Bringing hope to people forced to flee world’s largest displacement crisisWorld Refugee Day: Syrian refugees in Jordan stitch a new life through skills training and education
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Press release
IFRC calls for increased international support as Afghan population movement from Iran intensifies
Herat/Kuala Lumpur/Geneva, 30 June 2025 - The Islam Qala border crossing in western Afghanistan has seen more than 800,000 people from Afghanistan returning from Iran since January 2025. In June alone, over 137,000 people came through Islam Qala, often arriving exhausted and without adequate food, water, or shelter.With rising temperatures, limited resources, and host communities struggling to cope, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is calling for urgent support to meet the needs of those arriving.Afghanistan is already facing many difficulties after decades of conflict, economic problems, and disasters such as earthquakes and floods. Alongside the returnees from Iran, more than 1 million people have also come back from Pakistan since late 2023, putting additional pressure on basic services and humanitarian organizations."This issue hasn’t received the attention it deserves," highlights Alexander Matheou, the Regional Director for Asia Pacific at the IFRC, who visited the border this weekend. "These individuals are not just statistics; they are mothers, fathers, children, and families returning to a country that is already facing significant trials. It’s crucial that we treat them with the dignity they deserve and support them as they work to rebuild their lives."A significant number of returnees are individuals who have spent extended periods—some for decades—in Iran or Pakistan. Their decision to return is influenced by the evolving legal landscape affecting them, challenging economic circumstances and heightened regional tensions impacting those countries.At the border, families endure sweltering temperatures often topping 40°C, armed with the few belongings they could manage to pack. They find shade under blankets, while signs of malnutrition are evident in children, and many mothers appear worn down and anxious.The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), is on-site providing vital assistance. They are offering medical care, clean drinking water, and food to those in need. Their mobile clinics are treating at least 500 patients daily, including pregnant women, children, and the elderly. While serious cases are referred to nearby hospitals, the demand for medical supplies is outpacing availability."Many mothers we talk to are incredibly fatigued, with their primary focus on the well-being of their children”, shares an ARCS nurse.Once registered, families are transported to Herat City. Yet, uncertainty looms over their future. Young individuals who are returning to a homeland they barely know, while their families grapple with finding housing, establishing livelihoods, and educational opportunities.Women and girls face heightened vulnerabilities as they return to a country where their rights are significantly restricted. Access to healthcare, education, and safety remains tenuous."As hundreds of thousands return with almost nothing—lacking homes, jobs, and support—it's essential for governments, donors, and aid organizations to step up and provide greater assistance," Matheou emphasizes."Afghanistan is already under considerable strain. With the numbers of returning individuals increasing daily—and even more anticipated in the near future—this is a crucial time for the global community to unite in support of these families.“The Afghan Red Crescent Society and its partners are doing everything within their power, but the needs are immense. There is an urgent requirement for increased funding, supplies, and long-term support to help these families rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. Together, we can make a difference in their journey towards a more secure and prosperous future.”Spokespeople in Afghanistan and audiovisual material in addition to the below are available upon request.Media professionals can find a collection of audio-visual material through this link.For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Kabul:Nicole van Batenburg, +31 6 38217459In Kuala Lumpur:Afrhill Rances, +60 19 271 3641In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 4367 Hannah Copeland, +41 76 236 9109
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The IFRC has a well-established and successful internship programme which provides students with valuable and relevant work experience within a lively and professional environment. We offera wide range of internships in our offices around the world.
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Our Global Climate Resilience Platform aims to increase the climate resilience, and build the adaptation skills, of 500 million people in the most climate-vulnerable countries.
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Discover job vacancies, consultancy opportunitiesandinternships at the IFRC and learn what it’s like working for the world’s largest humanitarian network.
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Epidemic preparedness and response success stories from the Programmatic Partnership
Epidemics and pandemics are some of the biggest threats to a safe and healthy world. But with effective preparedness and response measures, we can reduce their impacts and even stop them in their tracks.Through the Programmatic Partnership with the European Union, 24 local Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have been working to keep communities healthy and safe from epidemics and pandemics with technical assistance, advocacy support and coordination from IFRC and European National Societies. They do so by equipping communities with knowledge and tools to stop the spread of diseases and by setting up systems so they can report outbreaks quickly, enabling a rapid response from authorities. National Societies have also significantly developed their own epidemic preparedness and response capacity.Among countless successes, this report features seven powerful stories of how National Societies have improved epidemic preparedness and response around the world through the Programmatic Partnership.
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Article
Remote mountainside communities in Nepal: the key source for sustainable solutions in post-earthquake water initiative
The devastating earthquake that struck Nepal in November 2023 not only damaged or destroyed over 75,000 homes and disrupted the livelihood of thousands of people, it also severely damaged critical water sources that communities rely on for everyday survival.In many places, the Karnali earthquake, as it’s called here, altered the local geology enough it disrupted long-time underground water channels. In many cases, springs and wells dried up, or shifted downhill to another location, due to the shifting ground caused by the earthquake.On top of that, the earthwyake severely damaged the infrastructure that brought water to people’s homes and communities. For many communities, this has meant washing, cooking, and irrigating with a lot less available water.To get at the source of the challenge, the Nepal Red Cross Society went directly to the impacted communities. As part of its Karnali Earthquake Response and Recovery Operation, theNepal Red Cross has been working closely with remote rural mountainside communities to create new water sources and systems.From the beginning, the construction of safe drinking water sources involved extensive consultations with local water-use committees, formed to lead the process and ensure that system design is based on a thorough understanding or how and where communities need water delivered.Because most of the intensive household users of water are women, there was significant and enthusiastic female participation, with women taking on important roles of the water committees. One of those women is Mani kumari Khatri, who worked along with her neighbours and the NRCS during the construction of the water supply system.“We now have water from our household tap even after a dry winter this year,”says Mani Kumari Khatri, a local resident of Rukum West. “This water scheme has also provided additional opportunities to grow vegetables in kitchen garden which can be our food, or we can generate some income by selling those vegetables in local market.”“The Red Cross recognised our need for the water and supported the entire building of the water scheme in our community,” she adds. “They worked together with the community to complete the scheme that now benefits twenty-four houses.” With the support of IFRC network, the NRCS supported several communities with safe drinking water systems, along with help with repairs and maintenance in all three earthquake affected districts of Karnali province (Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan). In total, this operation has has so far led to:Construction of 23 water supply projects, out of which 16 were repair and maintenance of the existing systems, and 7 were newly constructed.A total of 951 households (322 Jajarkot, 397 Rukum West and 232 Salyan) benefited from these schemes.These efforts are meant to complement the Nepal government’s nationwide implementation of its “One house, one tap” policy as well as the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets for universal access to safe drinking water by 2030.Getting involved in water scheme constructionHajari Oli is another representative among many who have actively contributed to the construction of water supply scheme. As the committee that was formed, Hajari was appointed treasurer. Besides managing the financial expenses for the water supply scheme, she regularly provided much-needed input in the construction of the water scheme, including a lot of hands-on work with many aspects of the building process.“Our village lies at the top of the hill and remains mostly dry, so we, especially the women, have to take a time-consuming trip to collect and fetch water for drinking and for other household purposes,” says Hajari Oli.Now with the support from Nepal Red Cross, the community is constructing two water reservoir tanks and drinking water will soon be available at household level. “We are very happy and excited with this support from the Red Cross. After it is completed, we will use water for drinking as well as for irrigation,” she adds.Local women also helped to collect and manage locally obtained materials, and participated in pipe laying, digging ground, and active leadership in the water user committee.“We had formed a group and divided the responsibility as per our abilities,”says Bhadi Kumari, a member of the committee. “Everyone from the community, including many older people came out together to contribute with great enthusiasm.”Many community members were also able to contribute their own technical skills and experience. A plumbing technician by trade, Karna has over 30 years of experience in water supply systems under his belt and has been involved in the construction of more than 250 water schemes and reservoir tank building.For this reason, the community commissioned him to help with the construction of the two water schemes in Rukum West district, especially for the building of reservoir tanks and plumbing works.“I had received training on water supply scheme construction a long time ago,”says Karna. “From then onwards, I have been working continuously in constructions of the water schemes in many communities including in the neighbouring districts.”Experienced technicians like Karna were not the only ones that were engaged for the construction of the water scheme but opportunities were also provided to young aspiring students like Bibek so that they can acquire practical hands-on skills and exposure.“I got the opportunity to work as technical volunteer for the Red Cross and it was a privilege to serve my community,”says Bibek, technician from Jajarkot. “In addition, I gained practical experience which expanded my knowledge and confidence.”The Water Safety Plan includes the provision of the maintenance fund, caretaker/plumber and include agreed monthly tariff collection from the users, based on the consumption of water through meter reading.From the beginning, it was clear that the local communities shared the NRCS goal of creating durable solutions.“I am voluntarily leading the construction of the water supply scheme in my community,”says Ram Karki, Chairperson of Water User Committee of Jajarkot. “I want to make this scheme work for generations, as we have faced a lot of challenges for safe drinking water before. We have set water pipeline from more than 8 KM from tough terrain in search of quality and durability of source for this scheme.”Transparency and accountabilityIn Karnali Earthquake Recovery Operation, all the construction of the schemes were done in the leadership of the water user committees. From the beginning of the construction work, NRCS had shared the amount of contribution from the organisation as well as from the community.NRCS had organised public audits in the presence of the community members and local stakeholders before handing over the schemes to the communities. During these public audits, detailed expenditure reports were shared. Information boards with detailed budgets were also put up at construction sites for wider information dissemination and transparency.
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Article
Israel: Magen David Adom brings life-saving care following recent attacks
Since the escalation of conflict between Iran and Israel on 12 June, Magen David Adom (MDA) - Israel’s national emergency medical service - has been operating at its highest level of alert, mobilizing its full range of emergency response capabilities.With 2,000 ambulances and emergency vehicles staffed and running around the clock, MDA has been at the forefront of life-saving efforts across the country.During the two weeks of hostilities, MDA teams have treated more than 1,300 patients on the ground and transported many to hospitals.Their work extends beyond emergency medical care, however. Teams have been actively involved in urban search and rescue operations, freeing survivors from the rubble of collapsed buildings, and evacuating vulnerable patients, including bedridden individuals and premature infants, using specially equipped intensive care buses.MDA has also launched a national blood donation campaign, and despite the challenging conditions and public advisories to stay at home, collected over 10,000 units of blood.Courage to work under fireThe dangers faced by MDA teams are very real as they respond to emergency calls while missile attacks are ongoing. In just one example, a Mobile Intensive Care Unit team — including paramedic Nitzan Oren, and emergency medical technicians Irit Naor and Eti Cohen — was dispatched to a routine emergency call in the Dan Region on 13 June.While en route, they received an alert for incoming rockets. Following protocols, they pulled over, exited the vehicle, and took cover.A rocket exploded just hundreds of meters away, severely damaging their ambulance. Thanks to their quick thinking, protective equipment and adherence to safety instructions, the three women sustained only minor injuries. “If we hadn’t acted that way, we wouldn’t be here today,” said Nitzan Oren.
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Article
Islamic Republic of Iran: Red Crescent teams respond to urgent humanitarian needs
During the escalation of hostilities in the international armed conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel, the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has had their emergency preparedness and response teams on the ground responding to humanitarian needs.In areas impacted by the conflict, Iranian Red Crescent relief teams have been conducting search and rescue operations as they look for people believed to be trapped under the debris of buildings damaged by airstrikes.To date, more than 8,200 relief and rescue personnel have been mobilized to deliver critical services across various regions. These include search and rescue teams, sniffer dog units, assessment teams, and debris removal specialists. IRCS crews have been combing through the debris and using sniffer dogs to rescue people trapped under the rubble. Meanwhile ambulance teams have provided urgent pre-hospital care and medical evacuations to nearby hospitals for people who have been injured.Moreover, psychological support teams and volunteers have been working on the ground to help survivors cope with trauma caused by the recent attacks. Additionally, the national psychological support hotline, now operating 24/7, has received over 72,000 calls, and more than 9,900 individuals have benefited from specialized mental health services.The IRCS Youth Organization’s BAVAR Teams are also actively engaging with affected communities to strengthen preparedness and local resilience through outreach and education.Meanwhile, safety teams have distributed emergency and safety kits and raised awareness about safety protocols that can save lives during missile attacks.The Iranian Red Crescent has also helped more than 1,100 people displaced by the fighting to find emergency accommodations.First responders under fireThe conflict has also led to the deaths of four Iranian Red Crescent emergency responders.To date, four IRCS staff members (Mehdi Zartaji, Mojtaba Maleki, Amir Hassan Jamshidpour and Yaser Zivari)have been killed in the line of duty, providing rescue and relief services in the provinces of Tehran (2), East Azerbaijan (1), and Hamedan (1).Two of those emergency responders were killed while driving an ambulance to assist people wounded in an earlier attack in the Shahid Baqeri Township in Tehran on 16 June 2025. The damaged and badly burnt ambulance has been put on display in Tehran's Haft-e Tir Square as a public memorial to the lost ambulance crew.Update (2 July 2025): The Iranian Red Crescent Society has confirmed the death of another one of its members amid the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran. Seyyed Ali Akbar Mir Mohammadi, a volunteer relief worker, was killed in an attack while carrying out his humanitarian duties in Isfahan on 22 June 2025. This brings the total number of IRCS staff and volunteers killed during the conflict to 5.In addition, the Iranian Red Crescent says that more than two dozen aid workers were injured during the attacks and are currently unable to continue their relief efforts. IRCS ambulances, helicopters and buildings have also been damaged, according to the National Society.Humanitarian response continuesDespite these challenging conditions, the humanitarian response continues. Damaged infrastructure, blockades, and unsafe roads have hindered aid delivery and complicated coordination, especially given restrictions on regional flights.The presence of unexploded ordnance and other explosive remnants of war adds further danger for both civilians and aid workers, who are often operating in densely affected neighborhoods.Despite these grave challenges, the Iranian Red Crescent remains steadfast in its mission, delivering life-saving support and solidarity to communities in need.Their work is being supported in part by a one million Swiss Franc allocation from the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF), to provide immediate life-saving assistance to 200,000 people affected by the complex emergency.This funding directly supports the Iranian Red Crescent's coordinated search and rescue, emergency health services, and psychosocial support, and contributes to strengthening their overall capacity.
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Press release
Myanmar Earthquakes – 100 Days On
Yangon/Kuala Lumpur/Geneva, 3 July –A selection of photos isavailable: https://shared.ifrc.org/collections/~370ee1ab10This Sunday, 6 July, marks 100 days since two powerful earthquakes struck central Myanmar, killing more than 3,700 people, injuring thousands more, and affecting over 1.3 million people.The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Myanmar Red Cross Society continue to respond to the devastating impact of the disaster, as it enters a new and critical phase.Red Cross teams are now seeing families begin to return home and restart their lives. But new threats are emerging, and urgent funding is needed to meet recovery needs.The next 100 days will shape how people move from survival to recovery.Spokespeople are available in Myanmar, Kuala Lumpur, and Geneva to mark the 100-day milestone and provide insights into the humanitarian situation and response.Limited interview slots are available on Sunday, 6 July. Spokespeople will also be available throughout the week of July 7.To request an interview or more information, contact: [email protected] Yangon: Swe Zin Myo Win, +95 979 595 6050In Kuala Lumpur: Afrhill Rances, +60 19 271 3641In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 4367 Scott Craig, +41 76 370 3575
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Article
International Indigenous Peoples' Day: Ngäbe communities in Chiriquí, Panama lead the way in climate resilience
In the last fifty years, Panama has experienced an increase in extreme weather events, such as intense and prolonged rains, windstorms, floods, droughts, forest fires, landslides, tropical cyclones and the effects of El Niño and La Niña phenomena.By the end of 2023, Panama was facing a major drought. And before that there have also been severe storms — such as hurricanes Eta and Iota. Those storms flooded most of Soloy, an area that is part of the Ngäbe indigenous territory, and the Tierras Altas district in Chiriquí.This part of northwestern Panama is also one of the main agricultural areas in the country, and one of the most affected by these hurricanes, which have prompted the community to prepare for possible similar events.Since then, disaster risk management has become a fundamental task, driven by the active participation of indigenous community leaders such as Dalia, Eusebio and Wilfredo from Soloy, and the commitment of neighbours such as Doña María, who lives in Las Nubes, in Tierras Altas. These efforts enjoy the full support of local actors and in particular, the Panamanian Red Cross.The IFRC continues to emphasize that communities must be at the center of disaster and climate crisis preparedness. Here are the three main reasons why:1. It’s going to happen again: Preparing for recurrent disasters"One of the situations that occur during the winter season are the flooding of rivers, because we have a large number of rivers in the community; and also landslides, which leave houses and roads affected", says Eusebio Bejarano, a leader in the community of Soloy.That is why the Panamanian Red Cross worked alongside the community as it prepared an assessment and established Community Response Brigades. In addition, they have begun using something called the Nexus Environmental Assessment Tool, which helps to quickly identify environmental concerns before designing longer-term emergency or recovery interventions."It is an environmental assessment tool that has allowed us to understand the context of the activities carried out by the community and, above all, how we can work to protect the livelihoods of this community, which is rural and depends heavily on subsistence agriculture", explains Daniel González, head of risk management for the Panamanian Red Cross.At the family and individual level, actions can also be taken to protect the homes of people like Doña María, who lives near the river bank and has worked on a family evacuation plan. She is now prepared to act in case of flooding.2. It’s local people who are first to respond: Strengthening community response capacitiesPart of the preparedness process requires communities to strengthen their learning, technical and leadership capacities to better adapt to the crisis situations. This is critical because community organizations are the first to respond when disasters occur and often have access to areas where international actors do not.The presence of these community groups before, during and after crises means they can more readily respond while also fostering long-term preparedness and recovery."We must prepare ourselves in First Aid, the authorities must be trained, the teaching staff and the community,” says Dalia, the leader of the Psychosocial Support Brigade in Soloy. “The Red Cross has brought different types of training, in which young people have participated, but we need more communities and more young people to get involved."The implementation of educational projects, such as blue schools, which incorporate learning about water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), recycling and school gardens, are a sample of the actions that the communities are carrying out with the support of the Panamanian Red Cross."We have trained the Fire Fighting Brigade, the First Aid Brigade; but we have also worked on strengthening resilience in three schools in Alto Bonito, Boca de Remedio and Soloy,” says Daniel González, head of risk management of the Panamanian Red Cross. “In addition, we have provided them with first aid kits and rigid boards, along with training for teachers and the educational community."3. Communities know what’s at stake: Strengthening community resilienceCommunities are the heart of climate-crisis preparedness because they know what’s at stake — their environment and the survival of their way of life. In the face of the climate crisis and increasingly uncertain scenarios, this is why the Red Cross works with communities to strengthen local resilience to climate-related shocks."We have worked hand-in-hand with the Red Cross, organizing and preparing for situations that have been occurring with the climate crisis, focusing a lot on the community, working with leadership, working with authorities and visiting communities", says Eusebio Bejarano.Community resilience enables communities to prepare for disasters and create a safe, healthy and prosperous future. To do this, communities must record information on all relevant hazards and their causes, health threats, hazards, conflict, violence, climate crisis, environmental degradation. Only then will they be able to set priorities together and decide how best to address them.Another leader from Soloy, Wilfredo highlights the importance of promoting empathy and collective care and stresses the importance of caring for nature. He emphasizes that the mountains and rivers are fundamental for community life. The Ngäbe indigenous population has also brought to the table the need to take cultural elements such as language into account when planning preparedness actions.A resilient community is one that is experienced, healthy and able to meet its basic needs. It’s a community that has economic opportunities, well-maintained and accessible infrastructure and services, and can manage its natural assets in harmony with the environment. And it’s a community that can focus on moving forward, and on things that bring joy and meaning, rather than continually recovering from the sudden shocks of the climate crisis.Disaster preparedness and community resilience actions are also being carried out in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Ecuador, thanks to the Programmatic Partnership between the IFRC network and the European Union, which provides strategic, flexible, long-term and predictable funding, so that National Societies can act before an emergency occurs.Just like in Chiriquí, more than 56,000 people in these five countries are now prepared to respond to a disaster.
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International Indigenous Peoples' Day: Mayan women from Guatemala at the heart of community health
Gladis Gómez wears a purple Huipil, a traditional outfit worn by people from the mountainous, western part of Guatemala. The colour represents mourning, as she sadly lost a distant relative a few days earlier.Despite this, a smile lights up her face—a smile that so many people in her community recognise.Gladis is the President of a local health committee in her small village of Xecaracoj. The committee brings together a dozen rural women who have been trained in key health issues by the Guatemalan Red Cross so they can help promote healthy practices in their community.Together, the women go door to door around their village, sharing knowledge on how people can prevent common diseases and deaths, especially among children.This work is vital. Guatemala has one of the highest rates of child malnutrition in the world, and more than half the population live below the poverty line. The COVID-19 pandemic also took a heavy toll on the country – with 20,000 people dying from the disease within 3 years.‘’We have spread the new knowledge given to us by the Guatemalan Red Cross to inform men, boys and girls about things as simple as hand washing, cleaning our homes and our streets, and the importance of breastfeeding and nutrition.”“We now know that healthy habits make the difference between having a strong and healthy community or continuing to take our babies to the hospital,'' says Gladis.Juan Poyón, Epidemic and Pandemic Control Technician for the Guatemalan Red Cross, says he’s learned a lot from the health committees, like the one run by Gladis, and has used the women’s local knowledge to guide and improve their support.“We identified key issues, for example, that their priorities were the prevention of COVID-19 or malnutrition. Today, with the committees already trained, we identified that the women wanted to reach more people, in fact, they prioritised radio, information kiosks or messages via WhatsApp as the best channels to share their knowledge more widely,” explains Juan.To share these valuable community insights even further, the Guatemalan Red Cross connected the women-led health committees with the country's Ministry of Health—which has proved to be an eye opener for the national authorities. They’re now working together to improve community health across the country.Ana Gómez, Epidemiologist at the Guatemalan Ministry of Health, explained:“We have worked with the Guatemalan Red Cross to identify people’s needs, respecting the diversity of the population. We learned about, and welcomed, women's points of view to strengthen community health, and along the way we confirmed that their role is key.”“Women are the main users of health services. They also play a fundamental role in the education of the next generation who will be in charge of the country. Involving women ensures positive behavioural change in families and communities, and therefore contributes to improving Guatemala's health,” says Ana.Spending time with Gladis, it’s clear to see that she takes a lot of pride in her work, and that she and her fellow health committee members are happy their voices are being heard.As she sits and weaves herself a new corte – a traditional Mayan skirt – she points to the yellow stripes that represent hope.“Tomorrow I will wear a yellow Huipil to represent the colour of life, the rays of the sun, and corn,” says Gladis.“The women of this community are special, very special, because today we have the knowledge to protect life.”--The promotion of these local health committees in Guatemala is part of the epidemic and pandemic preparedness pillar of our Programmatic Partnership with the European Union.Implemented by 24 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world, including in Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Ecuador in the Americas, the Programmatic Partnership helps communities to reduce their risks and be better prepared for disasters and health emergencies.Like them, more than 305,000 people now have the tools and knowledge to prevent epidemics and improve the health of their communities in these five countries.
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