Silent humanitarian crises deepen across Lebanon and Iran

Beirut/Tehran/Geneva,26May2026 —Three months since the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon and Iran, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is warning that multiple silent humanitarian crises are deepening across the region — with long-term consequences for health systems, food security, displacement, and community resilience.While international attention has shifted elsewhere, millions of people continue to face displacement, damaged healthcare systems, disrupted livelihoods, andgrowingchallengesto accessing essential services.Ongoing geopolitical tensions and restrictions affecting regional transportation routes, including through the Strait of Hormuz, continue to hinder humanitarian supply chains and increase the cost of delivering aid. “Behind the headlines, multiple silent crises are deepening with consequences that will last for years,”saidCristhian Cardoza, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). “Families are being pushed beyond breaking point — struggling to afford food, medicine, fuel and shelter, while damaged health systems, displacement, and economic pressure continue to drive humanitarian needs higher every day.”Health systems under severe strain in Iran In Iran, the humanitarian consequences of the escalation continue long after the ceasefire. The conflict has seriously disrupted healthcare delivery nationwide, including 56 Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS)centresnationwide. For patients living with chronic illnesses, disruptions to healthcare and medical supply chains are becoming life-threatening.Restrictions affecting transport routescontinue to complicate access to critical medicines and equipment.Despite the pressures, IRCS teams have continued large-scale humanitarian operations across the country, including search and rescue, emergency medical care, and psychosocial support services.Food insecurity deepens across LebanonAnother alarming trend is rapidly emerging:nearly onein four people in Lebanon — around 1.24 million people — are now expected to face acute food insecurity between April and August 2026, according toanalysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The deterioration is being driven by continued hostilities,prolongeddisplacement, economic collapse, and soaring fuel prices. Fuel prices in Lebanon have risen sharply since the escalation, withdiesel increasing by more than65 per cent, according tothe World FoodProgramme.At the same time,the Minister of Agriculture has warnedthatapproximately 22 per cent ofagricultural land in affected areas has been damaged, further undermining food production and livelihoods. Over1 million peoplein thecountryare currently displaced, with manypeople,especiallyfromthesouth,unable to return home due to ongoing hostilities and destroyedinfrastructure,nowliving in tents following the intense recent hostilities. Protectionconcerns and funding gapthreaten humanitarian responseThe IFRC also reiterated urgent concerns over attacks affecting healthcare workers, ambulances, and humanitarian responders.In Iran and Lebanon combined,sixRed Cross and Red Crescent volunteers have been killed while carrying out humanitarian worksince the recent escalation. “Our teams on the ground are clear - what they need above all else is protection,”saidMrCardoza.“These brave staff and volunteers should not have tofear for their lives when they get an emergency call and travel in theirambulances.“Hospitals, ambulances, medical personnel and humanitarian workers mustbe respected and protected.”The IFRC warned that severe funding shortfalls are threatening the continuity of humanitarian operations across the region.“Behind these numbers are real consequences,”continuedMrCardoza.“Operations may need to be scaled back, supplies delayed or cut, and there will be people we cannot reach.”The IFRC’s Emergency Appeal for Iran is currently only four per cent funded, while the Lebanon appealremainsunder 14 per cent funded.The IFRC called on donors and the international community to provide sustained and flexible funding to support emergency operations, recovery efforts, and longer-term humanitarian needs across the region.Spokespeople are available in Beirut,Tehranand Geneva.For more information or to set up an interview contact: [email protected] Geneva:Tommaso DellaLonga,+41 79 708 4367Matthew Carter, +44 7557 802463In Beirut:Mey El Sayegh, +961 03 229 352

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

World Health Day 2026: How quick local action helped a small community in Nepal beat back Cholera

In late October 2025, the quiet rhythm of life in Ward 5 of Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality, was abruptly broken. Families in this remote corner of Nepal’s Saptari District began rushing loved ones to the nearest health post as a sudden wave of Cholera swept through the settlement.Within days, three lives were lost: a young child, a toddler, and an elderly grandparent. For a small, marginalised community already living on the edge, the losses felt unbearable.“We didn’t understand what was happening,” one mother later shared with Red Cross teams. “We only knew our children were getting sick, and so fast.”Most families here depend on nearby ponds and rivers for drinking, cooking, and washing. Those same waters carried invisible dangers.With open defecation widespreadand no proper sanitation facilities, contamination was unavoidable. Illness was common. Reporting it was not.This time, the consequences were devastating. Yet in the midst of this chaos, something powerful began to unfold communities began to reach for one another.When every hour mattersAs cases rose, frontline health workers quickly recognized the signs of cholera. Their swift action set off a chain of alerts that travelled from village lanes to Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), led by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD).Several months earlier, the EDCD had deployed rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for cholera provided by Gavi. To ensure their effective use for surveillance, a project hosted by the IFRC (the Country Support Platform - Global Task Force on Cholera Control) supported nationwide training of health professionals on the use of cholera RDT kits.This meant that the community got a quick answer what disease they were confronting.For families who had already watched loved ones die, the diagnosis brought both fear and clarity. This time, though, they were not facing it alone. Within days, health authorities, local officials, and humanitarian partners were on the ground.Drawing on the lessons from the cholera outbreak in Birgunj, a neighboring community, just months earlier, the response was very rapid. (The Birguni response was supported in part by funding from the IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund, or IFRC-DREF).In Chhinnamasta, action began within 3–4 days, an achievement rooted not in only in epidemic response systems, but in people: the health worker who raised the alarm, the laboratory teams who worked through the night, the volunteers who went house to house to warn neighbours.While the response in Chhinamasta did not come directly under the Nepal Red Cross response funded by IFRC-DREF, it did benefit from the experiences and lessons learnt from other recent IFRC-DREF operations in Birgunj and other municipalities.Partnerships grounded in trustWhen EDCD asked for support, Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) volunteers became the bridge between institutions and families. They knew the settlements. They knew the languages. Most importantly, families trusted them.Provincial and local health offices, including health posts and hospitals, worked in close coordination. They rapidly convened emergency meetings, clarified roles, addressed logistical gaps, and mobilizied resources for an effective response.These partnerships weren’t abstract. They took concrete shape as health workers held urgent planning meetings under a single light bulb in the district office, or asneighbours helpied Red Cross teams navigate the narrow footpaths between homes.Bringing care to the heart of the communityOne of the turning points came when an Oral Rehydration Point (ORP) was opened right inside the affected settlement. Instead of walking long distances to seek help and losing precious time, families now have life-saving care just steps away.Parents arrived carrying children. Elderly people were supported by neighbours holding their arms. More than 1,200 people received immediate care.At the same time, 31 health workers received management training on cholera cases. These were the same nurses and health assistants who had known these families for years. Strengthening their skills meant strengthening the entire community’s resilience.Protecting families in their daily livesBecause cholera thrives where water is unsafe, families had to be protected not only in clinics, but in their kitchens, courtyards, and daily routines. Nepal Red Cross teams and volunteers facilitated settling these in the communities:Teaching families to treat water at homeShowing mothers how to keep drinking water covered and cleanReminding children when and how to wash their handsSharing messages in the languages people spoke at homeFM radio announcements and e-rickshaw loudspeakers carried urgent messages through the villagesEvery visit, every conversation, helped calm fears and rebuild confidence.A strong collaboration“I am amazed by how the Red Cross works from the central level right down to our communities,” said Dr. Mukesh Poudel, Chief of the Outbreak Section at EDCD. “I look forward to collaborating not only on cholera but also on other public health priorities.”Brahmadev Yadav from the Nepal Red Cross Saptari District branch added: “Even with our limited staff, the way EDCD and the IFRC stood with us was extraordinary. We were recognized and appreciated by local authorities.”Stronger than beforeStopping the outbreak was only the beginning. What happened in Saptari pushed everyone: health officials, responders, and families, to think beyond the emergency. New plans are now in motion to:Formalize partnership agreements between EDCD and the IFRCPrioritize preparedness for other epidemics.The experience in Saptari showed that with rapid detection, coordinated action, community engagement, and strong partnerships, even resilient communities can withstand deadly outbreaks and emerge stronger for the future."With its strong volunteer network and close coordination with government counterparts, the Nepal Red Cross Society continues to play a vital role in the cholera response,“ said Bal Krishna Sedai, acting director of the Nepal Red Cross Society.“In its auxiliary role to public authorities, the National Society stands ready to intensify efforts to contain the outbreak, strengthen community engagement, and build resilience.We call on all partners, donors, and stakeholders to act together to implement the National Cholera Elimination Plan to preventfuture outbreaks.”

A place to transform lives: Inside the Egyptian Red Crescent’s Zeinhom Community Centre

Paraguay: Red Cross strengthens neonatal care to protect mothers and newborns

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, held each year, reminds us that the protection and well-being of women and children must be prioritised in all settings. This includes the right to access affordable, safe, quality healthcare during pregnancy, childbirth and the neonatal period.In Paraguay, the pioneering work of the Red Cross's Reina Sofía Hospital is a prime example of how investing in maternal and neonatal health can help to prevent gender-based violence.The Reina Sofía Hospital is a historic pillar of maternal and child health in Paraguay. It was the country's first premature care centre and the first to have neonatal intensive care. It receives pregnant women from all over the country and delivers around 2,200 babies each year, 8–10 per cent of whom are born prematurely.However, the neonatal unit had been working with minimal equipment and obsolete devices.Therefore, to improve infrastructure and technology, the Paraguayan Red Cross accessed the IFRC Capacity Building Fund, which enabled the complete remodelling of the inpatient rooms and the acquisition of two new ultrasound machines for the diagnostic area.These improvements will enhance the care provided to pregnant women, newborns and premature babies, minimising risks and ensuring safer, more protective environments.Yenny Benítez, president of the Paraguayan Red Cross, summarises the impact:“The Paraguayan Red Cross is proud to say that we are raising the standards of our hospital to provide better and better care for mothers and their children.”To prevent gender-based violence, mothers must also be protectedAccess to safe and respectful obstetric care is an essential component of preventing gender-based violence, especially obstetric violence.Thanks to an agreement signed with Paraguay's Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, the neonatal therapy rooms have also been equipped with new ventilators, light therapy devices, and incubators. These improvements enable an adequate response to neonatal emergencies and protecting the lives of mothers and newborns, especially in cases of premature birth or respiratory complications.With almost 30 years of service at the institution, Head of Neonatology Dr. Marta Bareiro recalls the hospital's history:“This is a hospital with a long history of maternal and neonatal care. It used to be a premature baby ward, the first premature baby center in Paraguay. Later, it was also the first place to offer neonatal intensive care, and we were also the first hospital certified as mother- and child-friendly.”The center has intensive and intermediate care units, shared accommodation to strengthen the mother-infant bond, a clinic for healthy children, and specialized follow-up care for premature babies. It also promotes community first aid knowledge through trained volunteers from the Paraguayan Red Cross.Testimonials of protectionThe experiences of women treated at Reina Sofia Hospital demonstrate the importance of a safe environment and quality care in ensuring the emotional and physical well-being of mothers and newborns.Mirtha Alfonso, who gave birth in 1986, fondly recalls how her son was born:“He was born on 16 August 1986 here at the Red Cross. I was going to have a normal delivery, but it didn't work out, so I had a caesarean section. Then he went to intensive care. It wasn't so simple because the wards were full. Thankfully, though, one of the children was moved to intermediate care, so a crib became available.”Mirtha even donated breast milk to babies whose mothers were unable to breastfeed."When my baby was transferred to intermediate care, I was finally able to hold him and breastfeed him," Mirtha recalls, becoming emotional again. "I remember it so clearly, and it still makes me emotional. It was the first time I held my baby, and I cried with joy."Liz Marlene Ayala, a mother of two who was pregnant as a teenager, says she chose the Paraguayan Red Cross because she received understanding and dignified treatment there.“I was very young, and one of the things that made me continue my treatment here was the way I was treated. I was 16 in 2000 and came here for my consultation because of how they treated teenagers.”Having returned more than 15 years later, she recognises the improvements in infrastructure and technology, as well as the respect and warmth of the healthcare team, which has remained unchanged over the years.Hospital and Paraguayan Red Cross staff also work with the Ministry of Health on campaigns promoting sexual and reproductive health, preventing cancer in women, tackling addiction and epidemics, and encouraging voluntary blood donation.Providing care with empathy, active listening, support, and ensuring adequate technology are all ways of protecting women, girls, and newborns.In Paraguay and around the world, the IFRC network will continue to promote safe, violence-free healthcare environments, so that every mother and baby receives the care they deserve from day one.Such investments therefore play a critical role in preventing what is often referred to as “obstetric violence”, in which women are subjected to inadequate care, neglect or mistreatment in facilities involved in reproductive healthcare.

The IFRC warns of growing psychological toll on children and families one month after Hurricane Melissa

Kingston/Panama/Geneva. 28 November 2025 - One month after Hurricane Melissa, people continue to report significant psychological impacts, including high levels of stress, anxiety, persistent fear, sleep disturbances, and grief linked to the loss of homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. Thousands across the affected regions are seeking psychosocial support, with demand increasing as families confront the long-term emotional toll of the disaster, reports the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).In Jamaica, children are showing a wide range of emotional reactions, including fear of the dark and heightened sensitivity to rain or wind. Some have become unusually quiet or irritable, while others are more clingy, fearful of separation, or noticeably hyperactive as they try to cope with the ongoing sense of insecurity.“While physical wounds may heal and houses can be rebuilt with time, emotional wounds can linger long after the crisis is over. Mental health and psychosocial support programs are among the least expensive interventions in humanitarian response, yet their impact is priceless,” said Dorothy Francis, Head of Operations at the IFRC in Jamaica. “It is critical to ensure the resources needed not only for psychological first aid, but also for psychoeducation, child-friendly activities, and group sessions tailored to community needs.”The IFRC has launched an emergency appeal for 19 million Swiss francs (approximately USD 23 million) to support 180,000 people affected by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, and an additional appeal for 15 million Swiss francs (USD 18 million) to assist the Cuban Red Cross in supporting 100,000 people. This funding will strengthen MHPSS interventions across all response activities, ensuring that communities receive practical, emotional, and psychological support throughout the recovery process.Red Cross volunteers and specialists are providing essential mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to adults and children affected by the hurricane. This includes psychological first aid, community-based support sessions, child-friendly activities, and referrals to specialized care when needed.Activities such as games, drawing, storytelling, music, movement, and breathing exercises support emotional expression and stress reduction. For those more deeply affected, focused group sessions offer grounding techniques, relaxation exercises, psychoeducation on common stress reactions, and safe spaces to share coping strategies and regain a sense of control. Parents also receive guidance to understand their children’s emotional needs and support healthy coping. Across all these actions, the goal is to restore safety, a sense of normalcy, and meaningful connection within the community.In Cuba, Red Cross teams are also distributing mosquito kits — an intervention that goes beyond disease prevention. By protecting families from mosquito bites and creating a safer sleeping environment, the kits help improve sleep hygiene, which is essential for emotional well-being and recovery after a traumatic event.Julio Martinez, Head of Psychosocial Support for the Cuban Red Cross, has been leading sessions with children in the community of El Aguacate. He describes how simple activities such as coloring help children express their emotions and begin to heal. “The colors reflect what the child feels in that moment. Children express themselves openly and clearly, and their drawings often reveal what is happening within the family,” he said.MHPSS is also central to building back stronger. “After the storm, people face difficult decisions— how to rebuild, return to work, and support their children,” Martinez added. “Resilience becomes essential, and psychosocial support is key to helping communities recover and rebuild that strength. No one emerges untouched; everyone is psychologically affected, so mental health cannot be overlooked.”In Cuba, Yaricel Martínez González experienced the effects of Hurricane Melissa firsthand. Before the storm, she was part of a community of fisherfolk.“To see everything we had achieved through years of effort and sacrifice collapse in just a few hours was deeply devastating for us,” mentions Yaricel. “My own mother would start crying every day at two in the morning, and I felt a knot in my throat, as if I couldn’t breathe. When something so drastic happens, you think you’ll never sleep again, never recover. But we are living proof that the techniques provided by the Red Cross do help. They taught us ways to breathe better, relieve stress, and sleep more peacefully. Even the children benefited, using drawings to express the sadness they felt from Melissa’s passing.”Note to editors:Visuals: Additional photos and video available here.For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Panama:Maria Victoria Langman, +507 6550-1090Susana Arroyo Barrantes, +507 6999-3199In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 4367 Nora Peter, +36 70 953 7709 

Limited international support compromises recovery of population affected by Hurricane Melissa in Cuba

Santiago de Cuba/Panama/Geneva, 21 November 2025 - The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has warned that the humanitarian needs of the population affected by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba are growing faster than the international support required to provide short- and medium-term humanitarian assistance.Three weeks after Melissa made landfall in Cuba, data from the Civil Defence and the United Nations System indicate that more than 2.2 million people were affected, mainly in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Granma and Holguín. In addition, the loss of more than 150,000 hectares of crops threatens food security, and damage to more than 155,000 homes exposes the population to the dengue, oropouche and chikungunya epidemics declared in the country. In addition, power cuts are limiting the operation of water plants and health services, especially in Santiago de Cuba, where 500,000 people still have no access to electricity."Countless families have lost everything: roofs, mattresses, food, animals, items that are essential for survival with well-being and dignity," said Carlos Pérez Díaz, executive president of the Cuban Red Cross. "From the very first minute, Cuban Red Cross teams have been travelling through the areas most affected by Melissa, distributing aid and offering psychosocial support, but our efforts fall short given the magnitude of the needs we encounter, especially in rural areas and in the coastal area where Melissa made landfall."The first 20 tonnes of aid from the IFRC, which arrived in Cuba by air on 2 November, have already been distributed in full by Cuban Red Cross volunteers. This shipment included kitchen, hygiene and rest kits, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lamps, plastic sheeting and tool kits. These items were delivered to families whose homes were destroyed, elderly people living alone, people with disabilities, and pregnant women or women with children or dependents in their care. "The pre-positioning of humanitarian supplies at our logistics hub in Panama allowed us to dispatch vital aid within the first 72 hours after Hurricane Melissa struck, and the organisational and coordination capacity of the Cuban Red Cross enabled us to distribute it in record time," said Cristian Torres Bermeo, IFRC Deputy Director for the Americas. "We have the experience, operational capacity and local presence necessary to reach the areas most in need, but we require more financial support to reach the thousands of families who still require urgent assistance and, as soon as conditions allow, to move on to the early recovery phase."On 31 October, the IFRC launched an emergency appeal requesting 15 million Swiss francs (18 million USD) to provide two years of emergency assistance, early recovery and long-term resilience support to 100,000 people. Contributions received by the organisation amount to only 16.3% of the required amount, while needs on the island continue to rise.The IFRC's international appeal will remain open for the next 24 months. Governments, businesses, foundations and even individuals can contribute resources that will enable communities to rebuild their homes, protect themselves from mosquito-borne diseases, take care of their mental health, resume productive activities, rely on solar energy to cope with power cuts and prepare for the next hurricane season.The IFRC has a strong track record in implementing humanitarian operations in Cuba. Working hand in hand with the Cuban Red Cross – and its network of more than 35,000 volunteers – and in coordination with public authorities and national and international humanitarian actors, it has responded to dozens of hurricanes and storms, including Ian, Oscar, Rafael, Matthew, Irma and Sandy, always guided by its fundamental principles and with interventions based on needs assessments and dialogue with the affected communities. For further information or interviews, please write to [email protected] or contact In Santiago de CubaSusana Arroyo Barrantes, +507 69993199In PanamaMaría Victoria Langman, +507 65501090In GenevaNora Peter +36 70 953 7709

Alliance for the Amazon: IFRC and TNC present a 10-year commitment to strengthen community resilience and climate adaptation

Belém do Pará/Panama City/Geneva, 15 November -The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) unveiled the Alliance for the Amazon’s ten-year program (2025–2035), focused on disaster risk reduction and climate resilience through the deployment of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) across the Amazon rainforest.During a joint event at COP30 in Brazil, the two organizations issued a call to raise the first 10 million Swiss francs (approximately 12 million USD) to launch the initial phase of this program, which aims to strengthen the resilience of Amazonian communities threatened by wildfires, droughts, floods, extreme temperatures, socioeconomic complexities, and displacement—combining humanitarian action and environmental science to protect both people and nature.Created nearly a year ago, the Alliance for the Amazon is a long-term, collective effort that brings together communities, Indigenous Peoples, governments, and organizations committed to safeguarding the Amazon. Convened by the IFRC as a network rooted in local presence and regional leadership, the Alliance unites knowledge, resources, and partnerships to build a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive Amazon, especially fostering partnerships between humanitarian, environmental, and development sectorsOver the past year, the IFRC has led a series of Amazonian Knowledge System Dialogues in Bolivia and Colombia, gathering hundreds of community leaders, scientists, and Red Cross teams to co-design locally led solutions. These dialogues, along with joint analyses carried out with expert organizations, such as TNC, have informed a new regional program framework and pilot projects focused on ecosystem restoration, climate-smart agriculture, and community health.“The Alliance for the Amazon embodies the Red Cross spirit of humanity, trust and localization,” said Loyce Pace, IFRC Regional Director for the Americas. “Together with partners, we are mobilizing to protect communities facing wildfires, droughts, floods, and climate displacement. Our goal is not only to anticipate and respond to disasters and health crises—but to help people thrive amid a changing climate.”The Alliance for the Amazon is structured around three strategic pillars that guide its long-term action and embed Locally Led Adaptation. The first focuses on risk management and anticipatory climate action, emphasizing local preparedness, inclusive local governance, and effective early warning systems. The second centers on sustainable and resilient livelihoods, supporting nature-based solutions, green economies, and food sovereignty. The third pillar promotes integral health and community well-being, connecting physical, mental, and spiritual health with environmental stewardship.“This partnership brings the best of humanitarian and developmental action together with environmental science to support those who safeguard the Amazon every day,” said Clare Shakya, TNC's Global Climate Managing Director at The Nature Conservancy (TNC). “By restoring ecosystems, strengthening community leadership, investing in nature-based solutions, and addressing structural inequities in adaptation finance systems, the Alliance can support Amazon communities adapt and thrive, while protecting its biodiversity, and the climate systems we all depend on.” Organizations, governments, corporations, and Indigenous Peoples and communities interested in contributing to this initiative are invited to join the Alliance and collaborate in advancing climate resilience and humanitarian and developmental action across the Amazon.With the active participation of National Red Cross Societies across the nine Amazonian countries, in partnership with TNC and other actors working in key areas of the basin, the Alliance seeks to reach 4 million people over the next decade. Its approach centers on local leadership, intercultural dialogue, and long-term partnerships—key ingredients for addressing one of the most complex humanitarian and environmental challenges of our time.For more information and to set up an interview, please contact: [email protected] Panama: María Victoria Langman, +507 6550 1090In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 4367

Alliance for the Amazon: For a resilient and sustainable future

Beyond the blackouts: Ukraine facing its hardest winter yet, IFRC warns

Kyiv/Budapest/Geneva, 14 November 2025 – This coming winter may be the hardest one in years for many people in Ukraine, warns the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).With savings exhausted, prices soaring, and livelihoods destroyed, millions now face a season where survival depends on the support of others. The Ukrainian Red Cross and the IFRC Network are scaling up their efforts - helping communities prepare before the cold sets in and supporting communities to survive through the hardest months of winter.Last winter, 60 per cent of people surveyed by the Ukrainian Red Cross said that they did not have enough food, and 50 per cent did not have stable access to water, electricity and gas.i“Almost four years of conflict have eroded people’s resources. Many families are entering this winter with no financial buffer – seven out of ten people said they don’t have any savings left,” said Jaime Wah, Deputy Head of Delegation for IFRC in Ukraine.Across Ukraine, frequent power cuts plunge neighbourhoods into darkness, cut heating, and force hospitals onto emergency power. For older people and vulnerable people in high-rise buildings, blackouts can mean hours or days of isolation without elevators, heat, and often without food or medicine.But the impact goes beyond that: shops are closing early, restaurants are losing their food stock, and farmers can’t store what they produce. Prices continue to rise as small businesses are closing, and people are losing their jobs.A plan to keep families warm and safeTo meet the rising needs, the IFRC Network and the Ukrainian Red Cross have launched a 38 million Swiss franc winterization plan that aims to reach nearly half a million people. Red Cross teams are mobilizing to reach vulnerable households across frontline and affected regions, distributing basic items, insulation materials and lighting kits. They are also helping with small repairs and replacing broken windows to keep houses warm.People living in rural areas will receive small grants for agricultural projects and veterinary assistance to help restore their livelihoods. The Red Cross is also assisting with the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure and developing local emergency capacities in communities, so that they are better prepared for the cold months ahead.We have been providing support to people for several years, but our resources are also running thin. The scale of the needs is overwhelming, and with each passing day, those needs only grow. There are still millions who need our help, and we are calling on governments and donors to invest in emergency response and long-term recovery,” said Jaime Wah.Note to editors:Under the IFRC Network’s winterization plan:18,000 people will receive cash assistance to cover essential winter expenses117,000 people will regain access to heat, energy, and clean water29,500 people will be assisted through evacuation and preparedness activities3,310 rural households will benefit from livelihood grants, veterinary assistance, and agricultural training150 communities will be equipped to better respond to emergenciesVisuals: photos and videos available here: LINKAudio: An interview on IFRC News, IFRC’s new weekly news podcast – on help for Ukrainians to prepare for the winter ahead.For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Bucharest: Diana Hohol, +40 730 865 106In Budapest: Nora Peter, +36 70 953 7709In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 4367

15 days of action: Well before Hurricane Melissa struck, the Red Cross was on full alert, helping people get ready. Now, they’re at the heart of the response

For the people who lived through Hurricane Melissa, it was a storm like no other they had ever experienced.Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on 28 October as a Category 5 hurricane, with winds exceeding 160 mph, making it the most severe storm to hit the island in known history. Then, itmoved eastward towards Cuba, where it struck twelve hours later as a Category 3 hurricane.Fortunately, the severity of the hurricane was not entirely unexpected. Thanks to forecasts, the Red Cross network in the region had already begun preparing for the storm. A week before landfall, when the first weather forecasts showed the formation of Hurricane Melissa and its possible paths in the central Caribbean, the Red Cross was already active, coordinating with local groups and agencies, warning the communities and helping them prepare, and placing critical supplies in places where they were likely to be needed most. Local Red Cross teams in Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, activated their contingency plans and began preparing communities for what would become one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic. The damage in Jamaica was devastating. The government estimates that losses amount to around 30 percent of the national GDP. Flooding destroyed roads and damaged crops, leaving more than 70 percent of the population without electricity. Around 7,200 people sought shelter in the 881shelters that were opened across the country, eight of which are still being managed by the Jamaican Red Cross.“It was very traumatic. I lost my storeroom, my shed down there, and the water in the gully was rising. When I peeped through the window and saw the kind of breeze along with the rain, it was very traumatic,” says Mr. Lawrence, Doctor, former Emergency Chair for the Red Cross St Elizabeth branch. “As you can see, all my fruit trees have died. The fish that I feed every morning they turned over, they all swam away.”In Cuba, winds of up to 195 km/h and heavy rainfall caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, interrupting basic services. It is estimated that 2.2 million people have been severely affected.“We were not able to arrive to Santiago because the road is blocked by what is full of water,” said Nicolás Segura, IFRC’s Disaster Response Coordinator for the Latin Caribbean.“We were able to see a lot of damage, a lot of devastation, a lot of dead animals on the road and also a couple of road accidents and people trying to get to their houses, trying to recover everything.”Anticipatory action saves livesIn Jamaica, the Red Cross launched preventive measures in eight high-risk parishes, supported by the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF). Volunteers visited at-risk communities to disseminate early warning messages, prepared shelters and distributed essential items.. Thanks to these measures, more than 300 people and five institutions received essential non-food items and preparedness support well before the storm made landfall.Meanwhile, the Cuban Red Cross activated its contingency plan for hydrometeorological events, deploying staff and volunteers to vulnerable areas. They reinforced community communications, checked evacuation centres and pre-positioned humanitarian aid kits and rescue equipment in provinces such as Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Holguín. This advance preparation meant that, when Melissa finally made landfall, both National Societies were ready to respond immediately without wasting any critical time. From day one, teams on both islands have been working tirelessly. The Jamaica Red Cross mobilised 400 volunteers and immediately distributed 750 blankets, 250 cleaning kits, 250 hygiene kits, 250 shelter tool kits and 500 tarpaulins. In Cuba, specialised brigades have supported evacuations, rescued over 500 people, and provided psychosocial support to families in crisis.International appeals for recovery supportThe scale of the disaster has prompted the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to launch two emergency appeals to strengthen operations in both countries. The emergency appeal in Jamaica aims to raise 19 million Swiss francs (US$23 million) to assist 180,000 people over the next two years. The operation will provide shelter, livelihoods, and cashassistance, helping families rebuild safely and recover with dignity.Special attention will be given to single mothers, families with young children or older adults, and people with disabilities. All interventions will be guided by protection, gender inclusion and community engagement and accountability, ensuring that assistance is fair and transparent, and helping communities prepare for future climate crises. In Cuba, the emergency appeal aims to raise CHF 15 million (USD 18 million) to support 100,000 people in the worst-affected provinces. The operation combines emergency relief, early recovery, and long-term resilience, helping families rebuild homes, restore safe water, and recover their health and livelihoods.This two-year appeal invests in climate-resilient reconstruction. Families will receive roofing kits, tools, and training in safe, sustainable building techniques, along with solar-powered water systems to secure clean water even when power fails. The goal: help communities recover today and then have what they need to resist tomorrow’s storms.Active global networkIn the seven days following the storm, the Red Cross's global network delivered over 180 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to the Caribbean. These included shelter kits, cleaning kits, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, jerry cans, buckets and blankets. On Sunday, 2 November, an IFRC charter flight landed in Santiago de Cuba with the first 20 tons of humanitarian aid for those affected by Hurricane Melissa. 'We are in the warehouses where we have our 20-tonne load of humanitarian aid that arrived recently. Our objective is to check it and establish distribution guidelines', said Luis Enrique Calderón Rodríguez on 4 November. He is the Head of Operations and Rescue at the Cuban Red Cross. 'We have already verified that the loads are ready and that we can begin delivering to families today.'This shipmentenables the Cuban Red Cross to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to 1,500 people in the most affected areas, including kitchen kits, hygiene kits, bedding, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lamps, shelter tool kits and plastic sheeting.In Jamaica, 160 tons of Red Cross humanitarian aid arrived in the seven days following Melissa's landfall. Shipments reinforce local distribution, enabling thousands of families to receive hygiene, cleaning, and cooking items in the early days of the emergency. These actions were made possible by international solidarity. The Canadian Red Cross, the French Red Cross's Regional Intervention Platform of the Americas-Caribbean (PIRAC) and the IFRC's Regional Logistics Centre in Panama coordinated the shipment of supplies by air and sea to ensure aid reached those most in need quickly. Volunteers from the Cuban and Jamaican Red Cross Societies, meanwhile, are still extremely busy throughout the region, carrying out damage and needs assessments, distributing emergency supplies, cleaning up and providing emotional support.Helping people cope with shock and lossNot all the support being provided comes in the form of physical goods or supplies.There is a strong and widespread need for psychosocial support in the worst-affected communities, including among Red Cross members. Volunteers and staff have been working tirelessly for days. Some volunteers have seen their homes completely destroyed.“We recognise that there is a very real and strong need for health services, medical care, and psychosocial support,” said Ruth Howard to BBC on October 31, Howard is the Deputy Public Relations Chair for the Jamaica Red Cross. “The psychosocial support is essential, because this has been one of the most traumatic events that many of our people have ever experienced in their lives,” she continued.Yet they continue to support those most in need, demonstrating that Red Cross help begins in communities. Every kit delivered, every safe evacuation and every hug of support is made possible by these dedicated volunteers. Hurricane Melissa reminded us once again that preparedness saves lives. The anticipatory actions implemented before the storm made landfall proved their effectiveness, making the difference between total devastation and resilience. Over the next months, the IFRC and the National Societies of Jamaica and Cuba will continue to collaborate to bolster community resilience in the face of future climate events.

Somalia: Complex Emergency

Somalia is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with over 2.5 million people in Puntland and Somaliland struggling to survive amid extreme drought, collapsing health systems, and severe food and water shortages. Families have lost their livelihoods, children are at risk of malnutrition and disease, and women and girls face heightened protection risks as community coping mechanisms collapse. The Somali Red Crescent Society is on the ground providing life-saving water, food, health services, and cash assistance, but urgent support is needed to scale up and reach more families in need.Donate now to help the Somali Red Crescent provide life-saving assistance.

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.

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

Reaching the unreached: Mali Red Cross teams go the last mile to ensure children get life-saving vaccines

Immunization is one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight against infectious diseases. Every year, vaccines save millions of lives and help to slow and stop diseases from spreading.But in Mali, West Africa, fewer than half of the country’s children have received all the essential childhood vaccines they need to live long and healthy lives—putting them at risk of deadly yet entirely preventable diseases such as diphtheria, measles, and tetanus.No child should be left vulnerable to disease simply because of where they live. So, with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and IFRC, the Mali Red Cross has been working tirelessly over the past year to help close the vaccination gap—with a particular focus on helping the hardest-to-reach children who may otherwise slip through the net.Why do so many children in Mali miss out on vaccines?Parents in Mali face many different barriers to getting their children fully vaccinated.The first is simply a lack of healthcare access. Many remote communities—particularly those in Mali’s northern desert regions—live days away from their nearest health centre, making it difficult and costly to attend vaccination sessions.Since 2012, ongoing armed conflict across the country has displaced hundreds of thousands of people. For families on the move, keeping up with their children’s vaccination schedule can be challenging amid the upheaval—not to mention health clinics and workers can be forced to stop operating due to the fighting. On top of this, devastating flooding swept across Mali in late 2024—displacing even more communities and putting further strain on the country’s health system.And even when families in Mali do have access to health services, misinformation and harmful rumours about vaccines—for instance, that they cause sickness or sterility—can discourage parents from bringing their children forward for their jabs.What are Mali Red Cross volunteers doing to help?Mali Red Cross volunteers are well-placed to support immunization efforts because they are local, known and trusted by the communities they support.While they don’t administer vaccines themselves, volunteers act as an important bridge between communities and local health services. Every day, they go door-to-door in far-flung villages to speak to parents about their children’s vaccination status, recording data on those who have never received a jab (‘zero dose’) or whose who are falling behind (‘under-vaccinated’). This data gives local health authorities vital insight into where gaps remain.Volunteers then encourage parents to take their kids for their routine immunizations, providing trusted information on the benefits and informing people where, when and how to get them.“It’s not that communities don’t want their children to be safe and healthy. But often there is misinformation swirling and it takes the right person reaching them with the right knowledge at the right time”, explains Dr Sidi Touré, IFRC Programme Manager for the vaccination support project with Gavi.“We make sure Mali Red Cross volunteers are equipped with accurate health information to share with their communities. They very patiently and sensitively explain to families, in their local language, how vaccines have stopped other children from getting sick and how it can protect their children, too.”Household visits are complemented by regular community events and interactive radio shows, during which parents can call in with their questions for health experts and volunteers.And in some districts, where communities are particularly hesitant towards vaccines, volunteers work with local theatre troupes to stage entertaining performances which explain how vaccines work and allay people’s fears in a fun and engaging way.Taking vaccines to the peopleWhen volunteers identify a large cluster of zero dose or under-vaccinated children in a remote area, Mali Red Cross coordinates with the nearest health centre to take vaccines directly to families in two main ways:Outreach sites: typically for communities within 5-10km of a health facility, volunteers accompany and help transport health workers with vaccine carriers to run vaccination sessions—often tied to community events or market days to reach as many people as possible.Mobile clinics: for remote, hard-to-reach areas or displaced and nomadic populations, mobile teams travel out to set up temporary vaccination points. These missions require careful planning to navigate tough terrain, ensure security, and maintain the cold chain so vaccines stay effective.In both cases, the role of Mali Red Cross volunteers is crucial. Their community engagement efforts raise awareness about when and where the sessions will take place and generate demand for the vaccines. This means that when health workers arrive with the jabs, families are ready and eager to vaccinate their children.“Previously, many families did not understand the importance of vaccination. But thanks to the explanations and regular visits of Mali Red Cross volunteers, almost everyone in our village now supports it. Today, women regularly bring their children to get vaccinated whenever the vaccination officer visits the village,” says Issa Souleymane, Head of Goundjougoufouga village in Sikasso region.Closing the vaccine gapIn the past year, Mali Red Cross volunteers have identified more than 30,000 zero-dose and more than 17,000 under-vaccinated children, supporting the vast majority to be vaccinated by local health workers.These figures may seem modest, but they represent some of the highest-risk children who would otherwise have remained invisible to, and unreached by, local health authorities—leaving them vulnerable to entirely preventable diseases. Reaching these last-mile communities also helps prevent outbreaks and protects the wider population.“The arrival of the Red Cross to support routine vaccinations has been truly beneficial. Firstly, the district knows which children are under-vaccinated or unvaccinated. Through volunteers’ activities, vaccination indicators have improved with their support to outreach sites and mobile teams. The project contributed to us exceeding our Penta3 coverage targets in 2024, leading to a drastic reduction in the number of under-vaccinated children in the district,” explains Dr Daou Dassoun, Head of Sagabari Health District in Mali’s southern Sikasso region.Building local, long-term immunization capacitySupport from IFRC and Gavi is helping Mali Red Cross and local health authorities in Mali to improve their immunization services in the long term.With more comprehensive data, improved coordination, and more effective planning of immunization activities and strategies, they’re able to better serve hard-to-reach populations and make sure no child is left behind.“Through this project with IFRC and Gavi, Mali Red Cross has been able to significantly improve our capacity in vaccination support, for example through the recruitment and training of more than 400 community volunteers. Our teams are now closely coordinating with the Ministry of Health on vaccination activities at all levels and are embedded in local health structures,” explains Dr Wiri Souara, Head of Health Department at Mali Red Cross.Even after the vaccine support project ends, Mali Red Cross volunteers will remain by their communities’ side—encouraging parents, supporting local health services, and making sure children continue to get the vaccines they need.Because every child, no matter where they live, deserves the chance to grow up healthy and safe.-------------------------------------------------The activities featured in this article were made possible thanks to IFRC’s partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.Together, we are working with Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in five countries to ensure that children—particularly zero-dose and under-vaccinated children—receive the vaccines they need to live long and healthy lives safe from preventable diseases.

Ebola in DRC: A race against time to save lives

Costa Rican Red Cross and the University of Costa Rica strengthen response to snake bites in rural areas

Costa Rica's tropical ecosystems are home to 23 species of venomous snake. If one of these snakes bites someone, whether a child or an adult working in the fields, every minute counts. In an emergency like this, the distance to the nearest medical centre can mean the difference between life and death.The Costa Rican Red Cross has decades of experience treating people bitten by venomous snakes, particularly in areas where access to medical centres is limited. It plays a fundamental role in providing a first response to stabilize patients and organize urgent transfers to hospitals.So far in 2025 alone, the Costa Rican Red Cross has transported 46 people in a critical condition after they were bitten by snakes. Every year, around 600 people are bitten by snakes in Costa Rica.However, the Red Cross is not the only institution that responds to snakebites: the Clodomiro Picado Institute (ICP) at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) has also been involved since 1970.It is the only producer of antivenom in Central America and Panama. Since its foundation, the Institute's mission has been to produce antivenom to help treat patients affected by snakebites in Costa Rica and other developing countries.Currently, the laboratory produces around 120,000 vials of antivenom each year, saving lives in Costa Rica and across Central America, South America and Africa.An agreement of hopeOn 8 September 2025, the Costa Rican Red Cross and the ICP signed an agreement to improve the response to snakebites outside of hospitals. The two organizations have joined forces to make freeze-dried antivenom serum available in the most remote communities in the country.The institute will donate 30 vials of freeze-dried antivenom serum to the Costa Rican Red Cross each year. The serum's powdered formulation does not require refrigeration, making it easier to transport and store in strategic locations – allowing Red Cross volunteers and staff to provide life-saving support even in hard-to-reach communities.Dyanne Marenco González, president of the Costa Rican Red Cross, said “Through our collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the University of Costa Rica — specifically the Clodomiro Picado Institute — we will enhance pre-hospital care, ensuring a prompt response to snakebites and saving lives in remote communities where immediate care is crucial.“This agreement reaffirms the Costa Rican Red Cross' humanitarian commitment to being present in the most remote areas of the country.”Under the terms of the agreement, the Red Cross will be able to administer the antivenom in the field instead of waiting for the affected person to arrive at a hospital, thereby reducing serious complications and even deaths.In addition, the UCR will train Red Cross personnel to administer the serum and strengthen prevention campaigns in communities at greater risk due to their daily activities and geographical location.By placing science, cooperation and solidarity at the service of the most at-risk people, the Costa Rican Red Cross and the Clodomiro Picado Institute are reaffirming that no life should be at risk from a snakebite due to distance or a lack of resources.For families working in agriculture and living in rural areas, knowing that help and antivenom can reach their community offers a more secure future. Early access to serum saves more lives, results in fewer permanent long-term health issues, and brings more hope to rural communities.

The Papas’ Club: In Nigeria, fathers break down barriers to fight hunger

Red Cross responds as deadly Ebola resurfaces in DRC’s Kasaï Province after 17 years

Nairobi/Geneva – 8 September 2025 — The Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially declared a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Kasaï Province. This marks the country’s 16th recorded Ebola epidemic and the first in this region since 2008.The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), in coordination with the DRC Red Cross, DRC Ministry of Health, WHO, and key humanitarian partners, is rapidly intensifying Ebola response efforts. Priority actions include deploying rapid response teams and volunteers within communities, strengthening surveillance and contact tracing, and initiating targeted vaccination for frontline workers and contacts. Over 2,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine are already pre-positioned in Kinshasa for immediate deployment.The outbreak was confirmed after the death of a 34-year-old pregnant woman on 20 August in Bulape health zone. This was followed by the deaths of a nurse and a laboratory technician who had treated her. According to Government figures, to date, 28 suspected cases, including 16 deaths, have been recorded—a fatality rate of 57%. Alarmingly, four of the deaths are among healthcare workers, underscoring the risks faced by frontline responders.Ariel Kestens, IFRC Kinshasa country cluster head of delegation, says:“Every hour matters when it comes to containing Ebola. Our priority is to protect healthcare workers, support communities with trusted information, and ensure life-saving resources reach those who need them most before the outbreak spreads further.”The outbreak is currently concentrated in the health zones of Bulape and Mweka in Kasaï Province, where serious operational challenges are hindering the response. Road access from Kinshasa takes up to three days, delaying the rapid deployment of teams and supplies, while the nearest isolation unit has only 15 beds—far below what is needed for the escalating caseload. Genetic sequencing has also confirmed that this Ebola strain is different from the one identified in Equateur between 2007 and 2009, complicating the response.Gregoire Mateso, President of the DRC Red Cross says:“DRC Red Cross volunteers aren’t just messengers, they’re trusted neighbors, working together with community leaders and local authorities, sharing accurate Ebola information through trusted, door-to-door dialogue, dispelling rumours, answering questions, and helping families stay safe.”The Ministry of Health has urged communities to remain vigilant, respect preventive measures, and report any suspected cases. The IFRC and its partners call on the international community to urgently mobilize resources to prevent the epidemic from worsening and spreading further. More information  To request an interview, contact: [email protected]   In DRC:  Jean-Michel Ntalemwa: +243 999 842 933  In Nairobi:  Cate Kamatu: +254 728 815 266 Susan Mbalu: +254 733 827 654  In Geneva:  Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67  Hannah Copeland: +41 76 236 9109 

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

Guinea: Community comes together to reduce disease and disaster risks

For as long as they can remember, the people of Dalafilani—a small, rural village of 2,000 people in central Guinea—have faced a recurring and significant problem: flooding.Every time heavy rains came, water coursed through the village, damaging homes and leaving large pools of polluted, stagnant water—the perfect breeding ground for waterborne and mosquito-borne diseases.Not only did the floods jeopardise people’s homes and health, they also caused economic pressures. Villagers used to have to frequently buy medicine to treat relatives who fell sick from flood-related diseases, diverting precious income from other daily needs.So when local Guinean Red Cross volunteers rallied the community together to discuss potential solutions, the community decided it would do whatever it takes to keep the floods—and diseases—at bay.A community diagnosis at the heart of changeThrough the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3), trained Guinean Red Cross volunteers led the community through a participatory risk assessment to understand the problem, discuss the community’s needs and resources, and come up with a workable solution.“As members of this community, we worked together to identify the priority problems. During a community diagnosis, the residents recognized that flooding and wastewater were a major source of disease, and that their environment had a direct impact on their health, safety and livelihoods,” explains Guinean Red Cross volunteer, Sekou Oularé.“Together, we came up with the idea of constructing a system of canals through the village to evacuate flood and wastewater. The Red Cross facilitated this process, providing tools and logistical support,” he adds.Taking collective actionWith a plan of action agreed, villagers in Dalafilani quickly got to work turning their idea into reality.“We decided to mobilize the whole community. Men and women worked hand in hand to build the canals. We made bricks, dug trenches and transported materials. This work has enabled us to create a functional drainage system that carries rainwater and domestic wastewater away from our village,” explains Fanta Bö Kourouma, president of the Dalafilani youth group.Guinean Red Cross volunteers were on hand throughout the process—helping to build the canals, map out where they should run to most effectively carry water away from the village, and procure the necessary materials.A healthier, safer community in the long-termFollowing the construction of the canals, it didn’t take long for the community to see a positive change. The village is cleaner, there are no more pools of stagnant water following the rains, and families are relieved to see their children in better health.“Before, we had problems with illness, especially among children. They used to play in the dirty water and it made them sick. It was a heavy burden on our finances because of the cost of medicines. Today, thanks to the drainage system, there are fewer mosquitoes and fewer children are getting sick,” says Gbè Traoré, a resident of Dalafilani.Local health authorities have also reported a decrease in diseases, with head of the Dalafilani health post, Bernard Camara, recording significantly fewer medical consultations relating to malaria and water-borne diseases.Guinea Red Cross volunteers continue to support people in Dalafilani, conducting regular community meetings to raise awareness of epidemic risks and reinforce cleanliness efforts.Dalafilani village chief, Fodé Oularé, is relieved to see improvements to his community’s health, and understands they need to keep working together to keep disease risks at bay in the long-term.“Before, rainwater was running off in all directions, creating puddles of stagnant water. Now, with the system we've built, the water is drained away and we have a cleaner environment. The Red Cross has been working with us to raise awareness and maintain this progress, but it's up to us, the residents, to keep things clean to prevent disease,” he explains.--The activities featured in this article were delivered as part of the multi-country Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3) which ran from 2018-2025. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), CP3 supported communities, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats. If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more, sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter.    

Early detection and action stop a measles outbreak in Cameroon

“I was coughing. My eyes were red, and my nose was running. My skin had rashes.”7-year-old Djoubeda from Mayo-Oulo village in Cameroon’s North region was at home with her grandmother when she started showing worrying symptoms of measles.A highly contagious viral infection, measles spreads easily among the unvaccinated—with young children at highest risk. It’s a serious illness that can require hospital admission, cause permanent disability, and even kill if not treated properly. But thankfully help wasn’t far away. Local Cameroon Red Cross Society volunteer, Ramatou—affectionately known as Aunty Ramatou in the village—was called to come see little Djoubeda straight away.Ramatou had previously received training in how to recognize and prevent disease outbreaks, and how to quickly report any unusual health events to authorities, through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3).“I received training on detecting diseases in the population. When I visited Djoubeda, I deduced her symptoms resembled measles and that inaction could spread it,” she explains.Without hesitation, Ramatou notified local health authorities of the suspected measles case using a digital community-based surveillance tool set up through the CP3 programme, then took Djoubeda straight to the nearest health centre.Within three days, tests confirmed that Djoubeda did indeed have measles. During that time, Ramatou and fellow CP3 volunteers got to work educating the community in Mayo-Oulo about measles signs and symptoms, how to prevent it from spreading, and how to report if they noticed something was wrong.Upon confirmation of measles, local health authorities immediately launched a mass vaccination campaign in and around the village—calling upon Cameroon Red Cross volunteers for their support in sharing trusted health information about the vaccines and encouraging families to bring their children along to be immunized.“It’s you, the Red Cross, going around to sensitize us. It’s because of people going around the village talking about vaccination that I brought him,” explains Maya Sylvie, a mother from Mayo-Oulo village who was supported by the Cameroon Red Cross to vaccinate her baby boy.To achieve herd immunity against measles and prevent recurring outbreaks, at least 95% of the population must be fully vaccinated. This vaccination campaign was therefore a huge joint effort between local health authorities and Cameroon Red Cross volunteers, who mobilized as many community members as possible to bring their children for their jabs. Thankfully, since this outbreak, local health authorities haven’t recorded any further measles cases.“We vaccinated nearly 500 children. What if this epidemic had not been stopped? Measles is deadly. We could have recorded a lot of deaths. After the Ministry vaccinated all the children, we have not had any more cases of measles,” explains Dr Laboulaye, Head of the Mayo-Oulo Health Centre.“I want to say to the Red Cross: thank you. Thank you for your support, for all your disease prevention activities and help with the response,” she adds.For Ramatou, learning the skills to quickly detect and report outbreaks in Mayo-Oulo was exactly why she wanted to volunteer in the first place:“I’ve lived here for over 30 years, since I was 6 years old. I became a CP3 volunteer to help my community. As a volunteer, my motivation is to save lives, ease pain, help the sick, and prevent diseases from spreading. What pleases me is that people listen, volunteers work well, the past diseases are gone and the community values and appreciates our efforts.”And as for little Djoubeda, she happily made a full recovery from measles and is grateful to Ramatou for being there for her when she was sick.“I was injected and given medicine. I got better and went back home. Aunty Ramatou, who wears the uniform, does her job well,” she says.---The activities featured in this article were delivered as part of the multi-country Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3) which ran from 2018-2025. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), CP3 supported communities, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats. If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more, sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter.    

World Environment Day: In wake of oil spill, Ecuadorian Red Cross helps keep communities healthy, providing water and awareness about how to conserve and protect precious water supplies

Angela and Narcisa have lived alongside the Esmeraldas River their entire lives. For them, the river was more than just water; it was a source of food, a place to bathe and cook. It was life.Just under three months ago, their situation took a turn when an oil spill contaminated the Caple, Viche and Esmeraldas rivers, leaving thousands of homes without access to clean water.‘Seeing my grandchildren without clean water hurt me the most,”says Narcisa from the Tabiazo community. “Before, we could boil or filter it, but with that smell, even that didn't work anymore. We couldn't bathe properly or cook in peace.”The oil spill endangered the lives of thousands of people and their livelihoods.“Some people can't go to work,”says Ángela Tenorio, a resident of the El Treinta community. “Some are cowboys and can't give water to the cows. We live off the land here, off agriculture, off the river and off fishing.Now the plants living in the water are dying, so you can't eat the fish because they're contaminated.”However, the emergency was not only environmental; the disaster also caused an information crisis.Information as aidIn order to address the uncertainty and numerous questions that can arise in the event of a disaster such as this one, the Ecuadorian Red Cross has incorporated community education on the safe use and protection of water, as well as risk and disease prevention into its response.The participation of local volunteers, who know the area and its inhabitants, has been crucial in disseminating information. At the heart of the response were people like Evelyn Angulo, a Red Cross volunteer from Esmeraldas.“Every time we deliver water, we also deliver a message,” Evelyn explains. “We teach people how to store it and how to avoid disease. There is a lot of fear because people don't know if the water is really clean. Our job is to give them confidence and support them.”Communication: a form of caringThe work of volunteers such as Evelyn means that residents such as Narcisa and her family not only received drinking water, they also received something much more valuable: knowledge. They learned how to conserve and purify water, something they could no longer take for granted.“Before, we didn't know how to conserve or purify water properly,” Narcissa adds. “Now, thanks to what they've taught us, I know how to protect my family. This information is just as important as the water itself. Because without knowing how to use it properly, we could still get sick.”Clean water and empowering messagesFrom the outset of the emergency, the Ecuadorian Red Cross mobilised its local teams in Esmeraldas to deliver a rapid and coordinated response tailored to the needs of those affected.To support their efforts, the IFRC launched an international Emergency Appeal, seeking to raise 4 million Swiss francs to support the Ecuadorian Red Cross in expanding its response and protect the health and livelihoods of 176,200 people affected by the oil spill and flooding in the provinces of Esmeraldas, El Oro, Guayas and Manabí over the next 12 months.The main focus has been on ensuring access to clean water, providing psychosocial support and promoting hygiene in affected communities.In addition, the Red Cross has distributed millions of litres of water and provided information on how to use a filter, how to detect whetherr water is safe and how to protect oneself from disease.In the province of Esmeraldas, the response to the spill cannot be measured only in litres of water, however. It is measured in trust, learning and humanity – in lives saved and suffering prevented through the power of timely, accurate and useful information.

IFRC and Africa CDC deepen partnership to strengthen health systems and emergency response across Africa

Geneva, 22 May 2025 - On the margins of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reinforcing their commitment to protect lives and improve health outcomes across the African continent.The new memorandum builds on an initial agreement signed in August 2021, which enabled both organisations to join forces during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting risk communication community engagement, community health worker scale-up and vaccine rollout across Africa.The new agreement will enable both organizations to jointly respond more effectively to public health emergencies, strengthen primary healthcare systems, support epidemic and pandemic preparedness, enhance legal preparedness for public health emergencies and scale up community-based health services.“Strong health systems start in communities. This agreement reinforces our shared commitment with Africa CDC to put people at the centre of public health — from epidemic preparedness to everyday care. Together, we will continue to scale up community-led solutions that save lives, build trust, and make health systems more resilient for the future,” said Jagan Chapagain, IFRC Secretary General.“This renewed partnership between Africa CDC and IFRC is a powerful reminder that resilient health systems are built not only in hospitals, but in homes and communities,” said Africa CDC Director General Dr Jean Kaseya. “Together, we are investing in people—our greatest resource—to detect, respond to and recover from health threats across Africa.”The new MoU sets out a framework for joint action, including:Strengthening coordination in humanitarian response and disease outbreaks.Developing joint preparedness and response initiatives, including legal and policy support for public health emergencies.Scaling up the community health workforce across more than a dozen countries.Supporting integrated disease surveillance and early warning systems.Advocating for universal health coverage and stronger, more resilient health systems.Working together, IFRC and Africa CDC will mobilise technical expertise, resources, and regional networks to support national health authorities and frontline responders. The partnership will also promote the integration of routine and emergency health services, enhance cross-border preparedness, and improve access to essential healthcare in hard-to-reach communities.The three-year agreement emphasises mutual support for workforce development, public health institutions, and the implementation of the Africa CDC Strategic Plan (2023–2027), aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and global commitments to health equity and sustainable development.Media contacts:For IFRC: Scott Craig, +41 76 370 35 75For Africa CDC: Margaret Edwin, Director of Communication and Public Information, Email: [email protected]

'These cows are our hope': Stopping a foot and mouth disease outbreak in Indonesia

“The money I get from selling cattle is usually used for daily needs, school fees for my children, and other expenses. Without livestock, there’s nothing else, including my house which would be neglected if the cattle couldn’t be sold.”Meet Najamuddin, a farmer from a small hamlet in South Sulawesi, Indonesia called Tallasa Baru. It’s perched high in the mountains, accessible only by a steep and rocky track from the nearest town of Maros, with lush vegetation and farmland stretching out as far as the eye can see.Najamuddin and his fellow villagers live a peaceful, secluded life in Tallasa Baru, relying largely on agriculture and cattle to make a living. Cows are seen as prized possessions here. Locals buy calves at the market, rear and breed them, then hope to sell them off for a higher price. A large cow can fetch as much as 8 million rupiah (around USD $500) – a life-changing sum of money.So, in late October 2022 when Najamuddin noticed worrying health symptoms in two of his cows, he feared the worst.“My livestock once contracted foot and mouth disease, which I didn’t know about at the time. Saliva was dripping, the cattle were trembling, and their eyes were tearing up. I was worried and so shocked until I reported it to the sub-village head, Irwan. I didn’t know what was happening or whether I needed to call a vet,” he explains.Thankfully, Head of Tallasa Baru, Irwan—who is also an Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) volunteer—was on hand to help. Having recently been trained in the detection and reporting of various human and animal health diseases through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3), he knew exactly what to do.What is foot and mouth disease?Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, such as cattle, sheep and pigs. Symptoms include fever, drooling, sores around the mouth and hooves, and lameness. If infected animals aren’t taken care of quickly, they can develop long-term health problems or die—resulting in huge economic losses for their owners.Trained community-based volunteers spring into actionThanks to their training in epidemic control and community-based surveillance, PMI volunteer and Village Head, Irwan, and CP3 Supervisor, Syarif, understood the gravity of the situation. Upon quickly coming to check Najamuddin’s cows’ symptoms for themselves, they alerted the local Animal Health Centre in Maros to a likely outbreak of FMD, triggering a rapid response.“The next day we immediately responded. This is a disease that spreads very quickly so the response must be faster to reduce the incidence of disease. We provided vitamins and mineral supplements, and we continued to respond and make observations to check that the animals there were healthy. Then, several weeks later, vaccination was carried out,” explains Dr Ujistina, Head of Maros Animal Health Centre.PMI volunteers were critical to this FMD outbreak response. They quickly raised awareness throughout Tallasa Baru about the risks of FMD, encouraging people to check for symptoms and isolate their cattle until the situation was under control.Volunteers showed villagers how to build small holding pens to contain their cows for their injections and conducted disinfection activities around the hamlet to prevent further spread of disease. And when the cattle vaccination campaign was arranged, PMI volunteers transported veterinary teams and supplies up the long and bumpy road to the hamlet to make sure everyone arrived safely.Thanks to PMI volunteers’ quick action and support to animal health authorities, the FMD outbreak was swiftly contained in Tallasa Baru. Najamuddin’s cattle were saved and made a full recovery—protecting his income so he can continue to support himself and his family.“I feel proud, and thankful because CP3 has explained this disease, and now I understand it better. Thank God, since CP3 came, since my cattle were vaccinated and injected, they’ve all remained healthy. There haven’t been any more disease outbreaks,” he explains.Helping the community adopt healthier behavioursTeaching the community in Tallasa Baru about FMD and other disease threats, and encouraging them to take steps to reduce their risks, requires patient and sustained engagement from local and trusted PMI volunteers like Irwan.“Through CP3 I’m able to educate the people who perhaps lack understanding about diseases that can infect people and animals. When we started, a lot of the people didn’t care. We had to explain repeatedly about diseases and what would happen if they weren’t addressed, then they started to accept,” he explains.“I have lost cattle before. Nobody should ever have to go through what I’ve been through. Because these cows, they are our hope,” he adds.There is proof that this dedicated engagement is paying off. One Tallasa Baru resident, Mansyur, used to be a vocal critic of vaccines, and would go around the village telling people they would make people’s animals sick. But support from PMI volunteers has made him change his tune.“Previously, we always refused. Don’t vaccinate my cows, we don't want to risk it if it's a poison. Because we didn’t understand that vaccination is good. After CP3 came then we understood that the vaccine is good because without vaccination many cattle would have died by now. Now, we want to give vaccines to our cattle,” says Mansyur.Despite its remote location and access challenges, Tallasa Baru is now safer and healthier thanks to the ongoing presence of trained PMI volunteers. Their constant vigilance makes sure no disease outbreak goes undetected. And by equipping their community with the knowledge to recognize and report diseases—they’re making sure their health is protected, both now and long into the future.--The activities featured in this article were part of the multi-country Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3). Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), CP3 supported communities, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats.If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more, sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter.