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Courage in crisis: How one volunteer saved dozens of lives after Myanmar’s March 2025 earthquake

Just more than six months ago, two powerful earthquakes struck central Myanmar, impacting more than 1.35 million people and devastating thousands of homes, schools, and hospitals.In this moment of chaos, many found hope in the Red Cross uniform. May Tha Gyan, a dedicated female volunteer from Pubbathiri Township in Naypyitaw, one of the earthquake hardest-hit areas, was among them.On that fateful day, the 31-year-old May was on duty at the Red Cross Headquarters in Naypyitaw, donned in her uniform. The disaster hit close to home: her two older children were at Sunday school while her youngest daughter was with her husband.With phone lines immediately down and roads destroyed, she couldn’t reach them. Yet, her sense of duty guided her forward without hesitation.‘No time to think’The first person May helped was a woman with a severe head injury. Drawing on her training from the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), she stopped the bleeding, bandaged the wound, and arranged for an ambulance. As she transported the injured, her journey transformed into a mobile first aid station.“In an emergency, there’s no time to think too much,”May recalls. “As soon as people were rescued, I had to make quick decisions on how to give first aid.”Only later did she learn from her husband that her family was safe, allowing her to focus entirely on the overwhelmed hospital.“It was extremely chaotic: people with amputations, head injuries, and blood everywhere,”she described, detailing how she helped doctors determine who needed urgent care‘I broke down’The most challenging moment arrived when a grieving mother placed her lifeless child in May’s arms. “As a mother myself, I broke down,”she admitted, grappling with thoughts of her own children and questioning her husband’s assurances.Still, May persevered. By 4 PM that same day, she had taken on the role of first id team leader, guiding four volunteers into collapsed buildings to search for survivors.For 15 days, they worked tirelessly, making critical decisions. May found strength in knowing her husband and parents cared for her children, allowing her the peace of mind to fulfill her mission.‘Every household needs first-aid knowledge’In her neighborhood, nearly all 200 buildings had collapsed. Although her house remained, it leaned precariously against a ruin, forcing her family to sleep on the street with 700 others for 20 days. During that time, she emerged as a pillar of strength, providing care and comfort to around 200 households.Her message is clear: “First aid is critical. It saves lives in the crucial moments before reaching a hospital or clinic.”Passionate about teaching these skills to young people, she emphasizes that “In disasters, every household needs first aid knowledge to save lives.”She also stresses self-care for those, like her, who are giving everything they have to help their neighbors. “Volunteers must keep themselves safe first. Only by staying healthy can we save others,”she says.She saved more than 75 livesMay’s unwavering dedication has been recognized. On 13 September 2025, World First Aid Day, she received the First Aid Excellence Award for saving more than 75 lives through first aid in just two years. She has also rescued over 200 people during floods and provided aid in a serious bus accident.These earthquakes struck amid existing floods, conflict, economic struggles, and extreme heat, pushing communities to their limits. Six months later, the IFRC and its membership transitioned from supporting the Myanmar Red Cross with emergency relief to early recovery, providing shelter, cash, healthcare, and clean water.May remains tirelessly involved, distributing aid and training over 20 young people in first aid. And she is not alone. She is just one of many Myanmar Red Cross volunteers who have responded courageously and tirelessly from the moment the quake struck, through today’s on-going recovery efforts.While some families have begun rebuilding, many still live in temporary shelters. The road to recovery is long, but individuals like May ensure that no one is left behind.Learn more about the IFRC and Myanmar Red Cross response:As of 30 September 2025, with support of theIFRC Emergency Appealand other International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners, as well as other donors, the Myanmar Red Cross Society has reached more than 200,000 people across 30 townships. This includes:More than 99,359 people have received health care, and more than 1.3 million liters of safe drinking water have been distributed.Sanitation and hygiene services have reached 170,961 people through the clean water supply, construction of latrines, distribution of water tanks and water filters, distribution of hygiene kits and cleaning materials, and hygiene awareness sessions.More than 157,904 people have received household items such as shelter kits, mosquito nets, and kitchen sets. MPCA reached more than 15,015 households. This is in addition to 23,424 householdsreached through Complementary Cash Assistance. In addition, 150 households received cash assistance for latrines.More than 126,922 people have received food and livelihood assistance, mainly mobilized locally from individuals and non-Movement partners of MRCS.Considering protection, gender and inclusion (PGI), more than 19,220 people have been reached with gender and age-specific items such as dignity kits, infant kits, and delivery kits.300 metric tonnes of relief and goods arrived in country from the IFRC Network, other partners, and donor governments.32 National Societies globally have, to date, supported MRCS in this operation (financially, with in-kind donations, or with technical support).MRCS has deployed over 698 volunteers from its network of trained and experienced volunteers countrywide.You can support volunteers like May Tha Gyan by donating to the Myanmar Earthquake Emergency Appeal.

13/10/2025 |

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

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

09/10/2025 |

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

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

Regional Director for Asia Pacific

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

Regional Director for MENA

Dr. Hossam Elsharkawi has more than 30 years’ experience in the humanitarian sector. His career has included assignments in more than 35 countries, comprising volunteer and professional roles across the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Dr. Elsharkawi leads the efforts of the IFRC in the Middle East and North Africa—a region comprising 17 countries with a total population of more than 500 million people. Crises include protracted wars, natural disasters, malaria, cholera, dengue, and COVID-19.He and his team focus on strengthening local health preparedness and response, water, sanitation and hygiene, volunteer mobilization, emergency medical services, psychosocial support, food and non-food aid,and targeted assistance to refugees, migrants, and internally displaced people. Dr. Elsharkawi always seeks to reach people and communities in ‘last mile’ settings and forgotten disasters where access is challenging due to physical challenges, insecurity, stigma and marginalization.As resources are always limited, he prioritizes assistance to the most vulnerable: women, children, sick/wounded, disabled, detainees, and the elderly. Dr. Elsharkawi was formerly Vice President of Health in Emergencies, Learning and Innovation at the Canadian Red Cross, where he led the preparedness and response for complex humanitarian emergencies. He has also previously worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop guidance for medical teams responding to health emergencies in armed conflict and insecure environments. Dr. Elsharkawi received his PhD in Health Management/Public Health from City, University of London. He received a Certificate in Health/Health Care Administration/Management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta. Alongside his role at the IFRC, he is an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia and guest faculty at McGill where he teaches disaster response and health care in complex humanitarian crises.

Regional Director for Africa

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

Regional Director for the Americas

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

Regional Director for Europe

Ms. Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen is the IFRC Regional Director for Europe covering 53 Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies in Europe and Central Asia. The Regional Director is responsible for implementing the IFRC mandated functions: Strategic and Operational Coordination; Membership Services and Humanitarian Diplomacy in the region. The Regional Director currently oversees the Ukraine and impacted countries operation, which supports millions of people in and around Ukraine. In addition to relief, health, shelter and cash/vouchers, mental health is a key aspect of the support provided through this operation. The Regional Director has more than 15 years’ experience working with the IFRC network and has previously been International Director of Danish Red Cross and Co-chair of the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support. Ms. Ebbesen is from Denmark. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Roskilde University in Denmark as well as a diploma in High-Performance Leadership from the Copenhagen Business School.

19/12/2024 |

Red Cross Amazon Alliance aims to safeguard lives and strengthen community resilience

Panama/Geneva, 19 December – In response to escalating threats posed by the climate crisis, increasing disasters and biodiversity loss, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has announced the reactivation of its Amazon Programme, The Red Cross Alliance for the Amazon.This initiative, initially uniting the National Red Cross Societies of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, aims to enhance community resilience and support those affected by climate impacts in the Amazon rainforest. The Red Cross’s local presence and global reach make it a key partner in protecting Amazonian communities and ecosystems. With branches and volunteers embedded in all nine Amazonian countries, the Red Cross combines deep local knowledge with expertise in risk reduction, climate resilience, and humanitarian operations to address the region’s growing needs.The Amazon, home to 10% of all known species and responsible for generating 20% of the world’s oxygen, is nearing a tipping point. Deforestation, wildfires, and extractive activities—compounded by extreme climate events such as floods, fires and prolonged droughts—threaten the lives and the livelihoods of over 40 million people, including 350 groups of Indigenous Peoples.“At the heart of our proposal is the convergence of indigenous knowledge, Red Cross experience, and technological and research developments. This formula, implemented in close coordination with states, indigenous peoples and other stakeholders, will maximise efforts to strengthen community resilience andanticipate and respond to crises affecting Amazonian populations”, said Xavier Castellanos, IFRC Under Secretary General, National Society Development and Operations Coordination.The Red Cross Alliance for the Amazon focuses on disaster risk management and climate resilience, community health, sustainable livelihoods and response to disasters and climate displacement. Harmonising, maximising and streamlining the Red Cross work in these areas will help anticipate and reduce the impact of hazards which could be exacerbated by the climate crisis in the coming years.From January to August this year alone, fires destroyed 62,268 square kilometres of the Amazon, an area twelve times the size of the city of London. Compounded by a historic drought, this devastation has severely affected access to health and food and increased the risk of climate-induced displacement.Faced with such multi-crisis scenarios, the Red Cross is already working in several communities in the Amazon. In Ecuador, volunteers are working with indigenous peoples to implement agricultural techniques that reduce the risk of droughts, contributing to income diversification and ecosystem restoration to improvefood and economic security.In Colombia, the Red Cross provides health care and access to medicines in remote and hard-to-reach areas.The Red Cross Alliance for the Amazon builds upon solid experience. Red Cross Societies in Amazonian countries havecollaborated with over 53 Amazonian communities to promote community health and reduce the risk of disasters. This new effort seeks to scale up these successes while aligning with the IFRC’s global expertise in climate resilience and disaster management. For more information and to set up an interview, please contact: [email protected]   In Panama: Susana Arroyo Barrantes +50769993199 In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa +41797084367  / Hannah Copeland +41762369109 

05/11/2025 |

IFRC-DREF Stories

10/11/2025 |

From earthquake to typhoons: Philippines struggles against relentless catastrophes

Manila/Kuala Lumpur, 10 November 2025 – The Philippines is grappling with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as back-to-back disasters devastate communities already struggling to recover. In just over a month, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu, followed by Typhoon Kalmaegi (local name Tino), have left millions reeling. While on Sunday, Super Typhoon Fungwong (local name Uwan), passed over the country, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.In the face of these multiple humanitarian disasters, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched a revised Emergency Appeal, in support of the Philippine Red Cross, scaling up operations to assist 284,904 people across multiple provinces.The appeal seeks CHF 18 million (up from CHF 8 million) to provide emergency shelter, health and WASH services, and livelihood support. However, funding is critically low, threatening the ability to deliver life-saving aid.“Humanitarian needs are soaring, but resources are dwindling,” said Sanjeev Kafley, IFRC Head of Delegation for the Philippines. “Without urgent support, thousands will be left without shelter, clean water, or food. We cannot allow disaster fatigue to overshadow the suffering of millions.”“The resilience of communities is being tested to its absolute limits,” said Dr. Gwendolyn Pang, Secretary General of the Philippine Red Cross. “We were already supporting families who lost everything in the earthquake, and now hundreds of thousands more people have been displaced by flooding and landslides. With another storm approaching, the situation is dire.”The people of the Philippines have endured much in recent weeks. On 30 September, an earthquake struck Cebu, killing 79 people, injuring 559, and damaging more than 134,000 homes, including 7,295 completely destroyed. Infrastructure losses are estimated at ₱6.76 billion (CHF92.2 million), and over 747,000 individuals were affected, according to government figures.As families began piecing their lives back together, Typhoon Kalmaegi slammed into the same region and beyond, making eight landfalls across Visayas and Palawan between 4–5 November. The storm affected more than 2.4 million people and the number of dead, injured and missing continues to rise as more information comes in from affected provinces.More than 377,000 people are still in crowded evacuation centres or temporary shelters days after the typhoon moved on, while residual floodwaters with strong current and massive amounts of debris are hampering search and rescue efforts. Lifelines remain disrupted, with power outages in 156 municipalities and water interruptions in seven cities, heightening risks of disease outbreaks.And now the country is reeling from the aftermath of Super Typhoon Fungwong – the 21st tropical cyclone this year. As of 10 November, Fungwong has affected 230,000 families across the archipelago and killed two persons.The Philippines is prone to disasters, but this sequence of catastrophes is not routine - it is a stark reminder of the escalating climate and seismic risks faced by vulnerable nations. Urgent support is needed to scale up relief efforts, prevent further loss of life and support the country as it recovers from this latest disaster.Note to editors:Visuals: Additional photos and video available here.For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Manila: Ellie van Baaren, +63 960 665 9637In Kuala Lumpur: Afrhill Rances, +60 192 713 641 In Geneva: Scott Craig, +41 76 370 3575

30/10/2025 |

Delivering vaccines under fire: Palestine Red Crescent teams risk their lives to protect children’s health in Gaza

Editor’s note: This article was written prior to the latest ceasefire coming into effect on 10 October, which IFRC welcomes and hopes will lead to lasting peace.We call for a massive scaling up of aid and international support for Gaza to alleviate the catastrophic conditions people have endured for the past two years. --It’s April 2023 in the Gaza Strip. Parents are forming an orderly queue outside their neighbourhood health clinic, waiting to get their babies their life-saving immunizations. Demand is high, but the system is running smoothly and vaccines are readily available. The jabs prompt tears here and there, but parents calmly comfort their children and get their records stamped—heading home knowing that their little ones have been gifted the hope of a healthier future.Fast forward two years and the picture could not be more different.It’s April 2025 in the Gaza Strip. The neighbourhood health clinic has been destroyed. Families have been forced to flee multiple times due to the ongoing hostilities. Parents are exhausted and weak from malnutrition, giving the precious little food they can get hold of to their children. They desperately want to get them vaccinated, but the journey to the nearest functioning clinic is fraught with danger. Mothers and fathers find themselves asking: do we risk diseases today, or bombs? They try their best to soothe their children’s tears, but they are constant now.It's in this stark new reality that Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) medical teams and volunteers have been striving to keep their communities healthy and safe.Since April 2025, they’ve been working against all odds to set up and run routine immunization services aiming to protect some of the hardest-to-reach children in Gaza from entirely preventable diseases such as polio, measles and rubella. This work is carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Health, with support from IFRC, and with financial support from Gavi, which isproviding vaccines procured through UNICEF and contributing to operational costs.Here’s what two Palestine Red Crescent doctors involved in the project have to say.My name is Dr Bashar Murad, Director of the Primary Health Care Department. I’m originally from northern Gaza, but I’m now living with my family in Khan Younis. We’ve been displaced eight times since the start of the conflict.I’ve worked for the Palestine Red Crescent since 2000, and I’m currently running our immunization programme in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Gavi and UNICEF.Since the start of the conflict, around 80% of health clinics in Gaza have been forced to close—either due to evacuation orders or because they’ve been damaged. Our mission is to continue childhood immunization and keep protecting children from preventable diseases, even as our health system collapses around us.Currently, Palestine Red Crescent is offering childhood vaccination through five of our 15 medical clinics which are still managing to operate even under incredibly difficult circumstances.Families here face immense challenges accessing health services. Clinics are closing. People are displaced. There’s the constant threat of bombs, sometimes we are forced to evacuate at short notice, and regular power outages severely hinder our work. There’s a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies, especially for chronic diseases. And with fuel supplies scarce, it can be difficult to transport the limited medical supplies we do have to where they are needed.Recently, famine was officially declared in Gaza—something we had already seen firsthand for some time, with more and more people coming to us severely malnourished. Young children, new and expectant mothers and the elderly are the hardest hit. What is especially cruel is that when children are malnourished, it makes the vaccines less effective.Despite the massive destruction, we must go on. Our staff and volunteers are putting themselves on the line every day to provide health services. We really feel our communities’ appreciation. We are still able to run some of our health facilities, but for how long?We’ve already lost so much: lives, hospitals, schools. We constantly fear for people’s safety. My message is simply this: end the conflict.Dr Bashar Murad, Palestine Red Crescent SocietyMy name is Dr Rami Abu Hamad and I’m from northern Gaza.I began working for the Palestine Red Crescent in 2016. I was working at Al-Quds Hospital until the early weeks of the conflict, then moved to the field hospital in Rafah until the city was evacuated. Since July 2024, I’ve been working at the Dr. Fathi Arafat Medical Centre in Deir al-BalahMy family and I have been forced to flee three times during the conflict. We now live together in a small apartment here in Deir al-Balah. My three children (16, 14, 12) used to be star pupils, but their education has ground to a halt these past two years, which brings me so much pain.We vaccinate around 60-70 children every day at our centre, and we also have outreach teams which head out into camps to reach families who can’t come to us. Access here is incredibly challenging due to the security situation: it’s so difficult to travel anywhere. Many of the children we are trying to help can’t get vaccines because their parents are either injured or killed.The health and living conditions of children in Gaza is extremely poor. A combination of malnutrition, a lack of safe drinking water and poor hygiene has led to outbreaks of skin, digestive and respiratory diseases. Parents here really want to get their children vaccinated, but there are so many competing priorities. Right now, food is the most important thing amid famine and food shortages.I keep going out of pure humanitarian commitment to my community. Despite the extremely difficult and dangerous conditions, I keep serving our people.Dr Rami Abu Hamad, Palestine Red Crescent SocietyIn the midst of conflict, displacement and uncertainty, 60 Palestine Red Crescent Society volunteers are walking from one displacement shelter to another, speaking with families about the importance of childhood vaccination. With empathy and determination, they guide parents on where and how to get their children vaccinated through nearby PRCS health facilities and medical points. Along the way, they identify ‘zero-dose’ children (kids who haven’t received a single vaccine dose), helping ensure that even in the hardest-hit areas, no child is left behind.Gaza used to have extremely high vaccination coverage, but the conflict risks leaving this in tatters. Palestine Red Crescent medical teams are working tirelessly alongside partners to maintain vaccination coverage as best they can and protect children from entirely preventable diseases. As of August 2025, they've vaccinated 20,468 children in Gaza with at least one vaccinedose.To protect these children’s lives, medical staff, like Dr Bashar and Dr Rami, and volunteers are risking their own. Just a few months ago, Palestine Red Crescent nurse, Haitham Abu Issa, who was immunizing children at their Deir al-Balah clinic was tragically killed while off duty. Haitham is one of 51 Palestine Red Crescent staff and volunteers whose lives have been cruelly claimed since the start of the conflict.Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy and safe. And every humanitarian should be protected and able to carry out their life-saving work without fear. But in Gaza, these basic rights are under siege.For parents and medical staff alike, vaccinating children used to be a part of normal life. Now, it has become an act of courage.We welcome the ceasefire agreed and hope it leads to lasting peace. And we commend the efforts of the Palestine Red Crescent Society to make sure that no child in Gaza is left vulnerable to diseases—because for every child vaccinated, there is hope for life beyond the conflict.

12/11/2025 |

Mauritania: Vital aid strengthening solidarity between people on the move and the families who host them

In Rosso, Mauritania, on the banks of the Senegal River, the constant back and forth of pirogues and ferries shapes daily life. Every day, hundreds of people cross the river, linking this Mauritanian city to its Senegalese twin of the same name on the opposite bank.Rosso’s strategic position makes it a major economic and migratory crossroads between Mauritania and Senegal—a gateway to the south and a transit point for sub-Saharan migrants heading towards the Maghreb and Europe.In recent months, the city has faced a growing influx of people on the move. Many arrive exhausted from long journeys, lacking access to drinking water, sufficient food, or safe shelter.Humanitarian service points: Lifelines in transitTo respond to these urgent needs, the Mauritanian Red Crescent has established two Humanitarian Service Points (HSPs)—one at the Rosso pier and another at the local committee headquarters. For many migrants in transit, these spaces have become lifelines offering essential services.“We provide them with food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support, and phone services for those seeking to contact loved ones,” explains Mohamed Ould Lemine, Head of Volunteer and Migration Programmes at the Mauritanian Red Crescent. “But the daily increase in arrivals quickly overwhelmed our capacity.” Host families: The front line of solidarityBehind this visible humanitarian emergency lies another, quieter strain—that faced by host families in Rosso. These households, already struggling with limited resources, are often the first to extend a helping hand to migrants and displaced people, embodying the spirit of solidarity.To support both migrants and the communities that welcome them, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) mobilized 375,000 Swiss francs through its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF). This assistance aims to reach 4,500 migrants and 600 vulnerable host families, thereby strengthening local mutual aid capacities and social cohesion.A more equitable and inclusive responseFar from the bustle of the river crossing, dozens of Mauritanian Red Crescent volunteers are at work across several neighborhoods of Rosso-ville, distributing cash assistance to 600 vulnerable host families. This financial support helps households meet their most urgent needs and regain a sense of stability.“It was time for humanitarian actors to think of us too. This is the first aid we have received,” says Mohamed Tahet Ould Sidi, head of the Haye Nezaha 1 neighborhood in the outskirts of Rosso, expressing a long-felt sense of neglect.In the courtyard of his home, temporarily transformed into a distribution site, hope flickers anew. Under the scorching sun, women—many of them the sole breadwinners for their families—line up to receive support that can make a world of difference.“Before, we lived simply but managed to get by,” says Salma Hemet, 54, a mother of seven from the Jadida neighborhood. “Then everything became difficult: the prices of rice and sugar went up, and our income disappeared.”Building shared resilienceFor the IFRC and the Mauritanian Red Crescent, this integrated approach reflects a long-term vision—one that sees assistance not as charity, but as an investment in shared resilience.“By supporting both migrants and host families, we recognize their crucial role,” explains Makan Boubacar Sissao, IFRC Migration Programme Officer, referring to the support that host families provide.“We are not just distributing aid; we are strengthening social cohesion and helping communities build resilience together.”

07/11/2025 |