'This gives us hope': How climate-resilient farming is helping communities in southeastern Zimbabwe reclaim food security in the face of drought and a capricious climate

Building trust is key to stopping the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the IFRC says

Bunia/Nairobi/Geneva,18June 2026 -Building trust with communities is the most powerful tool to stop the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according toa new community feedback report conductedbythe International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).As Red Cross volunteers work with health authorities tocontainthe outbreak caused by the Bundibugyospeciesof Ebola virus disease, community feedback reveals that fear, misinformation and mistrust remain major obstacles to saving lives."There is no shortcut to ending an Ebola outbreak," said Bruno Michon, Operations Manager for the Ebola outbreak. "Communities need trusted information, opportunities to ask questions and genuine engagement. People are more likely to seek care, report symptoms and accept public health measures when they feel heard and respected." Through community feedback collected during door-to-door visits, focus group discussions and community engagement activities, local Red Cross teams listen to concerns and adapt their response accordingly.Community feedback from affected areas shows many people still question the disease's existence or view the response with suspicion. Rumours on social media claim herbal remedies can prevent Ebola, while others say the outbreak is a business designed to attract international funding.In some communities, treatment centres are perceived as places "where people go to die", fuelling resistance to referrals and, in some cases, violence against responders. Red Cross volunteers have reported verbal abuse, physical attacks and growing stigma linked to their work. The feedback also highlights concerns about safe and dignified burials, with some families refusing burial protocols because they conflict with traditional practices or because they do not fully understand the risks posed by Ebola after death. "We cannot dismiss these concerns," added Bruno Michon. "When people question the response, it is our responsibility to listen and explain. Every rumour is an opportunity for dialogue." Listening to communities is already helping shape the response. When residents reported fears that chlorine and disinfectants were being used to poison people, volunteers begandemonstratinghow these products are prepared and explaining their role in infection prevention. The response is also working with Ebola survivors and trusted community leaders to share first-hand experiences and provide credible information about the disease. Survivors are helpingdemonstratethat seeking care early can significantly improve the chances of survival. The lesson from every Ebola outbreak is clear. Communities are not beneficiaries of theresponse;they are partners in it. The only sustainable way to stop Ebola is by building trust, listening topeopleand ensuring that communities help shape the decisions that affect their lives. The IFRC Network continues to support community engagement, risk communication, surveillance, infection prevention and control, and safe and dignified burials as part of the broader effort tocontainthe outbreak and protect lives.For more information or to request an interview, please contact:[email protected] Bunia:Alex Lock,+243 859 795 302In Nairobi: Cate Kamatu, +254728 815266 In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa+41 79 708 4367 | Paolo Cravero+41 79 894 8396

IFRC continues delivering operational materials for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bunia/Nairobi/Geneva, 22 June 2026– The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(IFRC)continues to deliveressentialmaterialstoareas affected by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is prepositioningsuppliesin neighboring countries(Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda,andSouth Sudan)as part of a2.9million CHFsupply chainoperation.Since the declaration of the outbreak, the IFRC has delivered 23 Safe and Dignified Burial(SDB)kits, which can support over450 burials, and over 300 body bags,in addition tothe essentialsuppliesprepositioned in the area.These early deliveriesfaced the complexities of testing new supply chain corridors,given the remote geography of the area,security challenges,theclosure of localairports,and thecomplexstatus of the road network.As needs are growing, the supply chain operation is scaling up. Bythe first half of July,the IFRCestimatesthe delivery ofa total of 181 SDBkits(supporting over 3,600 burials),16,450 body bags, 550 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, and24vehiclesin DRC and neighboring countries.These shipments willarrive in phasesin EntebbeInternationalairport, in Uganda,and inJomoKenyattaInternationalairport in Nairobiand will then be transported via land to Bunia,Ituriprovince; a trip that can lastoverseven days.Safe andDignifiedBurialand PPEkits, as well as bodybags,are not justoperationalgoods,butfrontline public healthtools that protect health experts,Red Crossvolunteers, and communities from the spreading of the virus.Importantly, they are alsoan act of respect for families in their most painful moments. Getting these supplies toRed Crossteams in eastern DRCiscritical to allow them tosafelyand respectfully serve their communities.The IFRC calls on the international community, donors and partners to support theregional emergency appealto ensure that communities in DRC and across the region receive the full scope of life-saving assistance they urgently need.For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected]  In Bunia: Alex Lock, +243 859 795 302 In Nairobi:  Susan Mbalu, +254 733 827 654    In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa +41 79 708 4367 | Paolo Cravero +41 79 894 8396 

Red Cross activates Early Action Protocols at the first signs of drought in El Salvador, Guatemala and Colombia

Panama City, 11 June 2026 — The Red Cross Societies of El Salvador, Guatemala and Colombia have activated their Early Action Protocols to protect more than 22,000 people at the first signs of drought. In all three countries, the lack of rainfall could worsen as a result of the El Niño phenomenon, which, according to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), entered its active phase on 11 June.Early Action Protocols are instruments that bring together measures agreed in advance among communities, public authorities and the Red Cross, and are triggered when certain risk thresholds are reached, so that aid can be mobilized before damage occurs."Drought is a slow-motion disaster: it does not arrive in a single night and it rarely makes the headlines, which is why aid runs the risk of arriving too late," explained Loyce Pace, IFRC Regional Director for the Americas. "The difference between a hazard and a humanitarian crisis is almost always decided before the impact. This time, thanks to weather forecasts, pre-agreed joint action and anticipatory financing, we know that the moment to protect people is now."In Colombia, El Salvador and Guatemala, the activation of the drought Early Action Protocols is based on data gathered by the three countries' meteorological services, which point to the same forecast: rainfall well below normal for the June-to-August quarter, just as the agricultural cycle begins.In El Salvador, the General Directorate of the Environmental Observatory warned of a rainfall deficit between May and July. In Guatemala, the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) forecasts El Niño-related conditions with a 70 per cent probability, along with below-normal rainfall. In Colombia, a cartographic analysis by the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) estimates a more than 50 per cent probability of below-normal rainfall and a moderate drought index by August.National Red Cross teams had been waiting for this scientific data to launch the readiness activities funded by the IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF). In total, this fund has 1.2 million Swiss francs (CHF) — around 1.5 million US dollars — available for early action against drought in the three countries. This funding is not allocated all at once: it is released in stages, as forecasts reach the risk thresholds agreed in advance among communities, public authorities and the Red Cross, so that each tranche of aid is mobilized just before the impact, not after.IFRC-DREF resources will make it possible to assist 10,000 people in the departments of Morazán and La Unión, in El Salvador; another 10,000 in municipalities of Guatemala's Dry Corridor, such as Chiquimula, Jalapa and Quetzaltenango; and 2,400 in the Colombian departments of Tolima and Cesar.Although each context is different, the measures follow the same logic: to act before the disaster strikes and to protect, at the same time, the food security, livelihoods, health and water access of affected communities — areas that droughts tend to hit simultaneously.The Red Cross will support families in the most vulnerable situations through cash transfers to safeguard food, obtain fuel and cover basic needs without depleting their assets. Teams will also provide safe drinking water as sources begin to run low, supplies to protect crops and livestock, and training in adaptive farming practices, hygiene and the prevention of heat-related illnesses.Worldwide, only one in every 10 dollars allocated to humanitarian action is invested in reducing or mitigating disaster risk. "It is critical that governments, cooperation agencies, financial institutions and international organizations invest in anticipatory action, early warning systems and forecast-based humanitarian action as essential mechanisms to protect lives, reduce economic losses and strengthen resilience," said Pace.For more information, contact: [email protected] Panama: Susana Arroyo Barrantes +50769993199

Statement: IFRC appalled by the killing of Sudanese Red Crescent volunteer in North Kordofan

Khartoum/Nairobi/Geneva,13June2026 –The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) isappalled by thedeathof Sudanese Red Crescent Society volunteer AhmedYaqoubOthman, on 10 June 2026, in the outskirts of ElObiedCity, in NorthKordofan.Ahmed was killed while he was providing first aid to injured people following earlierattacks. Hewas a volunteer of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society's NorthKordofanBranch. He was serving his community and supporting humanitarian activities when the incident occurred.The IFRC extends its deepest condolences to Ahmed's family, friends, fellowvolunteersand staff of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society during thisdifficult time.Ahmed's death is a painful reminder of the risks faced by humanitarian workers and volunteers who dedicate themselves to helping others, often under challenging and dangerous circumstances. His commitment to serving vulnerable people embodied the humanitarian values of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.The IFRC reiterates that humanitarian personnel and volunteers must be able to carry out their work safely. Their dedication strengthens communities and provides vital support to people affected by crises.Our network mourns the loss of a colleague who served with compassion,commitment,and humanity. Ahmed's contribution to his community will not be forgotten.For more information,please contact:[email protected]:EzaldeenSuliman, +249 90 570 6473 InNairobi:    SusanMbalu, +254 733 827 654In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa +41 79 708 4367

Reference centres

Reference centres provide specialized knowledge and services to members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. There are many based all around the world, each offering expertise on specific humanitarian and development issues.

Cameroon: Food Insecurity 2026

Cameroon is facing a deepening food crisis, with 3.3 million people unable to afford enough food as conflict, climate shocks and rising prices push families toward emergency levels of hunger. Food stocks are depleted, leaving children and pregnant women at growing risk of malnutrition. The Cameroon Red Cross Society is scaling up emergency food, cash, nutrition and livelihood support to reach 330,000 of the most vulnerable people. But urgent funding is needed to expand this response. Your donation can make a difference – donate now to help the Cameroon Red Cross provide life-saving assistance.

Africa: Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak 2026

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is rapidly escalating, with cases and deaths continuing to rise as the virus spreads across multiple provinces and into neighboring Uganda. Families and communities urgently need access to reliable health information, early detection, safe burials, and lifesaving public health support to prevent further transmission and protect overwhelmed health systems. Donate today to help the DRC and Uganda Red Cross Societies to provide life-saving assistance.Read more: IFRC delivers critical supplies to eastern DRC amid ongoing Ebola outbreak

Iran: Complex Emergency 2026

Since late February 2026, devastating strikes across Iran have killed hundreds, injured thousands, and disrupted essential services for up to 60 million people. The Iranian Red Crescent Society has mobilized thousands of responders to deliver search and rescue, medical aid, and emergency relief across the country — but the scale of need is far beyond what they can meet alone. Donate today to help the Iranian Red Crescent reach 10 million people with life-saving assistance.

Sudan crisis: Regional population movement

Over 1.4 million people have been forced to flee Sudan's devastating conflict, arriving in neighbouring countries exhausted, injured, and without food, water. Red Cross and Red Crescent teams are already on the ground in Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia, CAR, and Libya providing emergency health care, clean water, food, and vital family tracing services to the most vulnerable.

Sudan: Complex emergency

Since fighting erupted in Sudan, millions of people have been displaced or stranded without access to food, clean water, or healthcare, and the crisis is deepening by the day. The Sudan Red Crescent Society is delivering lifesaving first aid, emergency relief, and support to displaced families across the country — but they need more resources to reach everyone in need.

Honduran Red Cross

Laws of nature: the Madagascar case for a Global Disaster Treaty

El Niño underway in Asia Pacific, Red Cross Red Crescent steps up early action to protect millions at risk

Kuala Lumpur, 30 June 2026 – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is scaling up early action across the Asia Pacific as El Niño conditions take hold, raising the risk of drought, extreme heat and growing pressure on food security for millions of people across the region.El Niño conditions are already affecting Asia Pacific, with forecasts indicating a high likelihood of a very strong event developing and intensifying into late 2026 and early 2027, fuelled by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Pacific that are already altering global weather patterns.Asia is expected to be among the regions most exposed to El Niño impacts, with intensifying heat, drought and pressure on agriculture, water and energy systems amid warnings that a potential “super El Niño” could further amplify risks, making extreme weather more intense, less predictable and more disruptive for vulnerable communities.“Communities across Asia and the Pacific are entering this El Niño already under pressure from rising food and fuel costs. This is not a future risk: it is an unfolding crisis,” said Alexander Matheou, IFRC Regional Director for Asia Pacific.“What we are doing differently now is acting before the worst impacts arrive. We are using early warning data, anticipatory action, and community-based preparedness to reduce risks before they turn into disasters. Acting early is not only more effective, but also far more cost-efficient. Every dollar invested early saves lives, protects livelihoods and reduces the cost of humanitarian response.”Across much of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, below-average rainfall and prolonged dry conditions are expected to increase water shortages, food insecurity and risks to livelihoods, particularly for rural and vulnerable communities. At the same time, other parts of the region may face heavier rains and flooding, underscoring the complex and uneven impacts of El Niño events. Rising temperatures are compounding these challenges, increasing the risk of heat stress and worsening existing vulnerabilities.National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies across Asia Pacific are already on the frontlines, working within communities to prepare for and respond to these evolving climate risks. Their actions include strengthening early warning systems, supporting communities to conserve and access water, providing cash and livelihoods assistance, and promoting health, hygiene and climate-resilient agricultural practices. These locally led efforts are critical in reducing the impact of slow-onset crises such as drought, which can gradually erode food security, livelihoods and health outcomes over time.In countries like Afghanistan, preparedness is being structured in phases—monitoring heat and water stress now, while preparing for potential floods and health risks in 2027—highlighting the need for flexible, multi-hazard planning.The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is supporting these efforts by scaling up forecast-based action, mobilizing emergency funding and strengthening preparedness and response capacities. Early action—based on forecasts and risk analysis—can significantly reduce the humanitarian impact of El Niño, protect lives and livelihoods, and prevent crises from escalating.As the region braces for the months ahead, the IFRC calls for sustained support to locally led efforts—ensuring communities are better prepared for the growing threat of climate-related disasters. “There is still a window to act,” said Matheou. “We know where the risks are emerging, and we have the tools to respond early. What is needed now is the commitment to invest ahead of the crisis—rather than paying a far higher price later.”For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Kuala Lumpur: Afrhill Rances, +60 19 271 3641 

Australian Red Cross