'A child belongs to the community': Mothers take the lead in fight against hunger in northern Nigeria

World Humanitarian Day: ‘If I can help my mother, I can help my community too’

“It was early 2011. Something strange started happening to our neighbours—they said they were ill and wounds started appearing on their skin.”A nurse from Karangmojo village in Boyolali, Indonesia, Siti Imroatus begins the story that would change her life, and the lives of many in her community. It happened nearly 15 years ago, when a mysterious series of events began to befall her small community rural community.“We knew it was something to do with their cows, which they’d recently slaughtered to eat and sell”.It was this experience, the effect it had on her own family, and the process of solving this mystery that Siti (known to friends and family as “Bu Im”) to join the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia). It was also the beginning of a determined, long-time commitment from Bu Im to keep working to ensure this kind of outbreak wouldn’t happen again.On World Humanitarian Day2025 (19 August), we unite with humanitarians around the world under the banner #ActforHumanity to honour the courage of people like Siti, whotake the initiativeto protect others and save lives — even while they themselves are affected by the same challenges.This is Siti’sstoryin her own words.“Local health authorities came to investigate and it turned out to beanthrax, an infectious disease spread through animals which is caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis.“My mother fell sick, too, because she had handled a piece of meat that was apparently infected. She then had wounds on her hands and I immediately took her to the nearest hospital so she could be treated.“I knew I had to act quickly and because when she was treated quickly, she healed faster. I was living elsewhere at the time, but I stayed with my mother and took care of her until she got completely better.“I thought, if I can help my mother, I can help my community too. I wanted to motivate people and give them advice on how to stay healthy so we can avoid another outbreak—of anthrax or of any other disease. So that’s why I became a Red Cross volunteer.“In 2018 I joined the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme, which we call ‘CP3’. It’s a programme that helps communities like mine in Indonesia to be prepared for and to prevent disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics.“When I joined, I was trained inepidemic control andcommunity-based surveillance so I could advise my community on different infectious diseases and report anything unusual.“Communities may not be very well-informed about anthrax. But it is a serious disease which can infect animals and humans, and old people in my community are especially vulnerable.“The other year there was an anthrax outbreak in Yogyakarta and several people died. So I keep educating my village with my fellow volunteers because I want my family to be healthy and I want my community to be healthy.“The best thing about being a volunteer is being useful to my family and the community. I know that if I can detect and report diseases quickly, we will all be safer.”---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 theU.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.To learn more about anthrax and other infectious diseases,visit the IFRC’s Epidemic Control Toolkit.If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more, sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter.  For World Humanitarian Day 2025, learn how you can support those who #ActforHumanity.World Humanitarian Day 2025: An urgent call to honor, respect and protect those who #ActforHumanityStand with us to protect humanityHonor the fallen: visit the IFRC In Memoriam pageSupport the Red Family FundMake a donation to the Red Family Fund

The Lebanese Red Cross, IFRC and Gavi protect 19,000 displaced children from preventable diseases in Lebanon

Produced in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance's VaccinesWork platform. Written by Sara Matar.On a sun-scorched, treeless hilltop in Hermel, northeastern Lebanon, more than twenty tarpaulin tents cluster together on dry, cracked earth. This makeshift settlement — one of several recently established camps — is now home to around 280 refugees from Syria. There is no running water or electricity. Open sewage threatens to contaminate drinking and cooking water, and disease spreads rapidly, as it often does in overcrowded, displaced communities. Life here is difficult for everyone, but especially so for children.Eight-year-old Batoul Jardo, who fled Homs, Syria, with her family a few months ago, has tears in her eyes as she asks, "How are we supposed to live in the midst of this hell?"Seven-year-old Baneel Kazem Hammoud, also from Syria, scratches her arms in discomfort, the result of a painful skin infection. Thankfully, her illness is not life-threatening. But even small gaps in healthcare access can spark deadly outbreaks. In high-risk environments like this, vaccination is more than healthcare, it’s protection.A protective shieldBetween December 2024 and April 2025, a vaccination campaign led by the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC), in coordination with the IFRC and the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, immunized 19,000 children — Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian — living in the country’s most vulnerable and underserved communities.The campaign, funded by Gavi, targeted children in four of Lebanon’s most affected governorates: Mount Lebanon, Baalbek-Hermel, Bekaa, and Akkar."Given the displacement, poor access to primary healthcare, and Lebanon’s ongoing crises, this programme helped us reach the most at-risk children and reconnect them with the routine immunization system,” said Tasneem Obeid, Senior Immunization Officer at IFRC. “Raising awareness and delivering vaccines in underserved communities remains critical."Lebanon’s recent history has been shaped by a series of overlapping crises: a financial collapse, a global pandemic, the catastrophic Beirut port explosion in 2020, and multiple regional conflicts spilling into the country. These events have compounded public health challenges.The Lebanese Red Cross, supported by over 12,000 trained volunteers and equipped with robust data systems, is playing a vital role in bridging gaps in healthcare access, and is working to rebuild trust in vaccines and restoring routine services disrupted by COVID-19.Closing the gap after COVIDThe pandemic not only disrupted health services, but it also eroded public confidence in vaccines. Misinformation surged in 2021, prompting the Lebanese Red Cross to launch a nationwide campaign. In October and November of that year, the National Society deployed 33 mobile clinics to remote and underserved areas, delivering life-saving vaccines and reliable health information.Kassem Shaalan, Director of the LRC’s Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, says the recent Gavi-funded project significantly expanded their reach:"From October 2021 to April 2025, LRC vaccinated over 700,000 children,” he said. “Thanks to Gavi’s latest support, we reached 19,000 children in just five months, a vital response to the growing needs of displaced families following the recent escalation of hostilities."He added: "With this new funding, we increased the number of mobile vaccination teams from seven to twelve. These teams were deployed based on need, especially in overcrowded areas like Akkar, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel."Building trust, one mother at a timeIn a refugee camp in Zahle, Bekaa Governorate — home to around 200 Syrian children — an LRC mobile team is working to prevent outbreaks. The team includes a medical supervisor, a lead nurse, a data officer, a team leader, and two volunteers.One of their strongest allies is Rabea’a Al-Hussein, a mother of five who has been living in the camp since 2014. Her youngest children were vaccinated by LRC teams, and now she volunteers to help. She moves between tents to notify other parents of upcoming visits and comforts nervous children during the vaccination process.For her, the trust-building aspect is just as important as the medical care. "It’s not only the vaccines that matter," she says, "It’s how they calm our fears."In Fakeha, Baalbek, 34 kilometres north of Zahle, Nermine Waleed Hussein — a displaced Lebanese mother of two — agrees:"Awareness sessions helped mothers like me understand how crucial vaccines are. I always check my phone for updates to make sure my children are safe. I’m truly grateful for all the support we’ve received."Hope amid hardshipBaalbek-Hermel Governorate alone hosts 150 shelters, ranging from small hilltop clusters like the one Batoul and Baneel live in, to much larger settlements. These shelters are home to nearly 90,000 displaced people. Health staff report recent outbreaks of measles and hepatitis — both vaccine-preventable diseases. But in these conditions, controlling fast-moving infections is a constant challenge.Still, the lines of children queuing for vaccinations offer a sign of hope. Nurses say the turnout is always strong, and communities are increasingly engaged.For Hala Hassan Jardo, Batoul’s mother, the presence of Lebanese Red Cross health workers is a rare comfort."We fled Homs five months ago," she said. “No one helped us except the Red Cross, they brought vaccines, medicine, awareness — real healthcare.”

Hurricanes in sight: the Red Cross scales up training and preparedness

With the Americas region now well into the 2025 hurricane season, Red Cross teams in the region have been busy working alongside communities to prepare for what forecasters say will be yet another above-normal storm season.But even an average hurricane season can have devastating consequences for the people, as all it takes is one storm to affect entire towns and cities. That is why Red Cross preparedness work was already well underway even before this year’s forecast.The National Societies of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are among the most vulnerable to these extreme events due to their geographical location. The scale of the preparedness work now going on across the Americas is largely due to the experience with extremely devastating storms in the past – in particular Hurricane Mitch in 1998.Hurricane Mitch’s devastating passage left more than 11,000 people dead and millions affected, marking a turning point in the way National Societies in the region prepare for such extreme events. For people involved in emergency response and risk reduction, the storm was a game changer.Two decades later, in 2020, hurricanes Eta and Iota affected more than seven million people, most of them — more than four million — in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala, the countries that had also been hardest hit by Mitch.But the results were different. In the time between one tragedy and another, the region and humanitarian organizations prepared in advance with response plans, training, drills, and institutional strengthening to reduce the impact of these disasters. This allowed the number of fatalities from Eta and Iota to be much lower than that of Mitch.From Mexico to South America, many National Societies have transformed the terrible experience of Hurricane Mitch into concrete action. Their mission: to be better prepared each year to respond more quickly and effectively to the arrival of potential hurricanes.Here are just a few of the many ways Red Cross National Societies in the region are working to get ahead of the storms and help communities prepare.Salvadoran Red Cross: Pre-positioning of humanitarian aid and access to weather forecastsThe Salvadoran Red Cross has contingency and response plans, which allow for more agile responses to extreme rainfall and landslides caused by tropical storms and hurricanes. According to Omar Ayala, Head of Crisis and Disasters at the Salvadoran Red Cross, the National Society has pre-positioned materials for humanitarian aid in its branches, guided by the nationalHazards Observatory’s forecasts.“This strategy has significantly reduced response times: what could previously take up to two days, is now done in just two hours,” assures Omar. Furthermore, in the context of monitoring and early warning, the Salvadoran Red Cross has recently signed a letter of understanding with the Hazards Observatory: “This agreement allows us to access weather forecasts early to be better prepared for the eventual arrival of a hurricane,” says Omar.In preparation for this and the coming hurricane seasons, the National Society wants to promote the preventive outreach of populations in at-risk areas even more, so they know what to do before, during and after a hurricane strikes.Honduran Red Cross: Early Warning Systems and strategic alliancesIn Honduras, Red Cross teams has invested in technical training for volunteers and staff in topics such as water rescue, pre-hospital care, cash transfer systems, water, sanitation and hygiene, and unmanned aerial systems.The Honduran Red Cross also highlights its investment inEarly Warning Systems (EWS) (specific measures guided by early warnings or forecasts to protect people before a disaster strikes), implemented in watersheds such as Chamelecón and Aguán."The experience withTropical Storm Sara, the last of the 2024 hurricane season, which affected more than 300,000 people in Honduras, showed the value of communities taking ownership of these early warning systems to ensure that the vulnerable populations receive the necessary information in time. That preparedness saved lives," says Manuel Isaula, risk and disaster manager for the Honduran Red Cross..Another good practice in the face of tropical Storm Sara was establishing strategic alliances with national and international actors: “Effective coordination between government, non-government, and community organizations to ensure the appropriation of knowledge, risk analysis, monitoring, and response capacity was and will always be key in our preparedness and response plans,” Isaula concludes.Guatemalan Red Cross: Development of Anticipatory Actions and Contingency PlansTeresa Marroquín, Director of Risk and Disaster Management at the Guatemalan Red Cross, says the National Society has strengthened its hurricane response capacity through several key actions –In particular the development of “early-action plans” that lay out key steps to take before the storms make landfall.“Early Action Plans (EAPs) funded by the IFRC have been developed to respond to flooding caused by extreme storms,”Marroquin says. “One successful example was the activation of Early Actions Plans duringTropical Storm Julia in October 2022, which helped us to provide a better response to those who needed it most.”Close coordination with official weather forecasting sources is key to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian operations during the hurricane season. Teresa also stresses the importance of developing contingency plans, providing training, and equipping volunteers for pre-hospital care and search and rescue in floods, especially in high-risk areas.'A key tool for understanding'Another key element to prepare for the hurricane season within the Red Cross world is the continuous learning and training of National Society staff and volunteers.In 2024, with support from theReference Centre for Institutional Disaster Preparedness (CREPD) in the Americas, more than 6,000 people were trained, both online and in person, through courses and practical training at the regional level, with the aim of strengthening their knowledge in search and rescue, health, humanitarian assistance, and logistics coordination.According to Edgardo Barahona, CREPD Coordinator, these training sessions, based on practical exercises and emergency simulations, not only strengthen the technical capacities of National Societies, but also promote comprehensive preparedness in line with IFRC global standards:"They are a key tool for understanding the usefulness of response, contingency, and anticipation plans,”he says.“Through experiential methodologies and simulated scenarios, teams can directly experience the challenges of an emergency, allowing for better operational coordination." says Barahona.According to the CREPD Coordinator, preparing teams at the local level allows National Societies to lead high-quality, timely responses, tailored to address the demands of each specific context, especially in the face of events such as hurricanes or other frequent disasters in the region.This type of preparedness is critical because the hurricane season threatens not only countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, but also more than 30 territories in the Americas, which face increasing risks due to extreme weather events aggravated by climate change.That said, the experiences in Central America confirm a vital lesson: preparedness is not optional, it is key to save lives. It requires sustained investment, strong partnerships, and the strengthening of National Society capacities to deal with crises and disasters – all of which are core elements of the IFRC’s regional approach to helping communities prepare for every coming storm season.Learn more about the IFRC’s approach to:Climate-smart disaster risk reductionDisaster and crisis preparednessEarly warning, early action

'The deaths must stop': IFRC Secretary General speech for World Humanitarian Day 2025

On World Humanitarian Day (August 19, 2025) I had the solemn duty of reflecting on the rising attacks against our staff and volunteers, and calling for stronger protection of humanitarian workers. The event was hosted by the IFRC with the support of the Australian mission in Geneva.At the IFRC, we’re proud to support the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel – an Australian Government initiative which will set out practical and actionable steps to protect humanitarian workers. I was delighted to hear that the Declaration is nearing finalization. States will be invited to commit to driving real, practical action to protect humanitarian workers very soon.Below is the is the speech I gave during the event:"Until four days ago, Honelegn Fentahun was one of our best. Dedicated to the collective mission of the Red Cross, Red Crescent family. Honoring our Fundamental Principles. Local to his community. Committed to it. He was part of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society's North Gondar team.But, on 14 August, as Honelegn and two colleagues were returning from delivering an ambulance to Janamora district – their vehicle was intercepted, and they were kidnapped by armed men. The three were released the next day, without their vehicle. But Honelegn’s health had been gravely affected. He died on August 15.Awful. And – tragically – just the latest.This year our National Societies have lost EIGHTEEN people while on duty. Honelegn’s death is not an exception — it is part of a worrying trend.Take another – more horrific still. Rifatt Radwan was 23-years-old; a volunteer with the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS). A dedicated humanitarian, serving his community.With whatever he could earn, he supported his ill father and dreamt of continuing his studies. But before he could fulfill those dreams, Rifat was killed on duty alongside SEVEN fellow PRCS ambulance staff, in Tel-Al-Sultan, Rafah. Their bodies were found buried in the sand, still wearing their red vests.Rifat and Honelegn’s stories are among many. Far too many.In 2025 alone, the PRCS has lost 9 colleagues on duty. Since October 7, 2023, 31 colleagues from the PRCS have died. Magen David Adom – our National Society in Israel - has lost 6 colleagues since the same date.In 2024 overall, 32 volunteers and staff of National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies lost their lives. And I repeat - already 18 colleagues from our members have been killed on duty this year. All local. All working to save lives in their communities.I’ve visited lots of National Societies this year, from Syria to Somalia, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Lesotho - and one thing keeps standing out. While, with funding cuts particularly, many international organizations are leaving, National Red Crescent and Red Cross staff and volunteers remain. They are often the only ones on the ground.They do the work so necessary and yet so often overlooked. It’s vital. We must protect it. We must protect THEM. In the last few years, our volunteers have become targets. The Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems on their vests and helmets – which should be shields – are ignored.That’s why we back – 100 per cent - the forthcoming Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel to protect humanitarian workers. This declaration is a big step forward in protecting those who protect others . . . particularly LOCAL workers, committed to the communities in which they live and work. And I applaud the leadership of Australia in this regard.At the IFRC, we do not start and stop at condolences. We stand up to protect those we can. This is the work we've been doing for some time. This year, and especially today, we are pushing for our #ProtectHumanity exhibit with the names and photos of colleagues lost in the course of their work.We must and do mourn but today is also about looking forward - committing to action that puts an end to violence against humanitarian workers. So, here’s what we are doing.First: supporting families. Last year at our General Assembly we launched the 'Red Family Fund’ to support families of those killed on duty. The fund is a sign of solidarity, to show families they are not alone. We welcome the efforts of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to promote the Red Family Fund as part of their World Humanitarian Day campaign. If you’d like to contribute anything – big or small – donations can be made through this link.Second, we must raise awareness. We want the world to know the names and if possible, the stories of those we have lost. That’s why I started with two today. We urge people to use their voices to say humanitarians are NOT a target, to raise awareness in their own networks and communities . . . and to urge leaders to uphold their obligations under international law.Finally, we must seek action. And that is why the Declaration that Clare mentioned, and we’re committed to, is so vital.As part of its ongoing commitment, the IFRC is collecting messages of solidarity and condolences in two dedicated books: one for the families and colleagues of those who have died, and another to express support, empathy, and unity with staff and volunteers. These messages will be shared on International Volunteer Day, December 5, as a gesture of appreciation for the extraordinary dedication of humanitarian workers worldwide.The protection of those who are the frontlines of crises is not optional – it is essential. Their work is vital, yet their safety increasingly fragile. The international community must act decisively and ensure that humanitarian workers are never again treated as targets. The deaths must – I repeat MUST – stop."

Malnutrition Crisis Northwest Nigeria

An estimated two million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in Nigeria, yet only 20% are receiving treatment.New primary data collected in July 2025 by the Nigerian Red Cross (NRCS) shows 47% - 47.8% of children assessed are suffering from SAM in three local government areas (Zango and Kankara in Katsina state and Wamako in Sokoto state).The data also shows, in Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states, of those assessed, more children are malnourished (moderately and severely) than not malnourished.The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an emergency appeal, to support the Nigerian Red Cross (NRCS) in scaling up their response to malnutrition, aiming to reach one million people.Abuja, Nigeria, 19 August 2025 - The malnutrition crisis in Nigeria is escalating and urgent action is needed to save lives. Without immediate intervention, 1.8 million children could die from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). According to new data collected by Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS), 84% of healthcare facilities in six northern states reported insufficient stocks of lifesaving ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF). At the same time, many key partners are having to withdraw or halt their programming due to funding cuts.The UN are closing half of their health clinics in northeast Nigeria, while states like Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara in the northwest, have been facing a silent emergency for years. MSF conducted a survey at the end of 2024 which showed some local government areas in Katsina had SAM rates of 6.8% - 14.4%, a far cry from the 47% - 47.8% we have seen in neighbouring areas, July this year. The Red Cross are providing funding for ready-to-use therapeutic food and are channelling community volunteers into healthcare facilities to support the treatment of SAM.Alongside alarming SAM statistics reported in Katsina and Sokoto, are concerning moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) figures. In Maradun, Zamfara, 48.5% of children are suffering with MAM. Without improved community-level surveillance and monitoring of MAM cases, the burden placed on local healthcare services, with the appropriate facilities to treat SAM, will be insurmountable. Red Cross volunteers are embedded within their communities and are therefore well placed to conduct this monitoring. In addition, volunteers are teaching women to make a supplementary food called Tom Brown (a locally produced flour mix of grains, soy and peanuts), which can prevent MAM evolving into SAM.Francis Salako, Head of the Abuja Delegation for IFRC says, “Without additional support hundreds, if not thousands, of children will needlessly die of malnutrition in coming months. The fact that, in some LGAs, around 50% of children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and may need to be hospitalised to survive, is alarming. We need to raise the alarm immediately. Things are going to get worse.”The IFRC recently launched the Africa Zero Hunger Campaign starting with six countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, DRC, Mali, and Zimbabwe. This bold step focuses on addressing hunger in Africa through lasting, community-driven initiatives. You can learn more about the campaign here.Note to editors:Visuals are available for downloadFor more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected]  In Abuja:Aduratomi Bolade +234 803 389 6862; Lauren Sabin +234 813 121 3919In Nairobi:Susan Mbalu +254 733 827 654In Geneva: Hannah Copeland +41 76 236 9109

Epidemic and pandemic preparedness

The IFRC and our National Societies engage and support people worldwide in epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response. We help them prepare for, prevent, detect and quickly respond to infectious disease outbreaks—saving countless lives and promoting healthier communities.

'A grave betrayal of humanity': Abhorrent attacks on aid workers must stop

Geneva (IFRC/ICRC)— In 2025 alone, 18 staff and volunteers of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement were killed while carrying out their lifesaving work in Gaza, in Sudan, in South Sudan, in Iran, in Ethiopia and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Many others have been killed off duty – in their homes, with their families or simply going about daily life. Others have been injured, arbitrarily detained or kidnapped.Deliberately targeting humanitarian organisations through false and harmful information adds to the threats faced by aid workers, notably by portraying them as legitimate targets.Despite these risks, our colleagues continue to show up not because they are fearless, but because the suffering is too urgent to ignore. Yet, courage is not protection, and dedication does not deflect bullets.The Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, which seeks to unite states in reversing this tragic trend, is a critical step and must translate into tangible action on the ground.The rules of war are clear: humanitarian personnel must be respected and protected. Every attack is a grave betrayal of humanity, and the rules designed to protect them and the communities they serve. Each killing sends a dangerous message that their lives were expendable. They were not.We call on all states, parties to conflict and global leaders to take immediate concrete steps to protect those who risk everything to save lives. When humanitarian workers are protected, so is our shared humanity.

Afghanistan: Population movement (returnees)

Since September 2023, nearly one million Afghans, including over 118,400 in April 2025 alone, have returned from Pakistan following the implementation of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. A further 1.5 million people are estimated to be affected or at risk in the months ahead. As they arrive in communities already strained by poverty, food insecurity, and limited healthcare, urgent support is needed to help them rebuild their lives safely and with dignity.Your donation will help the Afghan Red Crescent Society provide vital support to returnees and the communities that host them.

Southwest Indian Ocean: Tropical Cyclone Chido

Tropical Cyclone Chido, a Category 4-equivalent storm with devastating winds and rains, severely impacted the Southwest Indian Ocean region, causing at least 117 deaths and affecting over a million people across Madagascar, the Comoros, Mayotte, Mozambique, and Malawi. Chido is the third named storm in the 2024-2025 cyclone season which is expected to continue until May 2025. Your donation will help the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, and Malawi to provide life-saving assistance, and enhance preparedness for future storms.

IFRC Annual Report 2023

Welcome to the IFRC’s Annual Report for 2023. This report details how the IFRC supported the principled local humanitarian action of 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in 2023, and how the IFRC network together reached and supported more than 200 million people in crisis.The report takes an indepth look at how the IFRC network not only responded to disasters and crises in 2023, but worked together to anticipate them, reduce their impacts, and ensure that National Societies and communities alike were prepared, informed, and ready to respond.The Annual Report is accompanied by a separate report on how Regular Resources – unearmarked donations – helped the IFRC to provide vital support to National Societies at country, regional and global levels in 2023.

The price of humanity: Protecting those who serve

By Kate Forbes, IFRC PresidentWhen I decided to run for the position of IFRC President, I never thought that one of my most painful responsibilities in this role would be writing condolence letters. Yet, over the past years, I have written far too many - to our National Societies, to grieving families, to colleagues mourning the loss of their friends and loved ones.Each letter is written with a heavy heart.Each letter is a reminder of the immense sacrifice borne by those who choose to serve humanity.Nothing prepares you for the message that another of our staff or volunteers has been killed while carrying out humanitarian work.Each time I receive the devastating news of another colleague killed in the line of duty, I am overwhelmed with sorrow and with anger.Sorrow, because every loss is personal. Behind every statistic is a face, a name, a life dedicated to service. They are fathers and mothers, daughters and sons, friends and neighbours. They are people who believed in compassion, who wore our Red Cross and Red Crescent emblem as a promise of humanity. Their absence leaves an unfillable void in their families, in their communities, and in our Red Cross and Red Crescent network.Anger, because this should not be happening. Humanitarian workers are not and must never be a target. Yet they continue to be attacked, abducted, and killed. We issue statement after statement, appeal after appeal, reminding governments and parties to conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law. Still, the violence persists. And still, families are left to grieve in silence while the world moves on too quickly.We must raise our voices louder, together. We must demand accountability where there is impunity. We must continue to insist on the protection and respect that humanitarian law guarantees.We must raise our voices louder, together. We must demand accountability where there is impunity. We must continue to insist on the protection and respect that humanitarian law guarantees.IFRC President Kate ForbesThe weight of this reality is difficult to bear. It is the most difficult part of my role as President and yet, it is also the most urgent reminder of why we must persist. To honour those we have lost, we cannot afford to be silent.Humanitarian workers embody the best of humanity. They enter danger when others flee. They provide medical care under bombardment. They rescue, comfort, and protect with no other agenda than to affirm life and dignity. Their courage is not abstract - it is lived daily in places where compassion is scarce, and fear is abundant.Their deaths are not just tragedies. They are violations of the laws that exist to protect civilians and those who serve them. Violations of the most basic principles of humanity. Violations of the moral fabric that holds us together as a global community.To the families who have lost their loved ones in this noble cause: please know that their sacrifice is not forgotten, and it will never be in vain. They remind us of what it means to be humanitarian, of the cost of compassion, and of the urgency of protecting those who protect othersToday and every day, I stand in solidarity with the families of the fallen, with the countless volunteers and staff who continue their work in danger, and with every person who has ever carried the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblem into situations of risk. Their courage humbles me, their sacrifice compels me, and their memory fuels my determination.We must raise our voices louder, together. We must demand accountability where there is impunity. We must continue to insist on the protection and respect that humanitarian law guarantees. And we must never stop honouring those who, in their final act, showed us the truest meaning of humanity.Today, I bow my head in grief. But I also lift my voice in resolve:Protect humanity. Protect those who protect others.Learn more:Join the call to #ProtectHumanitySupport the families of fallen Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers

World Humanitarian Day: An urgent call to honor, respect and protect those who #ActForHumanity

On a conflict-torn night in Tehran, Morteza Zakeri, head of a relief and rescue team, was dispatched to a residential building struck by airstrikes. He arrived to find devastation – collapsed homes, shattered glass, and streets filled with terrified women and children.“There was no time to pause,” he says. “We began clearing debris immediately. The screams of trapped families pushed us to move faster, despite the constant risk of further collapse.”Yet in the middle of fear and rubble, Zakeri found pride in the courage of his team. “It’s not just duty anymore,” he says. “It’s love. We stand by our people until the very end.”On World Humanitarian Day 2025 (19 August), we unite with humanitarians around the world under the banner #ActForHumanity to honour the courage of people like Morteza who rush toward danger to save lives - often at great personal risk.We also join with others in pledging to further heighten our resolve to ensure humanitarian workers and emergency responders are respected and protected as they carry out their life-saving duties.This year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), the lead sponsor of World Humanitarian Day, is directing its fund-raising efforts for the day to the Red Family Fund, which provides support to the families of Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian workers who die in the line of duty.Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 50 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and workers have been killed in the line of duty. 18 of those deaths occurred in 2025. Each one of them stood under the protective emblems of the Red Cross, Red Crescent, or Red Crystal – which under international humanitarian law means they must be respected, protected and never become a target.This includes five people from the Iranian Red Crescent Society, whose volunteers and staff responded with extraordinary bravery during a deadly escalation of violence in June 2025.Some of them made the ultimate sacrifice. Others survived, but carry with them the scars, stories, and spirit of what it means to be a humanitarian. In this story, we pay tribute to both: those who gave their lives while helping others, and to those who continue, against all odds, to serve with love, resilience, and act with unwavering humanity.Nima Ahmadi: A lens and a lifelineFor nearly two decades, Nima Ahmadi has served with the Iranian Red Crescent, both as a rescuer and a storyteller. During the 12-day conflict, he embodied both roles.When explosions shook his neighborhood on the first night, Nima rushed to the scene in his own car, first - aid kit in hand. He treated the injured before other responders arrived - and documented the devastation through his camera lens.“I put on my relief uniform and went to the explosion site,”he recalls. “I drove my own car to the location. People had already crowded into the area. I entered the scene as a relief worker. No one had arrived yet to aid; I had my aid kit with me, and I provided first aid to injured people. When emergency services and other rescue agencies arrived, I continued providing support. Alongside the relief work, I was also documenting the scene with photography.”In another neighborhood, he found three children lying in the street, covered in dust. “I was alone. I aided them, then moved on to another area. I didn’t stop - neither providing aid nor reporting and photographing.”Kianoush Fallahi: When a mission turns into mourningKianoush Fallahi, a search and rescue dog trainer, was responding alongside his dog Zhiro in western Tehran. As they began operations, a second wave of airstrikes hit the area.“A powerful explosion rocked the area; Zhiro was shaken by the shockwave. I quickly moved him to safety and tried to continue the operation on my own - but the strikes kept coming. Every time we approached, another blast would follow.”But the cost of service soon became personal. As he approached an Iranian Red Crescent ambulance to greet fellow responders, a strike hit.“As I was leaving the Doukhouheh area, my colleague Mojtaba Maleki and another colleague were standing near an ambulance parked along the highway. I walked over to greet them, but seconds later, that same ambulance was struck.“I was thrown by the blast. When I got up, I couldn’t find my colleague Mojtaba. Someone told me he had been killed. I just stood there and wept.”Honouring the fallen: A call to protect those who protect othersThe death of Mojtaba Maleki was not an isolated tragedy. He was one of five Iranian Red Crescent staff and volunteers who lost their lives during the recent escalation of violence - each of them killed while fulfilling their humanitarian duty to protect and save others.On 13 June, Mehdi Zartaji Saray, a staff member of the IRCS rescue team, was killed in East Azerbaijan province while responding to wounded civilians.On 14 June, Yaser Zivari, a volunteer firefighter and rescuer, was seriously injured while providing humanitarian assistance in Hamedan. He succumbed to his injuries eight days later.On 16 June, during a rescue operation in northwest Tehran, an ambulance was struck in an airstrike, killing Mojtaba Maleki and his colleague Amir Hassan Jamshidpour- both dedicated IRCS volunteers.On 22 June, Seyyed Ali Akbar Mir Mohammadi, a volunteer offering humanitarian aid in Isfahan, was killed during an attack.These five lives - cut short while helping others - represent the deepest cost of humanitarian service. They were not carrying weapons. They carried stretchers, medical kits and hope.On World Humanitarian Day 2025, we remember these five brave people, and countless others across the world, who gave their lives in service to humanity. We hopestand with us to protect humanity; our call is urgent and clear:Protect humanitarian workers.Respect humanitarian emblems.No one should ever die while saving lives.Learn how you can support those who #ActForHumanity:Stand with us to protect humanityHonor the fallen: visit the IFRC In Memoriam pageSupport the Red Family FundMake a donation to the Red Family Fund

From grain to gain: A story of women’s empowerment and food security in Cameroon

At first glance, Kartoua may seem like any other rural village in the Mayo-Danay division. But this border community, vulnerable to seasonal floods and food insecurity, has become the stage for a quiet revolution led by women.Twelve women came together to form the Soubota Common Initiative Group (GIC). Their mission: to fight food scarcity by creating a cereal bank that buys millet and rice at low prices after harvest, stores them, and resells them during the lean season at affordable, community-friendly rates.“When we started, many didn’t believe in us, especially the men,” says Ahmadou Sergeline, a mother of nine, farmer, and president of the Soubota women’s cereal bank. “But over time, as they saw how we were helping the village, everything changed. Even my husband now supports and advises me.”From scarcity to sustainable strategy“When the floods hit, millet became impossible to find,” Sergeline recalls. “But thanks to the Red Cross support, we had 20 sacks ready. Every morning, women would line up with small bowls, buying just enough to feed their children.”The support came at a crucial time. The Cameroon Red Cross provided the women’s group with 20 bags of millet, along with training in stock management and basic accounting.“Before, we didn’t keep proper records. Now we have ledgers for everything — what comes in, what goes out, and what belongs to whom. People even entrust us with their own cereal bags, which we store safely for a small fee.”Equity first: feeding the most vulnerable“We made rules to protect the poorest,” explains Sergeline. “We limited purchases to four measures per household, and we refused to sell to wealthier buyers just looking for bargains. We know our community. We know who truly needs help.”Grains are sold directly at the warehouse, always below market prices. This solidarity pricing ensured that widows, the elderly, and female-headed households could make it through the lean season with dignity.The initial stock was only the beginning. Revenues from the first sales were used to purchase 45 new sacks of rice, allowing the cycle to continue. After sharing the dividends from the sales, the group decided to reinvest all profits into the next round of cereal purchases.“We put everything back into stock because we saw that demand was even higher than expected,” Sergeline explains.Normally, profits would be transparently allocated to different committees responsible for various activities:50 per cent to the management committee (day-to-day running of the GIC),30 per cent to the community hygiene committee,20 per cent to cereal restocking.But in a strong show of collective responsibility, the entire committee agreed to reinvest their shares, strengthening the group’s next cycle.More than grain: a space for growth and leadershipCereal banks like the one in Kartoua are one of many initiatives supported by the Programmatic Partnership between the IFRC network and the European Union. The partnership provides strategic, flexible, predictable, and long-term funding, so that National Societies can act before a crisis or health emergency occurs. It is being implemented in 24 countries around the world.In this case, the Cameroon Red Cross also works alongside the Soubota Common Initiative Group to support their activities, with the French Red Cross teams also working as an implementing partner.For Sergeline and the women of Kartoua, the cereal bank has become a safe space — a platform to learn, grow, and lead.“When we meet, we don’t just talk about millet. We talk about running our households, educating our daughters, strengthening our marriages. I have seven girls. I want them to see that women can lead too.”The training and engagement provided by Red Cross teams empowered the women not only technically, but also emotionally and socially.“They didn’t just bring us grain. They brought us respect. They listened to us. They saw us not as beneficiaries, but as partners.”“It wasn’t just food. It was dignity,” adds Marie, a grandmother who bought grain from the cereal bank during the lean season. “I didn’t have to beg. I bought what I could afford, and I fed my grandchildren.”“We are asking for more support,” Sergeline says. “Not just for us, but for the whole village. The needs are huge. But the solution is here — it just needs to be strengthened.”Her dream is clear: to ensure that no family goes hungry during the next flood or lean season. In the hands of women like Sergeline, a sack of millet becomes a shield against hunger, a symbol of dignity, and a seed for the future.

Finding a new way of life in the camps of Cox’s Bazar

Sayedul was thirty-five-years-old when he and his wife Setara fled violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar and took shelter in the camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, carrying nothing but fear and a newborn in his arms.The journey was long and painful, walking through forests, surviving on nothing, and constantly worrying about what awaited them.When they finally found refuge in what is now known as Camp 13 in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, Sayedul thought the worst was over. But life in Camp 13 proved otherwise.The shelter was cramped, the surroundings were unhygienic. Common diseases like diarrhea and scabies spread fast. With his health deteriorating, Sayedul was unable to work. Moreover, there was no work to be had.With two little children to care for, the couple lived in fear, uncertainty and hopelessness.“I would just sit in front of our shelter and stare at nothing. I had no strength, no purpose. Everything felt like it was falling apart,” Sayedul recalls.But that despair has now been transformed. Over years of living in the camp — it’s now been eight years since the crisis began — Sayedul Amin is a respected figure, a source of inspiration and a role model for the community.Neighbours come to him with questions about health, hygiene or even family planning, and he loves using his time to talk to neighbours. His story inspires many others who are still struggling with life in the camp.“I tell them—look at me. I was once sick and hopeless. But someone believed in me, and I decided to change,” he says.Today, Setara and Sayedul’s home stands as a quiet example of healthy, dignified living. Their shelter is clean and organized, with a small homestead garden where fresh vegetables grow.Their two sons practice the habit of handwashing and cleanliness as their parents had regularly taught these practices to them.According to Sayedul and Setara, the turnaround was due in large part to the diligence of a volunteer from the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society named Marijan. Also a resident of the camp, Marijan came by regularly to talk about how to maintain good hygiene practices in a camp setting.As a result, Sayedul then began cleaning the surroundings of the family shelter regularly, ensuring his wife and children followed hygiene routines. The benefits have been apparent: during the last scabies outbreak in Camp 13, for example, Sayedul’s household remained incredibly unaffected.Setara herself found purpose as well—she started to work as a volunteer for a local non-governmental organization in the camp. Every day, she goes out to help others.“She puts on her volunteer vest with pride,” Sayedul stated proudly. “And while she’s away, I take care of the kids and make sure they don’t skip their school.”The family finally found a rhythm. Their two sons, now old enough to attend the learning center, are picking up reading, writing, and even basic life skills.‘What could a stranger do?’The new life of Sayedul and Setara did not come about overnight. It was a gradual journey. And, this happened because of the persistence and dedication of Marijan, who works on something called evidence-based Community-Based Health and First Aid.The flagship health initiative of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, this approach is designed to put communities — and the detailed information they share about their collective health — at the centre of health initiatives.When Marijan first visited Sayedul Amin’s shelter in the camps of Ukhiya, he was doubtful.“What could a stranger do for us?” he thought. But Marijan kept returning, encouraging and sharing small tips about health and hygiene.Gradually, her presence became familiar and comforting. She helped Sayedul understand how small changes could make a big difference. She taught Setara about handwashing with soap, safe drinking water, and how to keep their children clean and healthy. Marijan also introduced them to the idea of family planning—a concept that was entirely new to them.“It wasn’t easy to talk about such personal matters with someone outside the family,” Setara says with a smile. “But Marijan made us feel respected and comfortable.”The couple began to discuss their future openly for the first time in months. They decided together to use family planning methods and focus on raising their two sons in a healthier, more stable environment.A journey from despair to refound dignityHis journey from despair to dignity was not easy, Marijan’s regular visits, gentle counseling, and tireless support were a turning point in Sayedul’s life.In this way, organizations like the IFRC and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society are redefining what it means to support the displaced people in their population movement operation.By focusing on health, hygiene, family planning, and community mobilization, they are helping individuals take control of their lives, one visit, one conversation at a time.“We didn’t just survive; we learned to live again,” Sayedul says with quiet pride.There are many stories of hope like this in the camps of Coxs Bazar. But many also continue to face tremendous hardship and challenges as the crisis now enters its eighth year. With the support of the IFRC's Population Movement Operation, and an international appeal for support, the Bangladesh Red Crescent continues to work every day in the displaced camps, bringing a wide range of support and services.Through this operation, more than 650,000 people in the camps of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar have been supported so far with shelter, health care, wash and hygiene, livelihoods, as well as other initiatives aimed at ensuring protection and inclusion of all people impacted by the crisis, as well as ongoing community, engagement and accountability.