Through rubble and loss, Iranian Red Crescent teams continue saving lives amid escalating hostilities

This article is based on the emergency response efforts as of 2 April 2026.As hostilities continue to escalate across Iran, civilians are bearing the brunt of the violence, with attacks reported across 30 out of 31 provinces.In less than a month, more than 2,000 people have been killed, including women and children, and at least 21,000 injured. Many families have been forced to flee their homes, with an estimated 3 per cent of Iran’s population of around 92 million now internally displaced.Homes, neighbourhoods and essential services have been damaged, placing growing pressure on hospitals, shelters, and basic infrastructure.At the forefront of the response, the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has mobilized its nationwide network of volunteers and emergency teams to support affected communities, providing life-saving assistance in some of the hardest-hit areas.Rescue amid the destructionIn the city of Salmas, in West Azerbaijan province, Iranian Red Crescent Society rescuers worked alongside the Fire Department after reports that someone was trapped beneath rubble following an attack.Specialized search and rescue teams carefully worked through the debris, eventually locating the person alive. The survivor was safely extracted and transferred for medical treatment.It is one of thousands of rescues carried out by IRCS teams since the escalation began, including children pulled from collapsed buildings and families reached in the immediate aftermath of attacks.A nationwide humanitarian responseFrom the earliest moments of the escalation, the Iranian Red Crescent Society mobilized at scale.Today, it remains the primary humanitarian actor in the country, with 529 branches activated across all 31 provinces and operations reaching 197 cities. Around 100,000 responders, including volunteers, medical teams and rescue personnel, are working around the clock to support affected communities.Search and rescue teams, ambulances, clinics, pharmacies and logistics units are all engaged in delivering life-saving assistance. So far, more than 3,500 people have been rescued from affected areas.At the same time, the response extends beyond immediate physical needs. Through a nationwide hotline, the Iranian Red Crescent has provided psychological and social support to people in distress, receiving more than 100,000 calls from across the country.In West Azerbaijan province, where families displaced by the hostilities have been relocated to emergency shelters, psychosocial support teams are present on site, with a particular focus on supporting children and families as they cope with trauma, fear and loss.Pressure, danger and lossDespite the scale of the response, the operating environment remains extremely challenging.Eighteen IRCS centres have been struck, and nearly 100 ambulances have been damaged or destroyed — critical assets in a context where they often represent the only chance of survival for those injured.Relief workers themselves have not been spared. Three IRCS members have been killed while carrying out their humanitarian duties, includingSomayeh Mir Abu Es’haq, who lost her life during an attack while on duty in Isfahan Province, andHamidreza Jahanbakhsh, who was killed earlier during a search and rescue operation,and Alireza Sohbatloo, who was killed in an attack while providing services at a Red Crescent clinic in Zanjan. As of 1 April 2026, at least 17 other colleagues have been injured while in the line of duty since the escalation began.For many responders, these challenges are not only operational, but deeply personal.In Qom, an IRCS first responder was confronted with the devastating reality of recovering his aunt and her husband from beneath the rubble, alongside a young child.Such moments reflect a broader truth. Many responders are not only witnessing tragedy, they are living it.It is a stark reminder of the burden carried by humanitarian workers, continuing to save lives under immense pressure, even while grieving their own loved ones.Continuing despite the challengesDespite the immense challenges, support continues to come from across the country, both through organized response efforts and individual acts of solidarity.A young barber, Alireza Kazemi, also known as Kenzo, has been volunteering his services to Iranian Red Crescent Society rescuers, offering haircuts to help lift morale during long and demanding shifts.“I wanted them and their families to feel a bit better despite these conditions. I worked from 1:45 PM yesterday until 5:00 AM this morning to provide this service, and we will continue working to reach other areas,” he said.“I was outside Iran, but when the escalation began, I felt the need to come back and provide my services here. I want to help my people in any way I can.”Scaling up support for the responseThe IFRC and its network is supporting the Iranian Red Crescent Society by scaling up critical resources to sustain the response.An initial allocation of 1.5 million Swiss francs from the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) has enabled the rapid procurement of essential medical supplies and protective equipment for frontline responders.In addition, a 40 million Swiss franc Emergency Appeal has been launched to support up to 5 million people affected by the crisis. Through this appeal, the IFRC is providing operational support and facilitating international procurement and delivery of critical relief items.You can support the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s response and help reach more people in need by contributing to the IFRC Emergency Appealhere.

The Colombian Red Cross has assisted in the return of over 5,300 people so far in 2025 as part of its National Migration Strategy

Today, on International Migrants Day, we honour the journeys, dignity and resilience of those who move, as well as the humanity behind every act of welcome.The Colombian Red Cross demonstrates this commitment every week in its auxiliary role, when its staff and volunteers support Colombians returning on flights from the United States.What started as an unexpected request has evolved into a well-organised, compassionate and deeply humane response centred on protection, active listening and adaptability.As of 16 December 2025, the Colombian Red Cross has assisted 5,334 people arriving on 47 flights operated by the Colombian Air Force to El Dorado Airport, thanks to support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF).The first step: facing the unknownElizabeth Becerra, leader of the Colombian Red Cross migration team, recalls the chaos of those first few hours:“When we received the call from the Foreign Ministry the night before the flight arrived, we immediately activated the preparation process together with the different mission areas of our National Society,” she recalls. “Although we were facing an unknown scenario, our staff and volunteers arrived with a clear mission: to assist our fellow citizens with compassion and dedication. Some accompanied children, while others provided psychosocial support, shared a hot meal or provided primary healthcare, once again demonstrating the humanitarian commitment that characterises us.”That first night marked the start of a learning journey that has led to a response grounded in the principles of humanity, impartiality, and profound respect for people's rights.As the flights continued, support increased. Volunteers brought colours, plasticine and open hearts to welcome those returning home.Then, at the request of the Foreign Ministry, teams began accompanying people on their journey home and providing care during the flight. They listened to stories for over five hours, bearing witness to moments of catharsis and relief, and adapted each service to meet people's individual needs.“The children told us about events they had experienced months earlier. For them, it was reassuring to be on a plane that would take them home,” explains Elizabeth.As they got to know and understand the needs and preferences of the migrants, the team adapted their response. A hot empanada or a ponimalta became more than just food — they were a symbol of a warm welcome home.“The faces are etched in your memory when you give someone an empanada, they look at it, look at you, and start crying. It's strange for you because it's just an empanada, but for someone who has gone through this process, it's a psychosocial empanada; it's food that makes them feel at home,” says Fabiana Parra, Project Officer at the Colombian Red Cross.Expanding the scope: support from IFRC-DREF“We then realised that we needed both an air and a ground response. So we started looking for resources and deployed even more,”Elizabeth explains.That's when the support of the IFRC network came into play. Thanks to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF), the Colombian Red Cross was able to increase its on-the-ground assistance, providing hydration, food, legal guidance, psychosocial support, personalised care, safe shelter and the simple yet powerful gesture of asking, "Would you like some coffee? How would you like it?” Because dignity begins with choice."It's impossible not to be moved when you see their faces as they enter the accommodation service. After so much uncertainty and exhaustion, it's almost unimaginable for many to be able to rest in a clean bed in a quiet room with privacy and choose from a buffet breakfast,” says Elizabeth. “In those small gestures, they feel they can finally breathe. For them, it's like touching the sky.”“This humanitarian response has transformed the way we understand our daily work. We have witnessed hugs that had been years in the making, parents and children being reunited after long periods of silence” Elizabeth continues.“We have accompanied families who arrive at the airport on flight after flight, clinging to the hope of hearing news from their loved ones, with our hearts in our hands. Amidst all these stories, we have also felt how love can bridge distances through a simple phone call, bringing comfort, relief and dignity to those who need it most.”National Migration Strategy 2024–2030The immediate response work at El Dorado Airport is just one visible sign of a deeper commitment.In line with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement's Global Migration Strategy, the Colombian Red Cross formalised its National Migration Strategy 2024–2030 in 2024. This long-term, rights-based framework recognises migration as a human right, committing the institution to providing multisectoral, humane and inclusive support throughout the country.The strategy strengthens protection pathways, expands access to healthcare, integrates legal and psychosocial support, promotes social inclusion and reinforces humanitarian diplomacy and coordination with local, national and international authorities."Everyone has been involved in this process, from our managers to those who support us in administrative areas and the mission teams,” explains Elizabeth. “It has been deeply meaningful to see how, even from behind a desk, humanity can be transformed into a concrete response for our fellow citizens. That is priceless.”Every Thursday over the past year, as the flights arrive, Red Cross teams have encountered people who are exhausted and emotionally drained. The following morning, after resting, showering and eating a hot meal, the teams see renewed faces, reunited families and people who feel at home again.

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

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.

Healing far from home: The Egyptian Red Crescent’s lifeline for Gaza’s evacuees

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

World Mental Health Day: New IFRC report reveals why mental health must be part of any emergency response.

Dominican Red Cross: Grief, solidarity and gratitude a week after the Jet Set disco collapsed

In the early hours of 8 April, the roof of the Jet Set disco collapsed. Its Monday concerts were an unmissable event and the place was packed when the tragedy struck. A week later, the country is still mourning the loss of 225 lives and awaiting the recovery of hundreds of people injured, many of them seriously. The structure collapsed on the crowd and what should have been a night of celebration turned into one of the worst urban tragedies the Dominican Republic has ever seen. The Dominican Red Cross responded immediately. Teams of medical, pre-hospital, psychological and emergency response specialists were mobilised from different parts of the country to help with the rescue operation, provide urgent medical care and support families who were desperately searching for news of their loved ones in the midst of the chaos.Search in the rubbleIn the early days, the priority was to find people alive under the collapsed building. Red Cross search and rescue specialists worked side by side with firefighters and others in a complex and painful operation. The extreme heat, the dust and the risk of further collapses made everything more difficult. As well as the physical strain, there was the emotional strain. Volunteers remember hearing people crying for help from under the rubble and working tirelessly to help them. They managed to pull some out, but sadly most were found dead. But no one stopped trying. Day and night, rescuers worked until all the bodies were recovered, while on the other side of the tapes, families waited for news of their loved ones, clinging to hope.Hearing, containing, accompanyingWhile some teams sifted through the rubble, others provided emotional support. In what was left of the discotheque and in the capital's hospitals, psychologists and Red Cross volunteers specialising in psychosocial support talked to mothers, siblings and partners. They held people in a state of shock; it was enough to sit next to them, offer them water, hold them. It was not just a matter of providing information, but of accompanying them in their pain. There were also those who received the worst news right there, before the operation. The Red Cross was there to provide immediate emotional support, and that support continued throughout the week. The psychosocial support team is still in contact with some of the families today, providing support to those who are still grieving and facilitating spaces for emotional care for the Red Cross brigades that were involved in the emergency. Having basic first aid training or being part of a humanitarian response team is not enough to deal with extreme emotional experiences such as the Jet Set tragedy. This week, individual grief has become collective grief, and the volunteers who carry the burden of their own and others' grief are particularly affected. Caring for them is one of the vital commitments of the Red Cross.Ambulances, blood and solidarityMedical care was another key front. Red Cross ambulances - part of the 911 system - helped people with serious injuries and transported patients directly from the discotheque to nearby hospitals. Even members of the rescue corps who had suffered blows, cuts or decompensation due to the heat were treated. In order to help improve hospital care, the Dominican Red Cross launched an urgent blood donation campaign. People from all over the country came to donate and the blood, plasma and other derivatives were made available to the health centres treating the injured. And while all this was going on, solidarity was not far behind. Neighbours, companies and anonymous citizens brought food, water and medicines, which the humanitarian workers distributed to their brigades and to the families who had waited days and nights for news of their loved ones. The solidarity of the Dominican people was as great or greater than the pain caused by this tragedy, and for this the Dominican Red Cross is moved and deeply grateful. One week laterAlthough the cameras are no longer at ground zero, the emergency is not over. The Dominican Red Cross continues to support survivors in hospital, facilitating transfers and ensuring that those in need have access to blood. It also continues to look after its own staff, because intervening in a tragedy of this magnitude leaves its mark. A footprint that, it is hoped, will encourage many more people to decide to volunteer, to train, to give their time and their solidarity to the service of their community.

World Mental Health Day: A day with serious meaning for humanitarian workers

Humanitarian workers face unique challenges: they operate in contexts of severe hardship, often under pressure, and in environments where safety is never guaranteed. For them, mental health at work goes beyond the usual discussions on stress and burnout. It is intertwined with urgency, resilience, and an unwavering dedication to a humanitarian mission. It is a fundamental element that enables these professionals to continue providing quality support to the communities they assist.On this occasion, we want to highlight voices from the field. Our IFRC colleagues who work in psychosocial support share their reflections on the importance of maintaining their mental health while supporting others. Their testimonies offer rich and diverse perspectives on how to approach this crucial issue.“Mental health at work is an essential component of our overall well-being. In my work with the IFRC, whether it’s managing crises like Marburg and Mpox outbreaks in Africa or providing psychosocial assistance to communities affected by floods, I have seen the major impact that stress and psychological challenges can have on individuals, teams, and communities.“Mental resilience is indispensable in the humanitarian sector. Working with Red Cross volunteers in health emergencies, I have seen how crucial it is to have support structures, spaces for dialogue, and training in psychological first aid.”Dr. Aimé Mbonda, Health Coordinator for IFRC's Yaoundé Cluster, a regional hub that covers Cameroon, Sao Tome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon•“When I think of mental health at work, I’m reminded that while this concept may seem intimidating, it is actually very simple at its core. It is about fostering a sense of belonging, ensuring psychological safety, allowing employees to have control over their work, and helping them feel their impact.“In practice, this means sharing openly with colleagues, listening carefully, building trust, and offering recognition. Humanitarian workers, who are often passionate with high expectations, particularly need to hear that they are doing a good job, that they are part of a valuable team, that their opinions matter, and that, thanks to their efforts, someone in our difficult world just had a better day.”Allison Male, Psychosocial Support Consultant•“Mental health at work is more than a slogan; it is an obligation. Promoting mental health at work is a responsibility at both the individual and institutional levels. This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day is a reminder of the need for concerted efforts to promote, create, and maintain a work environment conducive to good mental health.“There is no health without mental health, as they say. Prioritizing mental health in the professional environment is a culture to co-create and strengthen.”Dr. Danielle Domersant, Health Delegate, Yaoundé Cluster•“With the current global conflicts, the psychosocial support team must be ready to intervene at any time to provide psychological support, if asked. Psychosocial support has become an integral part of the IFRC in these times of change.“We must also configure the support we offer to adapt to different contexts through an eclectic approach. It is also very important to ask, ‘How can we best support affected staff or ensure they feel sufficiently supported?’“From a personal perspective, there are times I wish I could do more to help in certain situations, particularly in crises where it would be preferable to be physically present, but it’s not possible. The use of technology is then very useful and makes it possible to provide the same level of support.”Caroline Kithama, Psychosocial Support Consultant•Learn more about how IFRC works to protect the psychological well-being of staff, volunteers and people impacted by crisis.Mental health and psychosocial support/IFRCWorld Mental Health Day: What does mental health at work mean when your work is helping people in a conflict zone?World Mental Health Day: By helping others, a young volunteer learned how to help herselfUruguayan Red Cross project sends life-saving message: the lives of young people cannot be left just to chance – suicide is preventable5 top tips on maintaining mental health from Red Cross first-respondersBreaking the silence: addressing mental health and fighting stigma in the aftermath of Ukraine's conflictEuropean Mental Health Week: The healing power of art helps people cope with the upheaval caused by conflict

World Mental Health Day: What does mental health at work mean when your work is helping people in a conflict zone?

In a region as vast and diverse at the Middle East and North Africa (often referred to as the MENA region), where political instability, economic hardship, and natural hazards often overlap, mental health is often the first casualty.Yetmental health and psychosocial support too often remains one of the least prioritized aspects of overall health. Even when it is recognized, it is often extremely challenging to pay adequate attention to this critical need given the pressures of daily work life. We talked to some ofour colleagues in the IFRC’s Beirut office, which oversees the MENA region, about the realities of maintaining their psychological well-being, even as conflict escalates around them.“In theory, the idea of ‘taking care of one's mental health’ or ‘disconnecting’ sounds simple. But in practice, especially in high-stress situations like those we face in the MENA region, it is incredibly difficult. The pressure to constantly be available, to support colleagues, to follow up on emergencies, and to manage personal stressors leaves little room for true disconnection.“Lebanon is a prime example of how complex and intertwined mental health struggles can be. IFRC staff are grappling with ongoing uncertainty,some of us are displaced, others are not sleeping;the emotional toll is high, and yet we cannot put our work on hold.The weight of expectations versus reality can feel overwhelming, and that strain only intensifies when compounded by the crises happening around us. How can we remain productive under these conditions? This is our main challenge right now.”Ibrahim Chaaya, IFRC MENA Staff Health Senior Officer“The problem with a lot of mental health tips is that they have been developed during peacetime, in peaceful situations, for people dealing with diverse stressful situations, but not war. You can disconnect from work, from a dispute you had with someone, from the news, but you cannot ask a person to disconnect when they are the news, when all they can hear is bombings and drones all day long.I cannot be asked to disconnect when an airstrike shakes my home, my bed and my heart every time I try to close my eyes and get some sleep.We should take a step back and rethink the mental health methods and tools we are using, perhaps we should make them more contextualized, realistic, and therefore effective."Rima El Basst, IFRC MENA Community Health Assistant“Honestly, I’m not okay. Physically, I’m fine, but I’m generally not okay. Sometimes I feel numb, sometimes I cry out of the blue, sometimes I just feel unreal. There’s a mix of emotions and I cannot put it into words. You can use all the tools and do all the therapy, but it’s impossible to disconnect and it’s extremely difficult to take care of one’s mental health.“There are constant feelings of guilt and anxiety. I’m even scared of sleeping and I cannot hear a loud sound anymore without thinking that it’s an airstrike. I’ve been trying to take care of myself by doing little things, like finding support in other people by talking to them, but it’s just not enough.”Yasmin Hakim, IFRC MENA Migration Senior Officer“As a Communications Officer in emergencies, I am constantly connected to crises that never end. The challenge isn’t just the intensity of our work, but how the inability to disconnect deeply affects our mental health.Our digital presence mirrors the urgency and chaos of the real world, with each notification, post, and message bringing us closer to the heart of disasters. The pressure to stay engaged 24/7 blurs the line between personal time and professional duty, leaving little room for recovery. While we’re dedicated to our work, the toll on our mental health is often unseen but deeply felt—a cost that’s hard to ignore in the face of constant crises.”Joanna Daou, IFRC MENA Communications OfficerLearn more about how IFRC works to protect the psychological well-being of staff, volunteers and people impacted by crisis.Mental health and psychosocial support/IFRCWorld Mental Health Day: By helping others, a young volunteer learned how to help herselfUruguayan Red Cross project sends life-saving message: the lives of young people cannot be left just to chance – suicide is preventable5 top tips on maintaining mental health from Red Cross first-respondersBreaking the silence: addressing mental health and fighting stigma in the aftermath of Ukraine's conflictEuropean Mental Health Week: The healing power of art helps people cope with the upheaval caused by conflict

World Mental Health Day: By helping others, a young volunteer learned how to help herself

When Gunel Abbasova was a young student, she dreamed of doing something to help others. But for some time, conflict in her country kept from her realising those dreams.“Due to displacement from Aghdam, the conflict left many traces in my life: my unfinished dreams, my lost childhood, and my inability to pursue higher education,” she says. “Little Gunel had already grown up, but her dreams had not yet come true. I always thought that when I grew up, I would become a lawyer and help people in need.”But then Gunel discovered a new way to help others, as a volunteer with the Aghdam district branch of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society. Gunel explains that throughout these difficult experiences, the National Society gave her hope and helped her realise her potential.“Time passed, year after year, and I was losing hope,”she recalls. “However, when my hopes were nearly exhausted, I happened to meet a person who informed me about the Aghdam branch of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society and said there was a need for volunteers. He mentioned that I could be a part of this community's mission as a volunteer without financial compensation.“Normally, each of us expects some financial support in return for the work we do, even if it is small. But somehow, I didn't think about it for a second. I had already made my choice. I believed that I would find myself there, and indeed, I was not wrong.The Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society became the sun shining brightly on me after the rain..”Now Gunel is one of many volunteers helping to bring mental health and psychosocial support to people as part of a project supported financially by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the IFRC.The project is called “Bridging the Gap between Community Needs and Local Capacities and Capabilities of the Civil Society Actors in Azerbaijan” and it aims to strengthen the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) capacity of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society (AzRCS).The National Society soon became a place where she could develop her knowledge and skills. However, Gunel still felt that something was missing.“Years later, I had given up on the idea of studying, but I began to develop myself at the National Society. I visited many regions and cities, received training from professional and educated trainers, and increased my knowledge and skills.”“I started to feel happier. I participated in the distribution of humanitarian aid, provided first aid, met many people, and made friends. But there was still something missing. Sometimes I was very weak. Sometimes I ran away from situations as the fear of losing did not allow me to move forward.”“As I developed, I began to search for myself. Who am I? Where am I? Where should I be? I asked myself these questions all the time. One day they announced a new training. When I heard the name of the training, a spark arose in me. At that point in my life, I needed exactly that – mental health and psychosocial support training.”‘Now I have found myself’The mental health and psychosocial support field helped her fill the missing void in her life, made her understand herself better, become happier, and improve her relationships with people.“While attending training and participating in activities in this field, I better understood myself and my aspirations. Over the years, I reached a level where I could inform other people on this topic. As an AzRCS volunteer, I started working with children aged 5-12 in schools, conducting psychosocial sessions for them.Now I have found myself, and I know that it is impossible to be healthy without mental health. I can handle stress and take care of myself. I conduct awareness sessions for community members on this topic. If people are aware of their mental health, they can cope more easily with psychological issues and traumas. They realise that there is hope and light in their lives.”“I am stronger now. I want people to unite and support each other in difficult situations, just like we do at the National Society. I am very grateful to the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society and the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support team who helped me.”Learn more about how the IFRC and its member National Societies support people with mental health and psychosocial services.Mental health and psychosocial support at IFRC5 top tips on maintaining mental health from Red Cross first-responder volunteersUruguayan Red Cross project sends life-saving message: the lives of young people cannot be left just to chance – suicide is preventableBreaking the silence: addressing mental health and fighting stigma in the aftermath of Ukraine's conflictEuropean Mental Health Week: The healing power of art helps people cope with the upheaval caused by conflict

Uruguayan Red Cross project sends life-saving message: the lives of young people cannot be left just to chance – suicide is preventable

Uruguay is known for being one of the smallest countries in South America. Its population is less than four million and, according to various studies, for being the happiest on the continent.In this context, one statistic has caught the attention of many people in the country: at least two people in Uruguay commit suicide every day. That means 823 Uruguayans take their own lives each year, a rate of 23 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. This is the third highest in the region, after Guyana and Suriname.The Uruguayan Red Cross has taken on this critical through the project “Una vida más que una posibilidad,” which offers practical tools to prevent suicide among teenagers and volunteers. The project name can be interpreted in several ways: Translated literally as ‘Life, more than a possibility’, it sends the message that suicide prevention is possible, if people are given the right tools. Just as important, it sends the message that suicide prevention, and life itself, is not something that we can just leave to chance.To find out more, IFRC Communications Officer Estefany Jiménez spoke to the project coordinator, Tatiana Linares, a specialist in clinical and health psychology.Jiménez: I would like to start by asking you how you started this process around such a stigmatized and often unspoken issue?Linares: The process started with an open call to all volunteers from the different branches of the Uruguayan Red Cross, and then we interviewed them to get to know and understand the situations they were going through.We started the process with 25 volunteers from eight branches and four people from the technical team of the National Youth Institute. We met people who were going through complex situations, who needed psychosocial support and who even had suicidal thoughts. Or they knew someone who had or was having suicidal thoughts at the time.With this group we ran three virtual workshops on suicide, emotional intelligence and psychological first aid. This was complemented by a face-to-face workshop focusing on the practical part of the training. It was very inspiring to see the commitment and willingness with which they joined the project.And how did this training process impact the mental health of the volunteers?It was a breakthrough, an opportunity for them to express their emotions openly, without judgement. I think it was very valuable for them to recognize and identify these emotions and then ask for help or support to deal with them.They also set up an active support network, a chat group where they kept in touch throughout the process. They wrote and messaged each other daily, offered support to the group and were very willing to look after each other. This created a caring network to support them in different situations.After this phase of training and supporting the volunteers, how was the process of working with the young people?After the theoretical and practical training, it was the volunteers themselves, with my guidance, who designed and facilitated the workshops for almost 150 teenagers from two high schools and a youth centre in the municipalities of Guichón, Paysandú and Mercedes.Each workshop consisted of three days of sessions organized in phases: phase one, ‘I know myself’; phase two, ‘I help myself’; and phase three, ‘I help others’.As a product of the process, the young participants developed and distributed messages based on what they would like to read to another young person going through a difficult situation. In the schools, they put them up in the bathrooms, at the entrances and in other places.Would you say that the project achieved what it set out to achieve or were the results very different from what you expected?The first great achievement and strength of the project is that we managed to connect with the young people and get them actively involved in suicide prevention. We also managed to ensure that our volunteers are now trained to work on this issue.Some of the volunteers who took part in the project have even decided to dedicate themselves to mental health initiatives, which we did not expect but we are very happy about.Tell us more about your work with adults. Have you also worked with older people at risk of suicide?It was more about people who were interested in joining prevention efforts. The community of Guichón asked for our support to address this issue with the families of the young people we were working with, but also with professionals in psychology and social work, religious leaders and other adults who work with or provide services to young people in their daily work.It was a very positive and challenging space that touched them in a very personal way. While their main motivation was to find a way to help a young person, they ended up sharing personal stories of suicidal thoughts.In these spaces we tried, with love, experience and knowledge, to break down the myths surrounding suicide: that it is hereditary, that we cannot prevent it, and so on. The result was so positive that they asked for more interventions.Suicide is surrounded by myths. Did this make the journey very challenging?Yes, one of the first challenges was to talk about it openly, because talking about suicide is taboo and people, even our volunteers, believed that talking about suicide encouraged it. Changing that belief is a huge challenge, but creating a group of volunteers who could do that was also a huge achievement.Learn more about IFRC’s efforts to promote psychological wellbeing in the communities we serve.How does the IFRC's promote psychological well-being in communities impacted by crisis or hardship?Visit the IFRC Psychosocial Centre.Is the threat of climate change impacting the mental health of people in impacted communities?

European Mental Health Week: The healing power of art helps people cope with the upheaval caused by conflict

In the first few months after Svitlana arrived in Burgas, a city on Bulgaria's eastern Black Sea coast, she lived in a shelter and made money by playing violin on the streets.The former music teacher who fled conflict in Ukraine also received support from the Bulgarian Red Cross in the form of food, clothes and hygiene kits. Eventually, she found a job at the Burgas Opera House as a stage assistant.Now Svitlana is able to share her creative gifts in the form of music and art therapy sessions for other people impacted by the conflict in her homeland.“When people hear a song in their native language, from their homeland, it makes them feel better,” she says, adding that music and art – and the conversations it leads to – also help people feel more comfortable and integrated in their new communities.Svitlana’s music and art therapy sessions are just one of many examples of how Red Cross National Societies in Europe are using people’s inherent creativity to help them through a tumultuous and difficult time.A complimentary therapyIn a world where stress and anxiety are constant companions, expressive therapies that use the creative process have gained traction in recent years as a complement to traditional psychotherapy.Amidst the displacement crisis stemming from the conflict in Ukraine, Red Cross National Societies have stepped forward with a wide-range of innovative approaches to support the mental well-being of people forced to flee their homes.Spearheaded by the EU4Health programme, funded by the European Union's DG Sante project, this initiative aims to deliver crucial mental health and psychosocial support to people displaced from Ukraine.Representing one of the most substantial responses to mental health crises in emergencies within the Red Cross and Red Crescent family, the partnership between DG Sante and the IFRC has introduced diverse forms of art therapy tailored specifically to the needs of affected communities.These therapeutic interventions offer an avenue for people to articulate and process their experiences, facilitating a sense or healing and hope amidst the prevailing uncertainty.FriendshipThe Finnish Red Cross, for example, organized an event for Ukrainians under the theme of friendship. Surrounded by scraps of paper, markers, glue and other craft supplies, the children wrote messages on cards that they then shared with loved ones.In making the thank-you cards, they used words, drawing and pictures cut out of magazines to express their feelings. They also learned and wrote down some Finnish words, further encouraging a sense of belonging in their new communities. One child made a birthday card for his father. The event was defined by a spirit of happiness and togetherness.‘Personal growth’One local branch of the Portuguese RedCrossorganized a handicraft workshop specifically tailored for Ukrainian women. While children attended school or spent time at the Red Cross safe space, women make handicrafts that, at the same time, help them learn Portuguese, acquire new craft skills and feel more integrated in their new communities.Their participation not only facilitated skill development but also contributed to a boost in self-esteem. "It was a significant challenge for everyone involved, but it led to personal and professional growth," said one of the participants.What does happiness look like?One project organized by the Romanian Red Cross asked Ukrainian children at the Multicultural Humanity Centre to reveal on paper what happiness looks like to them. Using coloured pencils and a lot of imagination, the children opened their hearts."I am happy when I have my sister, my family and my stuffed toys by my side," nine-year-old Yeseniia wrote on her card.The art therapy offered by the Romanian Red Cross is just one part of a larger comprehensive approach that aims to meet the participants’ urgent and basic needs. This includes health services and psychosocial support, thematic workshops for children and parents, Romanian and English language courses, life skills activities, and hot meals.Back in Bulgaria, the music and art therapy sessions organized by Svitlana are also a chance for her to find comfort after a harrowing ordeal that forced her to leave her home in Dnipro, Ukraine.Svitlana remembers how her house was constantly trembling during the air raids. “I’m grateful to live under a peaceful sky,” Svetlana says.The content of this article is the sole responsibility of IFRC and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Ukraine: Helping people get back on their feet after severe injury

Across Ukraine, people deal with the daily reality of air alerts and fear. Areas remain under evacuation, and some people cannot return home.But in many parts of Ukraine, recovery has begun and it’s about more than the reconstruction of buildings and infrastructure. It’s about restoring people’s health, livelihoods and wellbeing.The Ukrainian Red Cross (URCS) contributed to the creation of the National Rehabilitation Center Unbroken in Lviv, where recovery comes in the form of treatment, rehabilitation, and in some cases prosthetics."In the time since the injury, I had already learned to cope with many things using just one arm,” says Valentin Anohin, a physical education teacher who lost his arm due to injury in the conflict. “But when I put on the prosthesis, I felt how much easier my daily routine became. Now I can do everything twice as fast."After five months of rehabilitation, Anohin realized his dream. Using the prosthetic, he successfully threw a basketball straight into the hoop.From fear to confidenceYana Kovalova lost her leg due after an explosion in her backyard in Donetsk. Found by neighbours, she was evacuated and had surgery before being stabilized and moving across Ukraine to the Unbroken centre."Physical therapists started working with me immediately here,” she says. “At first, I was afraid to even stumble on crutches – let alone climb stairs. But with each session, I feel more and more confident."Vyacheslav Aleksandrov‘s experience started with questions.“The first feelings after the injury were fear. What to do next? How will all this be?” he said, adding the process is different for everyone."My acquaintance, whose limb amputation was not high, started walking in just three weeks. For someone else, it's a complex and lengthy process, involving both group and individual work."“Psychological support is crucial."‘She really inspires me’With support from the IFRC and other partners, URCS look for new ways to engage and support people with disabilities. Red Cross also supports mental health at Unbroken.“We help them to stabilize their mental feelings. Sometimes they lose their houses or their relatives,” said Sofia Nevoyt, a psychotherapist at the Unbroken centre.One of her clients was injured very badly. “But she was very motivated,” she said. “She told that when this event happened she was even shouting, ‘I want to live.’”“Her progress was very good and I really love to work with her because she inspires me too.”URCS contributes to the recovery of local communities by supporting access to health, mental health, and social care services. Psychosocial support and rehabilitation programs will continue to be focal points for URCS in the years ahead.

Supporting the homeless in Spain: Spanish Red Cross volunteers offer a warm embrace on cold winter nights

Four candles on a rickety table are the only heating and lighting in the makeshift home of Sonia and José Antonio, the four walls around them seemingly held up by a miracle As lighting, the candles do their job, at least, for the tiny living space. As heating, the candles don’t cut it: a cold night of 6 degrees both outside, and inside. The repeated dry coughs of 38-year-old Sonia are just one consequence of the lack of heat. Of the kind of cold that gets into your bones. “They should give her a VIP card at the hospital,” jokes José Antonio, as he lists her lung ailments. They’ve been a couple for four years, almost as long as they’ve lived between these four walls in the middle of a site that was once an important truck factory on the outskirts of Alcalá de Henares, Madrid. Tonight, like so many others, they are visited by Juani and Basilio, two volunteers from the Spanish Red Cross homeless care teams. They have brought some food, as the two mastiff puppies, who keep looking for cuddles from the volunteers, can sense. "Come on, get down from there," José Antonio scolds one of them, "you don't have to be cuddly, you have to defend the home," he laments. A generator was recently stolen from them, and with it, their heat. The Red Cross volunteers advise the couple on some of the assistance they can offer and other administrative procedures, but, above all, they share their time. "Our main job is to listen, to get them to open up. Imagine that you live alone, in the street, and you have no one to talk to from the moment you get up until the moment you go to bed," says Basilio, a former military man, who is now in his second year as a volunteer in the homeless care programme. Juani and Basilio's route next takes them to the unfinished changing rooms of a sports facility in the area. There are no windows, no doors, no electricity, no water. The current ‘tenant’, Javier, arrives shortly after by bicycle. By the light of mobile phones, walking among the rubble, you can see broken mattresses, discarded clothes and empty food cans. But the laughter begins. Javier has found himself a new girlfriend, and proudly shows pictures of her off to volunteers Juani and Basilio on his mobile phone. He is very happy with her. His last girlfriend had beat him. "That's the main problem, the dependencies that many of the people we work with carry with them and the violence that accompanies them", Basilio points out. Juani and Basilio's nocturnal route then takes them to an old warehouse in an industrial estate in Alcalá. There they will have another laugh and a few jokes with 68-year-old Moisa, of Romanian origin. Moisa has managed to turn the old warehouse into something resembling a home. He even has a television set on which he watches cowboy movies, the old-fashioned kind that he likes. As he lights up a cigarette, under the disapproving gaze of Juani and Basilio, they begin to talk about the divine and the human and quickly move on from politics to lighter subjects, such as the singer Carla Bruni. After dropping off some food, Basilio and Juani begin the journey back to the Red Cross headquarters in Alcalá. They feel a bit sad, they say. They recently lost a friend from the street. A ‘family member’, they call him. Because, to them, they are all like family. "At least he didn't die in the street, they were able to take him to the hospital and he passed away in a bed," Basilio stresses. "In spite of everything, we have to go on, we can't take our problems home and let the situations we live through break us; I can help if I'm well, if I smile", says Juani, who has spent time on sick leave in the past when another person he was supporting passed away. Comprehensive support for the homeless Juani and Basilio are two of the more than 5,000 Spanish Red Cross volunteers who work with homeless people in Spain. The Spanish Red Cross runs 77 Social Emergency Units (UES) for this purpose in nearly 40 provinces. In addition, they offer 800 places in temporary accommodation for critical moments and run 31 day centres in which they can offer showers, laundry or canteen services when needed. As part of a wider network of organisations providing support to homeless people, they can also refer or transport people who need help to other accommodation or services as needed. "The aim of our work is not only to provide basic goods such as food, shelter and hygiene products, but also to work for the social inclusion of homeless people," says Raquel Zafra, head of the programme in Alcalá de Henares. "Our aim is always for people to go to different spaces where we can provide more in-depth support in the form of social care, monitoring and accompaniment, information and guidance, mediation, or training activities", stresses Zafra. Through the Social Emergency Units, the Spanish Red Cross assisted more than 18,000 people in 2022.

Kuwaiti Red Crescent and Egyptian Red Crescent support people fleeing Ukraine

Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, Kuwait Red Crescent Society and Egyptian Red Crescent Society teams have rushed to provide humanitarian relief to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine. The Kuwaiti Red Crescent has provided food, medical aid, and necessary supplies to fleeing people affected by the conflict. While the Egyptian Red Crescent has assisted and evacuated Egyptians from Poland and Romania, and provided humanitarian support to others affected alike, including Arabic-speaking people. Dr. Hilal Al Sayer, President of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) said after meeting his Polish counterpart, Jery Bisek: “Kuwaiti aid includes medicines, medical supplies, food, milk for children and other necessities, and it reflects the Kuwaiti leadership and people’s solidarity with affected people living under such difficult circumstances.” Al-Sayer affirmed his country’s keenness to participate in humanitarian relief in all parts of the world, in line with the Kuwaiti humanitarian obligations. He stressed the need to further explore all ways to enhance cooperation and joint coordination to help alleviate the suffering of refugees from Ukraine, with partner organizations in the humanitarian field and with the Polish Red Cross. In turn, the President of the Polish Red Cross expressed his appreciation and gratitude after a Kuwaiti military aid plane loaded with relief materials and medical aid, estimated at 33.5 tons, arrived at Warsaw Airport in Poland. Bisek said: “The Kuwaiti Red Crescent is one of the first National Society responders that stepped in to provide the necessary support and assistance for those fleeing Ukraine”, adding that "the needs are still massive". In parallel, the Egyptian Red Crescent Society continues to provide aid and support to the Egyptian students and families it helped evacuate safely home after they had fled to Poland and Romania. Volunteers have worked tirelessly to ensure transportation for Egyptians fleeing from Ukraine across the borders of Poland and Romania to the airport. They also provided them with free hotel accommodation and food, travel documents, cash assistance, medical services, and psychological support. Students and their families expressed deep gratitude to the Egyptian Red Crescent Society for standing by their side in this ordeal, meeting their needs, and ensuring their safe return to their home country. The Egyptian Red Crescent Society, in collaboration with Polish and Romanian Red Cross Societies, has also established two relief centres at the Ukrainian-Romanian and Ukrainian-Polish borders to provide aid to Egyptians, Arabic speakers and others fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, especially women and children. The Egyptian Red Crescent Society also published a slogan on its Facebook page “Safety and Relief Without Discrimination’. Prior to the conflict, 6000 Egyptians lived in Ukraine, 3,000 of whom are students enrolled in the country’s universities.