19/03/2025 |

Article

World Water Day 2025: From glaciers to the kitchen sink, a story of water and resilience from two mountain villages in Tajikistan

"The situation was particularly challenging ... We had to bring water from glacial melt water in the mountains, located 3,000 meters above sea level and 10 kilometres away from the village."Dr. Saadi Izatov, Head of the Health Department at the Red Crescent Society of TajikistanIn the shadow of Tajikistan's towering mountains, a daily struggle plays out for the people who call these remote villages home. Families with sufficient economic status, purchase water for their needs.Other families, for whom the economic burden does not allow for permanent water storage, are forced to trek for hours across rugged terrain to collect water from distant glacial streams and springs. It’s an exhausting routine that defines life in communities like Sangchashma and Nilu.This reality reflects a startling paradox: while Tajikistan holds 60 per cent of Central Asia's water resources, it faces the region's most severe challenges to water access – with nearly half its population lacking safely managed water.The villagers had either to collect water from the mountains or pay for the water brought by water tankers, which was a big financial burden for low-income families in these remote villages of the Hisor district. The 7-to-10-kilometer journey to collect water wasn’t just inconvenient - it was a fundamental barrier to development.Children missed school, productivity suffered, and waterborne diseases threatened public health.“Often, when we ran out of water, my sons had to get water from a spring, which is very far away,”explains Ms. Adolat Sharifova, a resident of Sangchashma village. “Because of this, they could not go to school on such days. Buying water is an impossible burden for our family.”From glacier to villageThese are some of the reasons the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan (RCST), with support from the Japanese Red Cross Society and the IFRC, embarked on an ambitious project to change this reality.The project aimed not just to provide water infrastructure to Sangchashma, but to build community resilience and ensure access to clean water would be sustainable over the long term.For Sangchashma village, this meant laying an extensive network of heavy-duty water pipes across steep mountain terrain in order to reach the water’s source: high altitidue mountain glaciers."The situation was particularly challenging in Sangchashma village," explains Dr. Saadi Izatov, Head of Health Department at RCST. "We had to bring water from glacial melt water in the mountains, located at 3,000 meters above sea level and 10 kilometres away from the village."Rugged terrain was not the only challenge. In May 2024, unexpected mudflows rushed down local gullies and streams, severely damaged the initial construction work, requiring repairs. The mudflows highlighted another ongoing challenge: the impacts of climate change as warm weather melts glaciers at a more rapid pace, making soil less stable and susceptible to rapid erosion. This degradation of the terrain can lead to occasisonal, suddentorrents of mud and water.Despite the technical challenges, the project has transformed life for over 3,400 residents. In Sangchashma village, 300 households now have access to clean water, and importantly, the local primary school with 520 students and the village mosque are now connected to the water supply.In Nilu village, 225 households benefit from a new water system that brings spring water from 7 kilometres away. In addition, 25 water-distribution points were installed across the two villages, with special consideration for households with disabled family members.“Now the situation has changed,”says Adolat Sharifova. “We have water all day around. What you have done is you have given water to the people, and I cannot express words of my gratitude.”Locally led, community drivenProject managers say its success lies in its community-driven approach. Local authorities and community members contributed their labor and resources, covering up to 30 per cent of the construction costs.The local water department in Hisor district played a crucial role by providing technical expertise in the design of the water piping systems.Meanwhile, 44 volunteers were trained in hygiene promotion and disease prevention, and local water committees were established in both villages to maintain the water structures together with the local water department.The IFRC’s approach to WASHSimilar stories are unfolding around the world as the IFRC network and its partners engage with communities to find locally driven solutions that are participatory and community-led."Access to clean water is fundamental to health, dignity, and development," explains Oyungerel Amgaa, the Regional Health and Care Manager for the IFRC, based in Bishkek, Tajikistan. "That's why our National Societies work closely with communities to build systems that last long after project completion, with local water committees ensuring sustainable management."The IFRC approach focuses on four key principles: dignity, access, participation, and safety. This means ensuring that:Everyone has reliable access to clean water they can use for drinking, cooking, and hygieneWater and sanitation systems are designed to withstand environmental challenges and climate impactsCommunities are actively involved in decisions about their water and sanitation infrastructureSpecial attention is given to the most vulnerable community members, including those with disabilitiesAs climate change continues to impact water and sanitation services globally, the IFRC has renewed its commitment to innovative, community-led solutions.Learn more about the IFRC’s work in water, sanitation and hygiene:IFRC water, sanitation and hygiene webpageIFRC Water and Sanitationresources for WASH practitioners

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19/03/2025 |

Article

World Water Day 2025: Clean water is about safety, health and so much more

For first-grader Alif Aqabat, a young girl from the Yemeni city of Dhamar, school should have been a place of learning and growth. Instead, it became a daily struggle.“I couldn’t use the bathrooms or drink the water,” she recalled. “I told my mom I couldn’t stay because it wasn’t clean.”Alif wasn’t alone. Asmaa School for Girls in Dhamar was facing a major hygiene crisis. The restrooms were in poor condition, and the drinking water wasn’t safe. Teachers, like Afrah Al-Ashwal, who had been educating students there for 15 years, saw firsthand how this impacted the children.“We had lots of problems, especially students catching diseases,” she explained.But change was coming. Thanks to a dedicated water and sanitation project launched by the Yemen Red Crescent, the school underwent a much-needed renovation. New water taps were installed, and proper plumbing was put in place for the bathrooms.The renovations were one of several initiatives by the Yemen Red Crescent Society to upgrade or install new clean water and sanitation services in communities where needs are most acute. The work is supported through a joint initiative of the European Union and the IFRC known as the Programmatic Partnership.At the Asmaa School for Girls, the transformation was immediate.“The project has solved many problems in the school, especially regarding student health,” said Principal Ghada El Shazmi. “It has helped create an attractive and healthy environment for learning.”For Alif, the change meant one thing—she could finally return to school.“One day, I found out they installed clean water taps and fixed the restrooms,” she said. “So I told my mom I wanted to go back.”Now, Alif is back in school, learning, growing, and dreaming of a bright future. A simple change—clean water—made all the difference.From drought to hope: bringing clean water to Yemen’s Al Souq Al JadidIn another Yemeni community, a similar story is unfolding.For years, the women of Al Souq Al Jadid in Yemen’s Kharif District followed a daily routine that was both exhausting and frustrating. With water containers balanced on their heads, they walked long distances to wells—only to find them dry. Sometimes, they would have to trek even farther in search of another water source, their efforts often met with disappointment.Washing clothes was another struggle. Women carried heavy bundles of laundry up to the wells, hoping to clean their families’ clothes, only to discover there was no water. When that happened, their only option was to journey nearly a kilometer away to three rainwater pools.There, they would spend half the day washing blankets, utensils, and clothes—an arduous task made harder by the sheer distance and time involved.Water was a necessity, not just for drinking but for every aspect of life—cleaning the house, washing dishes, doing laundry, and even keeping animals hydrated.Yet, access to clean drinking water was never guaranteed. By the afternoon, water supplies often run low, forcing another trip to the well. The alternative was drinking from a rust-contaminated water tank, turning every sip into a health risk.The consequences of drinking from such contaminated sources can be serious – even deadly. Contaminated water sources in Yemen have led to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, and other health issues such as kidney problems and other bacterial infections.This is one of the reasons, the Yemen Red Crescent and the Programmatic Partnership embarked on an ambitious project to help alleviate the situation in Al Souq Al Jadid.Over a period of five months, the Yemen Red Crescent oversaw the installation of a reliable water distribution system that is now bringing clean water directly to homes. Today, more than 8,000 people—1,200 families across 900 households—benefit from the project.Gone are the days of waiting for mobile water tankers, uncertain of when the next supply would arrive. Now, water is pumped to a collection tank in Al-Birr and then distributed directly to homes in Al Souq Al Jadid.For the community, this project has been life-changing. The struggles of collecting water from distant wells are over. Women no longer spend hours on the road or at rainwater pools. And most importantly, families now have safe, clean water to drink.“We’re grateful we no longer go to wells,” one resident shared. “Today, we drink clean water, and everyone knows it’s much better than what we had before.”What was once a daily hardship is now a distant memory. Clean water has not just quenched thirst in this community—it has transformed lives.Learn more:Read more aboutWorld Water Day and IFRC’s approach toWater, Sanitation and HygieneRead more about theProgrammatic Partnership.

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30/01/2025 |

Press release

Red Cross Red Crescent and KOICA announce major initiative to tackle water scarcity in Jordan

Amman/Geneva, 30 January - Jordan, one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, faces a critical challenge with just 145 cubic meters of water available per person annually—far below global standards. This crisis is worsened by climate change, population growth, and migration, leading to heightened tensions and instability. To address these challenges, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has partnered with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Jordan Red Crescent National Society (JNRCS) to launch a transformative 3-year project with the aim of supporting Jordan’s water-stressed communities. The initiative will be supported by regional funding from KOICA of USD 10.6 million (covering Jordan, Iran and Yemen) and an additional USD 760,000 from the IFRC. USD 2.2 million from the project will be allocated to Jordan. Dr. Mohammad Al Hadid, the President of the Jordan Red Crescent, emphasized the national society's pivotal role during the launch event, "Addressing Water-Induced Community-Level Conflicts and Strengthening Water Systems, Community Adaptation, and Resilience Building", held at the JNRCS Capacity Building Development Centre in Amman. He said:"We will work hand in hand with local communities, IFRC, and KOICA to strengthen community capacity and implement sustainable water management practices in Southern Shuna District. Our goal is to mitigate water conflicts and build resilience, ensuring a secure future for the community."The IFRC, leveraging its global expertise and humanitarian mandate, highlighted the urgency of addressing water tension risks. Atta Durrani, IFRC Head of Delegation in Jordan, commented:"The IFRC is committed to supporting local communities in severely water-stressed regions. In Jordan, we aim to develop joint responses to water challenges by improving water services, resource management, and ecosystems while fostering stability and peace."The Government of the Republic of Korea reaffirmed its commitment to addressing water insecurity as a pathway to regional peace and development. Kim Pil-woo, Ambassdor of the Korean Embassy to Jordan, underlined:"This project is not just about scarcity of resources, but also of human dignity, peace and stability. Our new project with IFRC reaffirms the Korean government's continued commitment to helping Jordan address its most pressing challenges."For more information, please reach out to: [email protected] Amman: Bassma Al Nizamy, +962 7 8716 6426In Beirut: Mey Al Sayegh, +961 76 174 468In Geneva: Hannah Copeland, +41 76 236 9109

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21/01/2025 |

Article

Zambia: Changing lives and fighting cholera one clean drop of water at a time

Cholera thrives in environments where inequality persists. In Zambia, where many rely on shallow wells and pit latrines, contaminated groundwater and poor sanitation create the perfect conditions for disease outbreaks.The situation worsened with the onset of El Niño, which exacerbated existing vulnerabilities. Drought conditions reducing clean water supplies making access even more challenging and putting groundwater at greater risk of contamination.Recognising this, the Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) launched a multi-faceted response (supported by a global emergency appeal launched by the IFRC in January 2024) to not only address the immediate health crisis but also to tackle its root causes.At the Chimwemwe Primary School in Lusaka, for example, the situation was dire. With over 5,800 students relying on six aging pit latrines, the lack of basic hygiene facilities put the students at constant risk. Cholera loomed as a constant threat.The ZRCS also constructed a new facility that included 15 water-flushed toilets and dedicated spaces for menstrual hygiene management.For Deputy Head of Chimwemwe Primary School, Nixon Chanda, the project is life-changing: "These toilets will improve their health and empower pupils, especially the girl child, by providing a safe and dignified environment, ensuring they can focus on their education and their future. We are deeply thankful for the support in addressing this critical issue, which will have a lasting impact on their lives.”The transformation extends beyond Chimwemwe.At Balmoral Primary School, a similar project is replacing outdated pit latrines for over 300 learners. Meanwhile, at Kafue Day Secondary School, ZRCS is increasing water capacity by installing a water tank and handwashing stations, ensuring that students have reliable access to clean water.The story continues at Luongo Health Post in Kitwe, where over 1,800 households depend on shared pit latrines that pose serious health risks. Here, ZRCS is constructing a modern ablution block with water-flushed toilets and handwashing stations, significantly improving hygiene for patients and staff.In neighbouring Chilobwe Health Post, a solar-powered mechanized water pump is being installed to tackle a persistent water crisis that has plagued the community since 2019.“Water has been a problem for the health facility and the entire community for years,” says one resident Davies Chama. “Thanks to Zambia Red Cross, we now have hope for a healthier future.”Building a foundation for changeThe impact of ZRCS’s efforts goes beyond immediate relief. By constructing ablution blocks, rehabilitating water systems, and improving water access, ZRCS is laying the groundwork for long-term resilience.With over 3.2 million people targeted by the end of 2024, the organization is proving that cholera prevention is not just about emergency interventions—it’s about creating a future where clean water and sanitation are sees as a right, not a privilege.“Cholera exposes the vulnerabilities in our systems. By working hand-in-hand with communities, schools, and health facilities, we’re addressing these gaps for good,” says Dr. Jack Bbabi, ZRCS Director of Programs. “This is not just about stopping cholera; it’s about preventing it from ever returning.”The work of ZRCS and IFRC reflects the power of collective action. With an emergency appeal that exceeded its target, the response demonstrates what’s possible when resources are directed toward meaningful change. These efforts have been made possible through the generous support of Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, theNetherlands Red Cross, IFRC, and other partners who stepped forward in solidarity to fight cholera.

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17/12/2024 |

Article

Reach Initiative: How a simple act can have a revolutionary impact on family health

Every morning, Aisha sets out on foot to fetch water from the river, carrying heavy buckets back home, knowing each drop is precious. Aisha’s life revolves around caring for her three young children, but despite her best efforts to provide for her family, illness has seemed unavoidable.Her youngest, Musa, has often suffered from painful stomach troubles. Frequent trips to the clinic were becoming a strain on her family. Like many in her village, Aisha had always believed that sickness was just a part of life—something they would have to endure.Things began to change when volunteers for the Nigerian Red Cross arrived in her village. They came as part of the Resilient and Empowered African Community Health (REACH) initiative, a program of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies (IFRC) and the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC) to improve health and hygiene practices in underserved communities.The volunteers and villagers gathered under the shade of a large tree, and with warmth and patience, the volunteers explained how regular handwashing with soap and water can, in fact, save lives.Aisha and her neighbours listened intently as the volunteers explained how washing hands with soap, especially before eating and after using the bathroom, could prevent diseases like cholera and diarrhoea.For many in the crowd, this was a revelation. In many villages here, soap is a rare luxury, often reserved for laundry or bathing, and few had ever thought to use it to wash their hands. The volunteers demonstrated proper hand-washing technique, showing the community members how to scrub their hands thoroughly, reaching every nook and cranny to remove invisible germs.Intrigued, Aisha decided to try it. She set up a simple handwashing station outside her home, using a jerrycan, a small bar of soap, and some rope to make the process easier. She taught her children the new routine, and they watched, wide-eyed, as she explained that this small act could keep them safe.Over the following weeks, something extraordinary happened. Musa, who had been frequently ill, stayed healthy. The constant worries about stomach aches and fevers lessened, and Aisha realized that this small change had a profound effect on her family.It wasn’t long before her neighbours started noticing, too. One by one, other families in the village began setting up their handwashing stations. For the first time, the community was discovering a sense of control over their health.The impact was visible. Children attended school more regularly, free from the recurring ailments that had once disrupted their studies. Parents had fewer trips to the clinic, easing both their schedules and financial strain. Aisha became a quiet champion of the handwashing movement, proudly showing others her setup and sharing the knowledge she had gained.Through the REACH initiative, Nigerian Red Cross Society volunteers (NRCS) have been going door-to-door, gathering people in small groups in villages, schools, and marketplaces, teaching them about handwashing and hygiene.Halima, a mother of four, reflects on the change in her household: “My children used to be sick all the time—coughs, stomach pain. Since we started washing our hands, they’ve been healthier. Now, it’s the first thing we do when we come back from the market or the farm.”For young Sani, a student, it’s a new habit he’s eager to share. “At school, they taught us how to wash our hands properly. I showed my family, and now we all do it. I feel proud because I know I’m helping to keep them safe.”Lilian Adeogba, IFRC Program Officer for the Reach Initiative, notes that while handwashing may seem simple, it is a powerful tool in the fight against infectious diseases. “Diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, and respiratory infections spread quickly, and without proper hygiene, families, especially young children, fall ill often," she say."In a place like Adamawa, where healthcare resources are limited, teaching people to wash their hands is not just about cleanliness—it’s about saving lives.”

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19/11/2024 |

Article

World Toilet Day 2024: Everyone, everywhere deserves access to a toilet they can use safely and with dignity

In 2024, 3.5 billion people still live without access to safely managed sanitation. That's nearly half of humanity lacking one of the most basic human needs – a safe and private toilet. Even more concerning, an estimated 419 million people still practise open defecation, which not only increases the risk of infectious diseases, but also puts people—particularly women and girls—in unsafe and vulnerable situations.For the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, ensuring access to safe and dignified sanitation is not just about building toilets – it's about understanding and addressing the diverse water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs of all community members."Equitable access to WASH services and facilities is a human right," says Alexandra Machado, IFRC Senior Officer for WASH in Public Health. "Water, sanitation and hygiene are fundamental for life, and for the dignity, health and wellbeing of everyone -- regardless of their age, disability, social status, gender identity, ethnicity or sexual orientation."Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide are working to ensure that sanitation facilities are accessible, safe, and appropriate for everyone. On World Toilet Day, let’s look at a couple of examples.Making a Difference: Community-led sanitation in remote, underserved areas in ColombiaThe Colombian Red Cross has been active in promoting community-led sanitation improvements, particularly in remote and underserved areas including Tumaco, Buenaventura, Condoto, and Timbiqui. These projects included installing and upgrading sanitation units in schools, homes, and community centres, directly benefiting children and families in both urban and rural areas.Through workshops and hygiene campaigns, they’ve engaged community members to build and maintain latrines, which has significantly reduced the risk of water and sanitation related diseases. This effort is a collaborative approach that involves both local authorities and community representatives, enhancing ownership and sustainability.For example, in Santa Rita primary school, upgrades to the sanitation facilities now serve 140 students, fostering better hygiene at school which can be a catalyst for change in the wider community.Kenya: ‘Together we can end open defecation’Across Kenya, the Kenya Red Cross is supporting communities to adopt healthy WASH behaviours—including the building and using of latrines—to improve their hygiene and reduce their risks of infectious diseases.Through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3), Red Cross teams are partnering with the Kenyan government and WASH charities, such as Dig Deep, in a bid to end open defecation. Trained Red Cross volunteers regularly go out into their communities and educate people on why they should use latrines, how they can build their own simple pit latrines in their homes, and the importance of handwashing and other related hygiene practices to stay healthy.Volunteers’ consistent engagement is already starting to pay off, with widespread uptake of latrines and positive WASH behaviour change observed within many communities covered by CP3.“We used to have diarrheal diseases every now and then. And even we had cholera, which is fecal related. But when CP3 was introduced by the Red Cross, it has really assisted us in health education and even in tackling those diseases,” explains Lucina Bett, Sub-County Public Health Officer in Bomet County, Kenya.Find out more in this new video:The IFRC’s approach to WASHSuccessful WASH programmes are participatory and community-led. Our approach focuses on four key principles: dignity, access, participation, and safety. This means ensuring that:Everyone has access to sanitation facilities they can use with dignityFacilities are designed and built so that all people can use themCommunities are actively involved in decisions about their sanitation facilitiesPeople feel safe and comfortable using toilets, day and night"Vulnerability to violence is increased by a lack of safe and secure sanitation infrastructure," explains Peter Mamburi, IFRC Regional WASH Coordinator for Africa. “That's why our National Societies work closely with communities to ensure facilities are well-lit, private, and located in safe areas.”On World Toilet Day, we renew our commitment to leaving no one behind in sanitation. Because everyone, everywhere deserves access to a toilet they can use safely and with dignity.--Want to learn more about the IFRC’s work in water, sanitation and hygiene? Visit https://wash.ifrc.org or contact [email protected]

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05/11/2024 |

Press release

IFRC launches Emergency Appeal to address immense humanitarian impact of hostilities in Lebanon

Geneva/Beirut, 5 November 2024: In the wake of the dramatic escalation of hostilities in Lebanon in September, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has today launched a Federation-wideEmergency Appealfor 100 million Swiss Francs.The ‘Lebanon: Complex Emergency Appeal’ aims to provide immediate and long-term relief to around 600,000 people affected by the conflict there and to support the critical ambulance services of the Lebanese Red Cross, whose volunteers have been on high alert since October last year.From the outset of escalations, the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) mobilised its staff and volunteers and activated contingency plans to address the ongoing crisis, with support from the IFRC, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners.The severe escalation of hostilities has led to widespread destruction and mass displacement in Lebanon, exacerbating an already dire socio-economic situation, and necessitating a new appeal to address the rapidly evolving humanitarian situation there more effectively.With winter approaching and many people now homeless or living in overcrowded conditions without proper heating, theLRC is crucial to the humanitarian response, providing essential relief including food, water, first aid, ambulance services, primary healthcare, hygiene kits and psychosocial support."We are seeing a huge need for basic goods to help the hundreds of thousands of people who have fled their homes. Many are now staying with family members or living in temporary shelters, such as schools,"said Lotte Ruppert, Operations Manager for the IFRC in Beirut."Going back to their houses is not an option at this moment, as the conflict areas are still very dangerous. On top of that, we are concerned for the safety of all health workers, including LRC volunteers, especially in the south of Lebanon.”On a visit to Beirut to launch the appeal and meet with the LRC, Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the IFRC, said,“Humanitarian needs in Lebanon are growing by the day. The funds raised in this appeal will allow the Lebanese Red Cross to sustain their life saving programmes and to reach far more people with far more positive impact. The needs are immense. I urge potential donors to do what they can to help contribute.”As the country faces one of its worst humanitarian crises in decades, the launch of this new Emergency Appeal will ensure a robust IFRC-wide response to the current crisis in Lebanon, while also addressing the longer-term consequences through recovery efforts.In parallel, the Middle East Complex Emergency Crisis Appeal will remain active until December 2025, covering the Red Cross Red Crescent response across the region. From November 2024, contributions to support the response efforts in Lebanon should be directed through this new Lebanon Complex Emergency Appeal. For more information, please contact:[email protected] Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79708 4367Hannah Copeland+41 76 236 9109In Beirut:Mey Al Sayegh, +961 7617 4468Bastiaan van Blokland, +31 6 46 80 80 96

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05/11/2024 |

Emergency

Lebanon: Complex Emergency

Lebanon’s southern border has been the scene of continued conflict since 8 October 2023, with a massive increase in airstrikes and attacks, leading to over 2,710 deaths and 12,592 injuries as of 28 October 2024. Through this emergency appeal, the IFRC and its membership aim to address the urgent needs of 600,000 people by providing interventions involving healthcare, food security and shelter, as well as support with water, sanitation and hygiene. This appeal will also help scale up the search and rescue capacity of the Lebanese Red Cross.

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07/10/2024 |

Article

Season of the floods: ‘It was terrifying,’ but Red Crescent volunteers nonetheless risked all to save lives and help people recover

Devipur village in Noakhali, an expansive district in the southern Delta region of Bangladesh, was one of the worst-hit areas when floods overwhelmed the area in late August. The entire village disappeared underwater, and thousands faced the terrifying reality of drowning.The Red Crescent unit of Noakhali immediately sprang into action."Once we activated the hotline, the calls never stopped. We got 10-12 calls a minute, mostly for rescue," shared Nusrat Jahan Nishi, a youth volunteer. Her team worked tirelessly, rescuing hundreds and bringing them to safety at the Devipur Primary School, which had been turned into a shelter.Being in the shelter was far from comfortable. Families, from the elderly to small children, were packed tightly together, often sleeping on school benches and cooking in unsafe conditions.Water everwhere, nothing to drinkWith no clean water or toilets, it became a struggle to stay healthy. Many families couldn't find enough food, especially for children and the elderly, and waste began to pile up, creating an unsafe environment.To ease their suffering, Red Crescent volunteers distributed dry and cooked food along with clean drinking water. Medical teams were also sent to provide care and reduce the growing health risks."Actually, people with sons or husbands can manage food more easily here," Tahera explained, highlighting the challenges women face in living and obtaining food in the shelter.It all began on 20 August 2024, following torrential rains in India. Within 24 hours, low-lying areas of the districts of Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, and Lakshmipur in eastern and southeastern Bangladesh were underwater.By the next day, 90 per cent of Feni and Noakhali were submerged and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in Noakhali quickly set up a control room and hotline to organize rescue efforts.Initially, the plan was to rescue flood-affected volunteers and their families, but the situation was much worse than expected. Volunteers and former youth members from across the district joined in, determined to help.“Making decisions in those first hours was the hardest part,” recalls Farhana Haider Meem, the Youth Chief of the Noakhali Unit. “We had no idea how to manage such a massive emergency so quickly.”Zobaer Hosen, one of the first youth members on the Noakhali rescue team, said they faced enormous challenges. "We didn’t have enough equipment, boats, or anything really. I went three or four nights without sleep,” Zobaer said. ”We stayed at the unit office, but every time I dozed off, I woke up thinking the phone was ringing."Despite the sleepless nights and lack of resources, Zobaer and his team didn’t stop.‘It was terrifying’The Feni unit had an even tougher time. They knew that so many families were trapped in dangerous flood waters, and they didn't have proper rescue equipment. They stepped out to help despite that fact, but unfortunately, they severely underestimated the waters and found themselves trapped as well.For 36 hours, they were stuck without food or water. Finally, as the waters receded slightly, they swam to safety using bamboo poles. Thankfully, all 23 volunteers are safe and sound.“We spent the whole day on the roof of a one-story house, using our helmets to catch water to drink. It was terrifying,” said Labib, a Red Crescent Youth in the Feni unit. “After enduring that day, we finally made it back to the nearby market, where I found my father, who had been so worried about me.”Unexpected magnitudeThe volunteers at Feni encountered two major challenges. First, there was not much coordination between all rescue organisations in this particular area, as everyone here had not experienced flooding of this scale. Another was a lack of proper rescue equipment. The Feni unit was the first group of rescuers to arrive to help in the worst-hit areas. Unfortunately, there no rescue boats available yet.Again, because none of the affected districts had experienced flooding of this scale in decades, there was no pre-stocked equipment or boats for an immediate disaster response.Many volunteers of affected districts emphasised that due to this flooding, these challenges ought now to be addressed so that they can be better prepared for future disasters.Flooding also hit people in the remote hills of Khagrachari, far from the low-lying areas where the floods were centered — people like Natun Kumar Chakma, a farmer who was also hit with the devastating impacts from the floods."My fields are still underwater, and all the crops are lost," he said.Red Crescent volunteers travelled to these remote hilly areas, where some of the region's ethnic minorities live, to provide emergency food supplies and support.Helping handsOnce the floodwaters receded, Bangladesh Red Crescent teams travelled with a National Disaster Response Team member to the submerged village of Suborno Char, Noakhali, where they disinfected tubewells to provide safe drinking water to the community.One of the tubewells they disinfected belonged to Halima. She and her three children stayed in their flooded home while the water raged outside.“I have no helping hand—no parents, no siblings—so I thought it was better to stay than go to the shelter,” she explained. Her husband, a daily labourer, was out of work because of the flood. For almost a week, the family survived on dry food. Thanks to the Red Crescent, they now have clean water, and Halima’s family will receive further support to rebuild their lives.The Bangladesh Red Crescent deployed medical teams from Holy Family Hospital (a BDRCS hospital) to Feni that included doctors, paramedics, and emergency supplies.“People came in with all sorts of health problems—rashes, infections, colds, and diarrhea,” explained Fatema Akter, a member of the Feni Red Crescent Youth Team. These medical teams were crucial in preventing the spread of disease in the aftermath of the disaster.The floods didn’t just affect physical health. The trauma of losing homes, livelihoods, and security took a mental toll as well. Volunteers, trained in providing psychological first aid, listened to and comforted people as they navigated through their fear and uncertainty.Adrita Tabassum Ome, an Red Cross Youth volunteer from Feni, worked for five days offering mental health support. "I focused on listening to women, elderly ladies, and children, while my male teammate supported the men,” she said. These volunteers played a crucial role in helping people manage their stress and anxiety during the disaster.More than 14 million people have been affected by flooding events hitting Bangladesh across the northern, northeastern, and southeastern regions since June, displacing millions and causing widespread damage. In September, the IFRC launched an emergency appeal seeking 7.5 million Swiss Francs to support Bangladesh Red Crescent recovery efforts.As operations continue, the Red Crescent is targeting and prioritizing the most affected communities, aiming to reach 400,000 people with support for safe shelter, food security, livelihood recovery, health services, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene support.This story was reported and written by Nahidul Islam and Al-Shahriar Rupam and edited by Rachel Punitha, IFRC senior communications officer. Photos by Al-Shahriar Rupam and Mustakim Billah Muhit.See more compelling photos and stories about the flooding in Feni and Noakhali.See the IFRC's Emergency Appeal for donations to help recovery in Bangladesh.

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29/08/2024 |

Article

World Water Week feature: Central American Red Cross Societies join forces to bring clean water to communities hard hit by climate-related disasters

Central America is a region where access to water is increasingly challenging: in 2023, Panama faced its longest drought in recent history; the dry corridor in Guatemala suffers from persistent water shortages; and weather-related disasters, such as hurricanes, often cause flooding that disrupts water services.In 2020, hurricanes Eta and Iota left more than seven and a half million people in need of humanitarian assistance and our global network was forced to provide assistance in seven countries simultaneously.In all of them, access to clean water, safe and dignified sanitation and information on good hygiene practices was essential.The scale of the storms’ impacts was such that our global network activated its international support mechanisms. The German Red Cross, for example, mobilised its emergency unit specialising in the provision of safe water to augment the response capacity of the Honduran Red Cross.Meanwhile, local Honduran teams have also played their part in expanding their services, going so far as to rehabilitate water treatment plants that had been in use since Hurricane Mitch 22 years ago.Recognising the power of coordinated action and the high likelihood of a recurrence of major disasters like Eta and Iota, the Costa Rican, Guatemalan, Honduran, Panamanian and Salvadoran Red Cross and the IFRC decided to create a centre that would allow them to multiply their capacity to provide water, sanitation and hygiene services (often referred to as “WASH” for short) on a regional level.Welcome to the ‘Wash Hub’Thus was born the “WASH Hub,” a centre of knowledge and equipment for programme management and response to emergencies, disasters and crises. The hub was created as part of the Guatemala Declaration for the Strengthening and Cooperation in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.Signed in April 2023, the Declaration aims to identify and use the human resources, equipment, methodologies and knowledge that Central American countries have to offer each other."The initiative is about uniting: uniting the efforts of volunteers and team members so that when an adverse event or disaster occurs, we can join forces as National Societies and support a neighbouring country that needs assistance in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene,"says Danny Escoto Lagos, National WASH Focal Point for the Honduran Red Cross.The WASH Hub's work is based on five strategic pillars: capacity building, equipment and maintenance, planning and advocacy, activation and deployment, and sustainability.The logistical teams are divided among the National Red Cross Societies that make up the WASH HUB, with the Honduran Red Cross being one of the first to mobilise equipment thanks to its existing logistical capacity already in place. With its current stock of resources, this hub has the capacity to produce 114 cubic metres of safe water per hour. This would allow it to serve around 182,400 people per day."With the impact of Eta and Iota here in Central America, it was recognised that National Societies in this region have the talent and capacity to address WASH needs in any neighbouring country,"adds Lagos, the Honduran Red Cross WASH focal point.Ensuring a rapid, regional responseBut Eta and Iota also helped to recognise that staffing levels were inadequate and needed to be much more professional. So from December 2023 to the present, the Hub has supported several technical training initiatives, including basic workshops, field schools and high-level training.To date, nearly 200 people from the region have participated in WASH Hub Central America trainings, including participants from the National Societies of Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina.“The WASH Hub will allow for more timely and rapid mobilisation to a nearby country in Central America, or eventually in South America, to deploy a WASH team,” adds the Honduran Red Cross’s Lagos.In its first three years, the WASH Hub will focus on professionalising staff and equipping WASH emergency response units, with technical and financial support from the German Red Cross and within the framework of the Programmatic Partnership between the IFRC and the European Union.The power of the WASH Hub is not only that we will be able to reach more people, but that we will also strengthen our network, a movement of people with diverse experiences and knowledge, who when brought together can respond to the needs of people affected by disasters, when they need it, and where they need it.

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27/08/2024 |

Article

Water: A key element for stability and health in communities facing an insecure and changing world

For more than a decade now, the people of South Sudan have faced enormous hardships caused by on-going internal conflict, mass displacement and a series of climate-related disasters that have paradoxically brought both extended droughts and intense rainfall. “In 2019, a third of the country was under water, with all the consequences that entails,” says Bonface Okotch, water and sanitation expert for the Netherlands Red Cross in South Sudan. Since then, communities across large swaths of the county have periodically been completely inundated and displaced, their crops and livelihoods ruined.The county of Aweil South in northern South Sudan is one area heavily affected by cyclic flooding and violence, as well as an influx of refugees fleeing violence across the country’s northern border with Sudan.At the same time, water and sanitation coverage in the country is low – less than 10 per cent have access to improved sanitation and 42 per cent do not have access to reliable, safe and sustainable water sources.This not only leaves the population vulnerable to infectious diseases, it means people spend an inordinate amount of time getting water from far away sources. This takes away from other essentials such as education, livelihoods and food production that bring health and stability to families and communities.A peaceful and sustainable futureOne ongoing project is addressing this dynamic. In partnership with the European Union (EU), the IFRC, the South Sudan Red Cross and the Netherlands Red Cross have been able to reduce the impact of flooding and droughts, while building resilience so that people can continue to recover from future setbacks.As part of the project, known as the Programmatic Partnership, the South Sudan Red Cross has played a central role in rehabilitating water facilities while also building new ones that are designed to be sustainable over the long term, saysAbdallah Bennet, a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) expert for the South Sudan Red Cross.“In certain areas, communities face challenges due to limited access to clean water, particularly during flooding," he says. "Upgrading hand pumps to solar systems is a key aspect of our work. Through the Programmatic Partnership project, we're addressing these challenges with sustainable solutions.“We empower local communities by training pump mechanics and water-use committees, ensuring they can manage and maintain water points effectively themselves,” he says. “Water is life. It is fundamental for life itself. Without it, nothing goes on.”The South Sudan Red Cross has also trained volunteers on hygiene promotion (handwashing, safe handling of water and food, construction and use of toilets, communication skills, among other things) so they can conduct house-to-house, hygiene- promotion visits.But that’s not all. “People in the communities are trained to assess weather risks, monitor water levels and take rapid action if the community is at risk,” says Bonface. “During emergencies, they strengthen dikes, clear drainage channels and provide assistance to vulnerable groups.”The work being done in Aweil is just one example of how access to safe water – along with other other coordinated efforts to minimize risks – plays a critical role in stabilizing the health of communities facing multiple threats.As the humanitarian world marks World Water Week, which this year promotes the theme of Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future,this project offers an example of the collaborative efforts needed if vulnerable communities are to enjoy a peaceful and sustainable future.After the installation of the water facilities in Aweil South, for example, the community haswitnessed a significant improvement in the well-being and community health,according to the South Soudan Red cross.“I am very happy that Red Cross installed the water yard in our community,”saysAbu Adub, a local resident in the village Gakrol in Aweil South .“People are using it a lot. Near the hand pump, it’s always crowded.This has led to a decrease in diseases such as diarrhea, especially among children and the elderly.”Proximity to safe water sources allows for more time for other household tasks, such as caring for children.“Before, when we had no water yard, we used to drink from the well and it was not good for our health,”saysAdut Wek, who lives in Gakrol, in the Aweil region.“When we had no water, our children used to take a bath (in the well) late at night. We used to fetch water from the well over there, and also from the river. It used to take a long time to get the water. At least two hours.“Since the Red Cross supported us with the handpump, the children can take a bath earlier and then go home.”“Before, when we drank water from the river, we used to get stomach aches,”Adut continues. “Since we have the water yard, we don’t have any waterborne diseases anymore. The main challenge now is that some people live far away and still don’t have water.”More information about the Programmatic Partnership and IFRC’s work providing safe water:The Health, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) support available in Aweil is supported by theProgrammatic Partnership between the IFRC network and theEuropean Union. The partnership provides strategic, flexible, long-term and predictable funding, so that National Societies can act before a crisis or health emergency occurs. It is being implemented in 24 countries around the world.IFRC Water Sanitation and Hygiene ProgrammingWorld Water Day 2024

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13/06/2024 |

Article

Hot and dry: The Caribbean island nation of Grenada struggles with drought, heatwaves and fire

An island nation in the eastern of the Caribbean Sea, Grenada is going through the most severe water crisis in the last 14 years.Alarmed by unprecedented low water levels in reservoirs, the Government of Grenada officially declared a water crisis on May 10, 2024, leading to significant temporary water rationing measures that were lifted in June.“For the past few months since the heatwave began our dams which are the main source of water have dried up significantly,” says Noreen Cox, a long-time volunteer of the Grenada Red Cross who manages a wide range of disaster preparedness and response challenges. “Ultimately, this led to significant drought conditions and a severe water shortage.”“The water company began using water from its back up source (Grand Etang Lake), however, over time this source also depleted since the water was not being replenished.”In addition to the water crisis, Grenada is currently experiencing a significant heatwave, the most recent being on May 6, 2024, where temperatures have consistently exceeded 31.7 degrees Celsius for several consecutive days.Rising risk of fireThis heatwave has exacerbated the water shortage, increasing the stress on the already limited water resources, and adding to the challenges faced by the population.“Also, due to the heatwave there was an increase in bush fires throughout the island. Grenada is a volcanic island and so the intense heat and presence of sulphur is causing natural fires that are sometimes spread rapidly due to the wind”.People here worry that the severity of the current drought and the structural challenges suggest that the water crisis may persist at least until the peak of the next rainy season, which typically occurs around August or September. Communities across the southern and eastern parts of the island (St. Andrew, St. David and St. George) have been most affected.Recent rains have helped fill reservoirs, however water supplies are still not sufficient to meet needs due to the long-standing drought and conservation methods are still being encouraged.“The people who farm as their livelihood also have a severe strain since the ground is extremely dry and there is a lack of water,”Cox adds. “As such, most of the crops cannot withstand the harsh conditions and die, this ultimately led to a shortage in some of the locally grown fruits and vegetables”.Long-term solutions involving infrastructure improvements, better water management practices, and increased conservation efforts will be crucial in mitigating the impacts and preventing future crises.The IFRC is helping to support the Grenada Red Cross response. Through the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF), the Grenada Red Cross Society aims to assist at least 1,000 families (5,000 people) with water, sanitation and hygiene support and multipurpose small cash grants.“Water trucks visit different communities at varying times to deliver water to the people,”says Cox, adding that people use water buckets to wash and even water plants.The Grenada Red Cross has also partnered with the National Water and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) to distribute jerry cans, water filters, water drums and other supplies to people in the community as they collected water from water trucks.These tools give people additional storage options for clean water. Meanwhile, Red Cross volunteers educate the public about how to use these tools in ways that best promote water conservation.Heat stressThe Grenada Red Cross is also doing what it can to address the constant stress and anxiety associated with securing daily water needs. The loss of livelihoods due to water shortages exacerbates these stress levels. The National Society is working to creating awareness about mental health issues and offering support for those affected.To address the immediate livelihoods needs, GRCS will conduct a feasibility study to ascertain the functionality of the markets for multipurpose cash transfers to vulnerable households in the affected districts.GRCS will consider other options such as procurement and distribution of relief food (in-kind support). While immediate measures are being taken to address the crisis, the situation in Grenada is expected to remain critical for the foreseeable future.Sustained efforts and humanitarian support will be essential to navigate through this challenging period and build resilience against future water shortages.

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05/06/2024 |

Press release

Global leaders call for commitment to end the cholera emergency

On Wednesday 29 May 2024, seven countries and 10 major health partners affiliated with the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) came together in a powerful show of multisectoral commitment to end the global cholera emergency. The convening – a side event in observance of the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) – took place as cholera continues to ravage communities across the world, with vaccine supplies unable to meet escalating needs.The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO) – in partnership with the GTFCC – co-hosted the side event, urging immediate collective action with only six years left to meet the GTFCC’s 2030 global roadmap goals. Titled Uniting Against the Global Cholera Emergency: Empowering Communities, Facilitating Multisectoral Actions, and Galvanizing Resources, the event took place at IFRC’s office in Geneva, Switzerland and gathered representatives from national governments, international non-governmental organizations, donor and partner organizations, and UN agencies.Global health leaders focused on the critical need for sustainable funding to advance safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, strengthen disease surveillance in cholera hotspots and scale up local oral cholera vaccine manufacturing. Case management and continuous community engagement for infection prevention were also discussed.Health ministers and national representatives from Bangladesh, Lebanon, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Zimbabwe, speaking on behalf of cholera-affected countries, underscored the urgency of a coordinated multisectoral approach, particularly given the compounding impacts of climate-related factors, economic insecurity, conflict, urbanization, population growth and population displacement.Cholera, a severe diarrheal disease, that also affects children, has been a persistent global health challenge, specifically affecting communities with limited access to clean water and sanitation. In recent years, the world has witnessed an acute resurgence of the long-standing cholera pandemic, with 23 countries currently reporting outbreaks, along with deaths numbering in the thousands.In his opening remarks as co-host, IFRC Secretary General, Mr Jagan Chapagain, said: “We cannot accept such a staggering loss of life to a disease that is entirely preventable and treatable with the tools we have in the 21st century. This event serves as a stark reminder that there is much more work to do as we approach 2030. We must urgently refocus our efforts and elevate cholera control to the forefront of global dialogues, while backing it with tangible investments at the grassroot level.”The cholera upsurge has placed pressure on health systems, and the demand for vaccines has far exceeded available supplies, which prompted agencies to instate emergency measures to manage the available stockpile in 2022. Mr. Thabani Maphosa, Managing Director of Country Programmes Delivery at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, emphasized, “We have significantly increased vaccine supplies over the past decade, and the stockpile is currently replenished after depleting at the start of 2024 after responding to cholera emergencies. With the new simplified Oral Cholera Vaccine, we are on track to reach 50 million doses in 2024, a 30% increase from 2023. He added, in reference to Gavi’s efforts to raise funds for its work from 2026 to 2030, including financing the global OCV stockpile, preventive and emergency vaccination, and cholera diagnostics: “The replenishment is for all of us, and I invite you to be ambassadors for that.”WHO Deputy Director General and Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, Dr Michael Ryan, called cholera “a diabolic poster child of climate change, of poverty, and of social injustice at every level.” Dr Ryan also reminded attendees that cholera is “a pandemic that has never ended,” noting that the ultimate solution to ending the disease lies in universal access to safe water and sanitation. “The cholera vaccine is a poor substitute for a clean glass of water,” he said.UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Mr Ted Chaiban highlighted the importance of community engagement in ensuring a cholera-free future, calling for “additional resources and immediate actions to ensure access to safe WASH for all communities,” given that “2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water and 3.6 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation.”Ms. Christine Toudic, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, called for further mobilization of partners to confront cholera, a disease primarily affecting communities in countries with the most fragile health systems. Ms. Toudic announced that the French government’s commitment will be reaffirmed in Paris on June 20, 2024, at a high-level event convened jointly with the African Union, Gavi, and Team Europe partners for the launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) and the 2026-2030 Gavi replenishment.As the world confronts the ongoing challenges of seemingly never-ending cholera outbreaks, coordinated global efforts and sustained investments are critical. The GTFCC and its partners remain dedicated to empowering communities, facilitating multisectoral actions, and galvanizing resources to end cholera, all of which was confirmed during the side event. This reality was underscored by the involvement of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Wellcome, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance in the event.The message was – and remains – clear: achieving global health equity, security and resilience requires the defeat of cholera.About Cholera OutbreaksIn 2022, 44 countries reported cholera cases, a 25% increase from the 35 countries that reported cases in 2021. While the full data for 2023 will be published by WHO later this year, preliminary trends indicate that the situation continues to be concerning. Since the beginning of 2023, a total of total of 824 479 cholera cases and 5900 deaths were reported. This is a stark underrepresentation of the actual cholera burden, as detection and reporting capacities are hampered by inadequate access to conflict-affected areas, limited surveillance capacities, stigma, etc. A particular area of concern is the high Case Fatality Rate (CFR), which currently exceeds the 1% threshold in several areas. Seven nations – including Comoros, DRC, Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, Yemen, and Zimbabwe – are currently facing acute crises. Outbreaks are also emerging in regions that have not experienced cholera in decades, such as Syria, Lebanon, South Africa, Eswatini, and the French department of Mayotte. The urgency required to address and contain these outbreaks cannot be overstated, with 1 billion people are at risk for cholera infection.Speakers and RepresentativesProminent speakers included Hon. Dr Firass Abiad, Minister of Health from Lebanon, Hon. Dr Douglas Mombeshora, Minister of Health and Child Care from Zimbabwe, Hon. Pradeep Yadav, Minister of Health and Population from Nepal, Mr. Md Mamunur Rashid, Joint Secretary with the Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Nitta Nayeja, Deputy Head of Clinical Services from Malawi’s Ministry of Health, Dr Sofia Viegas, Deputy General Director from Mozambique’s National Institute of Health (INS), and Ms Christine Toudic, Deputy Permanent Representatives from the Permanent Mission of France to the UN.Other high-level speakers included Mr. Jagan Chapagain, IFRC Secretary General, Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO Deputy Director General and Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, Mr. Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General from the Africa CDC, Dr. Kayla Laserson, Director of the Global Health Center from the US CDC, Dr Maria Guevara, International Medical Secretary from MSF, Mr Stuart Vallis, Health and WASH Representative from SDC, Dr. John-Arne Røttingen, Chief Executive Officer from Wellcome, Ms Rachel Toku-Appiah, Director of Program Advocacy and Communications (Africa) from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Mr Thabani Maphosa, Managing Director of Country Programmes Delivery from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.For more information or to request interviews, contact:[email protected] Geneva: Andrew Thomas: +41 763676587 / Tommaso Della Longa +41 797 084367

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28/05/2024 |

Article

Menstrual Hygiene Day: Menstruation doesn't stop during disasters

When heavy rains led to massive floods in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul in May, normal life for 2.3 million people came to a standstill. Ever since, the rain has not stopped, and the needs have grown exponentially. More than 80,000 people remain in temporary shelters and need help urgently.While all these disruptions may have impeded supply chains or made basic living supplies harder to find, they have not interrupted the natural menstruation cycles of half of the people impacted by these floods."One of the problems we face in dealing with the flood emergency in Brazil is the difficulty in getting access menstrual hygiene and menstrual health products", reported Dr. Julia Klock, a medical volunteer who paused her regular work to volunteer with the Brazilian Red Cross during the floods.While menstruation is as natural as eating, or sleeping, too often, people are reluctant to talk about the lack ofessential menstrual health products because this topic is sometimes seen as embarrassing or awkward — something to be hidden. "In many communities, this topic is still taboo," Dr. Klock notes. This year, World Menstruation Day takes on the theme "Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld" in order to fully normalizie menstruation and to render these taboos to history.In order to help us unpack this issue, we asked Katherine Fuentes, the protection, gender and inclusion coordinator for the IFRC in the Americas, to tell us what top things peopleshould be talking about when it comes tomenstruation and hygiene during and after a major crisis.Access to menstrual hygiene products.“When a disaster occurs, such as the recent floods in Brazil, access to menstrual products becomes more difficult.That is why the emergency items we distribute include menstrual hygiene products, considering how many people of menstruating age have been affected by the disaster.These hygiene products can range from sanitary pads, tampons, and menstrual cups to menstrual panties, cloth pads, hygiene buckets, among others.Clean, safe and private facilitiesWe seek to ensure that menstruating individuals have access to clean drinking water, clean restrooms, and private spaces to change and dispose of waste properly. Education and awareness-raisingWe work to ensure that people are informed about the menstrual cycle, so that they know how to manage their menstrual hygiene in difficult conditions, where to access products and how to dispose of them.To ensure menstrual health, the involvement of the whole community, including boys and men, is key. Knowing about the menstrual cycle helps to reduce stigma, promotes collective accompaniment, and helps to care for health and promote well-being.Some actions in this area are group meetings and consultation processes to learn about the specific needs of menstruating people.Psychosocial supportIt is possible that during emergencies, menstruation is stigmatized. So it is necessary to provide psychosocial support and create an environment where people can talk openly, without taboos, with a focus on Protection, Gender and Inclusion. In this way the individual needs of each person is considered.To provide appropriate care, we must recognize what gender stereotypes and roles are present, what are the ideas and practices in the community about menstrual health, and how our humanitarian assistance programs can address the needs of menstruating people.”For more information, please see the following links toIFRC guidelines and toolkits for managing the menstrual health of people affected by emergencies and disasters. • Minimum Standards for PGI in Emergencies • Guidance for Addressing Menstrual Hygiene Management NeedsFor donations or more information about the floods in Brazil, visit our Emergency Appeal

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27/05/2024 |

Article

Menstrual Hygiene Day: After an earthquake destroyed their village, they began stitching their own solutions. It's just one of many stories about our ongoing work on menstrual health.

Words by Joe Baaklini, IFRC Communications OfficerWhen disaster strikes, people are affected in different ways. While shelter, food and water are basic needs for nearly everyone during an emergency, women and girls often find themselves in a particularly vulnerable situation.Often, they find themselves with no access to very essential products that are critical in maintaining their health and well-being: menstrual hygiene supplies.This was the predicament that women and girls in Morocco found themselves in when a 6.8-magnitutde earthquake left a trail of destruction in its wake on September 8, 2023.In the Moroccan village of Ait Youssef, for example, disposable pads were running out, and relying solely on the already strained supply chain wasn't a sustainable solution.To understand the situation and adapt the response to the specific needs of the community, the Moroccan Red Crescent Society (MRCS), supported by the IFRC, decided to talk to the women of Ait Youssef.Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorldIt’s a perfect example of the kind of community work being celebrated on World Menstrual Health Day, which this year carries the themeTogether for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld. Two of the key goals is to break down the stigmas and taboos that exist around issues of menstrual health and to ensure that women have access to the products they need.Through focus group discussions, the Red Crescent volunteers discovered that most women in the village used to rely on pads distributed by the MRCS, but some resorted to using old cotton sheets as supplies dwindled.Thus, an innovative plan was hatched: introducing reusable, washable menstrual pads as a sustainable, eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for menstrual hygiene management.However, producing the reusable pads was no easy feat, as finding the right materials proved challenging. Travelling hundreds of kilometers in search of suitable fabrics, MRCS teams eventually procured the essentials: cotton sheets for comfort, absorbent materials to trap flow, and waterproof fabric to prevent leaks.The teams even had to get a little creative: the waterproof fabric that they found at first was typically used as the covering for sofas, so it was a bit to thick and rigid. So they found and procured thinner, more comfortable variants.With needles, thread, scissors, and pins in hand, IFRC and MRCS staff and volunteers gathered the women of Ait Youssef for a sewing session. The women, with their existing experience, skills and knowledge, proved to be quick learners. Within two short hours, a batch of reusable pads was complete.“The introduction of reusable pads has provided women with a sustainable and cost-effective menstrual hygiene solution,” said Rihab Abou Kalfouni, IFRC Hygiene Promotion Delegate, who worked closely with the women on the project.“We have received positive feedback from a few of the women who have used the pads,” she said. “They reported increased comfort, improved overall well-being in addition to a reduced amount of waste generated by disposable pads.”“Hopefully, we’ll be able to expand this project in the future and include more women in different communities.”Together for a#PeriodFriendlyWorldThe collaboration between the Moroccan Red Crescent Society, the IFRC, and the women of Ait Youssef stands as a testament to the power of localization and community-driven solutions. It’s also a strong example of the ways in which the theme of World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024 — Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld— is being realized on a daily basis by communities, local Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and other partners. In a #PeriodFriendlyWorld, the stigma and taboo surrounding menstruation are history and everyone can access the products, education and infrastructure they need.‘Now I feel free … I can go to school’In South Sudan, for example, the South Sudan Red Cross (with support from the Swedish Red Cross), is helping to increase access to sanitary supplies, reduce the stigmas and taboos around menstruation and provide access to clean water for washing and other household use.Not just a women’s issueIn Madagascar, 23-year-old Red Cross volunteer, Valisoa Liesse Razafisalama, has been leading an initiative to challenge societal norms surrounding menstruation. In many post disaster situations, fear of talking about menstruation or other health issues can mean that women do not get the attention, care and supplies they need to stay healthy. Valisoa has organised awareness sessions for both men and women, emphasising the natural and normal aspects of menstruation.“We encourage the equitable inclusion of women in community decision-making, breaking with the trend of prioritizing men,” she says. “We persist in our efforts because as women volunteers, we make significant contributions to the well-being of the communities where we operate.” Ensuring privacy and dignityMenstrual health is also critical in situations where people live in camps or temporary shelters where access to sanitary facilities — public bathrooms and washing areas — are often not adequately private or protected for women and girls.In the massive Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh, where more than one million people live in makeshift shelters without running water or electricity, the Bangladesh Red Crescent (BDRCS) provides water and sanitation services to thousands of people.To ensure those places are as private, safe and comfortable for women as possible, BDRCS water and sanitation teams regularly meet with communities and listen to women’s concerns. Recently, they constructed additional privacy walls around washrooms to enhance privacy and comfort for women and girls.With support form the Swedish Red Cross, the BDRCS also regularly distributes sanitary napkins to female community volunteers who spend long hours working in the camp, where access feminine hygiene products is very limited.Learn more more about Menstrual Hygiene and the IFRC network’s response around the world:Discover even morecase studies from our National Societies’ MHM activities in this collectionExplore our wealth of practical guidance, tools and advocacy resources on menstrual hygieneon our dedicated WASH site hereVisit thededicated WASH page on the IFRC websiteVisit theglobal Menstrual Hygiene Day campaign pagefor more information about this year’s themeContact our Senior Officer for WASH in Public Health, Alexandra Machado, for any MHM-related questions:[email protected]*We recognize that not everyone who menstruates identifies as a woman, and that not all women menstruate.

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15/04/2024 |

Article

Sudan: 'the most difficult year' after outbreak of conflict

One year after the outbreak of violence in Sudan that killed thousands of people and displaced as many as 8.6 million others, the volunteers and staff of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) are still working around the clock with limited resources to meet massive humanitarian needs.Wajdan Hassan Ahmed has been volunteering with her National Society for 16 years. She describes the 12 months following 15 April 2023 – when residents of the capital Khartoum woke to the terrifying sound of gunfire and explosions – as the most difficult year of her life.“The stories I experienced at the beginning of the war – the evacuations of people disfigured by bomb shrapnel, the stories of fathers who had lost their daughters, mothers who had lost their children, parents who lost their whole family… all these stories have stayed with me, and I cannot forget them,” she said.Psychosocial supportAs well as helping to evacuate people and bring them to safety far away from the fighting, Wajdan and her Red Crescent colleagues have been providing much-needed psychosocial support as well as food, water, and information.Many families were separated in the panic caused by the violence, and the resulting displacement within and outwith Sudan has pushed people far away from their loved ones. The Sudanese Red Crescent’s Restoring Family Links service is still helping to connect and reunite them.“We’re working hard to reunite families who have [been separated from] their children,” Wajdan said. “Some are aged seven to ten, and others of different ages.”Health clinicsSRCS teams have also been operating both fixed and mobile health clinics, helping at-risk people to get the care they need, wherever they may be. An estimated 80 per cent of Sudan’s healthcare facilities have stopped functioning since the crisis began, putting intense pressure on existing community-based Red Crescent health services.As a trusted neutral and impartial organization with thousands of highly trained volunteers and a permanent presence in communities in all 18 States, the SRCS has been at the forefront of the response during this past year. Around 4,000 volunteers have been directly involved in the emergency response.The IFRC had been working closely with SRCS and the ICRC long before the start of the conflict and will continue to do so for as long as people are in need. Many partner Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies have also given support, resources and personnel to enhance the response operations. These include National Societies from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Spain, Sweden , Switzerland, and Türkiye.UnderfundedAnEmergency Appealwas launched by IFRC in support of the Sudan Red Crescent Society, although this appeal remains underfunded.A regional population movement appeal was also launched to help National Societies in Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Ethiopia and Libya to support people displaced from Sudan.Both appeals are critical in providing aid and relief to those affected by the ongoing crisis in Sudan and the surrounding region. More funding is needed to meet the urgent needs of these vulnerable populations.Call to actionThe IFRC and the Sudanese Red Crescent are calling upon all parties in Sudan to reflect on the humanitarian challenges that the conflict has posed. Despite the support that has been mobilized — around 10 per cent of the total required — nothing will be able to fill these gaps if the root causes are not addressed.The Red Cross and Red Crescent network calls upon all parties to come together for the sake of humanity and for the people, including children, who are suffering due to this ongoing conflict. And it calls on people around the world to support the critical emergency appeals that will help us ensure that affected communities and families can overcome this crisis, now entering its second year.

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10/04/2024 |

Article

Resilience: Nurturing new life in Galoolay village

By Timothy Maina, IFRC communications officer and Guuleed Elmi, SRCS Somaliland, director of communicationsNestled in Somaliland's Togdheer region, the vibrant agro-pastoral community of Galoolay faced a harsh reality - a ravaging drought that threatened their very way of life.But hope arrived with the SRCS Somaliland Resilience and Livelihoods Programme, which empowers communities like Galoolay by fortifying their resilience against disasters and climate change, fostering sustainable livelihoods, and ensuring access to clean water and sanitation.Made possible through a partnership between the German Red Cross (GRC) and the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS), the program has successfully completed two life-changing initiatives in Galoolay since 2022 that have reached over 2,000 families.A Community StrugglesAmong the many the concrete examples of the project’s impact is the renovated berked — a traditional underground water cistern — that provides residents of Galoolay with a critical source of clean water for households and for livestock.Standing next to the refurbished cistern, Asad Abdilahi Heri, the village head, paints a vivid picture of a community struggling with drought and why access to water is so critical. Their livestock, the lifeblood of their livelihood, has dwindled by a shocking 3,800 head due to drought in recent years."Since this berked was constructed, life has improved for the better and more than half of our water needs of the households have been met,” he says. “We thank SRCS for coming to our aid."Due to increasing water scarcity in recent years, only two of the 56 berkeds that once existed still function. Villagers were forced to travel a grueling 30 kilometers to the nearest water source in Odweine district.The restoration of this water source — done by the community with SRCS support — has significantly improved the situation for 480 households who now rely on it for their primary water needs.Despite the improvements, the scars of the drought remain. Familes that were displaced due to livestock loss now live in the village, relying on donkeys and camels for the arduous water-fetching journeys.Still, there's a sense of progress. With over half the village's water needs met, life has improved. Heri's plea for another berked, along with repairs to existing ones, reflects the community's desire for a more sustainable water future.Koos Yusuf Mohamed: A Story of ResilienceSRCS' intervention has also been instrumental in reviving the village's agricultural efforts. Their support, including providing hours of field ploughing work, significantly helped farmers like Mama Koos Yusuf Mohamed cultivate a second harvest of corn.A mother of eight, Mama Koos exemplifies the challenges and triumphs of Galoolay. Despite limited resources, she keeps a spirit of optimism and gratitude. The drought reduced crop yields, but Mama Koos finds solace in the SRCS' continued support."Despite the drought hurting our crops, their continued support gives us hope,” she says. “They generously provided four hours of ploughing for my land, allowing me to harvest corn a second time this season.”The drought's effects are undeniable, but SRCS' support has demonstrably made a difference. The community's corn residue, used for animal feed, ensures the well-being of the remaining livestock, a vital part of their livelihood. With healthy animals, the village can rebuild herds, rebuild their economic engine, and secure a future they wouldn't be at the mercy of the elements.

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05/04/2024 |

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World Health Day 2024

Everyone, everywhere should have access to good health care and the basic ingredients to a healthy life. The theme of World Health Day in 2024 is 'My Health, My Right', and we could not agree more. Access to health care is a basic human right. My health, my right also means a healthy environment, safe food and water, and strong community readiness for emergencies and epidemics. Sadly, access to those basic ingredients are under threat, due to conflict, climate events, natural calamity and extreme poverty. We invite you to join our ongoing efforts to help people around the world access this most basic of human rights.

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23/03/2024 |

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Zimbabwe: Bringing critical care directly to communities impacted by cholera

In the heart of Hopley Farm in Harare, a silent threat looms large - cholera.Zimbabwe was hit hard by a significant cholera outbreak that started in Chegutu town and quickly spread across the country in 2023. By November 7, over 6,000 suspected cases and 136 deaths were recorded, with weekly cases surpassing 500, marking the highest rate since the outbreak began.In response, the Zimbabwe Red Cross swung into gear, leading a comprehensive strategy focused on prevention, containment, and upscaling efforts at the community level in the most hard-hit places.One of the cornerstones was the establishment of Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs) strategically placed in Hopley Farm, providing vital oral rehydration therapy to those in need. Manned by dedicated volunteers, who also live in the community, these points of care became crucial in the fight against cholera.The recurring cholera outbreaks in informal settlements like Hopley in Harare underscore the peril of poverty and inadequate urban planning. With Hopley's population estimated at around 100,000 people, it's critical to have timely interventions and access to clean water to prevent cholera-related fatalities.“Initially the community did not believe that there was cholera,” says Fortune, a Zimbabwe Red Cross Volunteer leading the team at the ORP site in Hopley. “Even setting up the ORP site was a problem. But when the community started hearing about and seeing cases of cholera, the ORP site is where they would come to get information.”Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection with vibrio cholerae bacteria. Approximately 1 in 10 people who contract cholera will experience severe symptoms such as watery diarrhea and vomiting. This rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock, and without treatment, death can occur within hours.That’s why water — mixed with other ingredients that help the body retain water — is a critical element in treating those infected with the cholera bacteria.Bringing rehydration to hardest hit placesThe ORPs serve as the primary points of care and the first line of defense for community-level cholera case management through administration of oral rehydration therapy. Research has shown that 80 per cent of suspected cholera cases (mild to moderate) can easily be managed at community ORPs and may not need to visit a local health facility.This effectively decongests health facilities, reduces the transport burden on patients and save lives by providing quick treatment. It also saves lives because people from poor communities sometimes succumb to cholera due to delayed treatment as they often must travel long distances to health centers to get care.Lack of access to rapid treatment is particularly acute when the healthcare system its stretched thin by outbreaks, facing shortages of supplies and personnel, while authorities worked to contain the spread by urging caution against unsanitary gatherings.The impact has been tangible. Over 1,400 patients have been served at the ORPs in Harare, with many more receiving timely referrals for further treatment. Lives were saved, not just through medical intervention, but through the spread of knowledge and awareness.Information also saving livesBesides providing oral rehydration therapy, the ORPs also serve as information and reporting centers where patients get critical information about stopping cholera transmission and treatment and provide critical reports to health facilities about levels of infection and community readiness for response. ZRCS is looking at deploying more ORPs in Harare and beyond as they plan to scale up their response in-country.The project has also emphasized community involvement and empowerment. Volunteers conducted door-to-door visits, engaging residents in risk communication and education efforts, turning the community into active participants in their own health.Communities across the country struggled with limited knowledge and resources, fueling stigmatization, and making certain groups more vulnerable to the disease, especially in areas like Harare, Mutare, and Buhera.Knowledge about cholera prevention can also save lives and, again, water also plays a major role. Exposure to contaminated water or food is a leading cause of transmission while access to safe water — and safe use of water and proper hygiene practices — is the best way to stop the spread of cholera.At Hopley Farm, this combined approach — called the ‘Integrated Strategy for Cholera Risk Elimination and Mitigation’ — is supported by the European Union and the Finnish Red Cross and serves as a model for effective cholera risk mitigation beyond Hopley Farm.

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20/03/2024 |

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Whether flood, earthquake or other crisis, calamity has immediate and lasting impact on access to clean water

Disasters come in many forms, from the earth-shattering violence of earthquakes to the relentless inundation of floods. Amid the chaos and destruction, one critical need transcends the specifics of the catastrophe: access to clean water.The people of Morocco and Libya came face-to-face with this reality after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco on September 8, 2023 and then devastating floods that overwhelmed parts of eastern Libya a couple of days later following a massive storm.In the immediate aftermath of these two disasters, dehydration became a threat, which is especially dire for vulnerable populations like children and the elderly. However, the dangers extended far beyond thirst.“Contaminated water, a consequence of disrupted infrastructure or floodwaters spreading sewage, becomes a breeding ground for waterborne diseases like cholera and dysentery,”says Jamilee Doueihy, a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) senior officer for the IFRC in the Middle East and North Africa region.“These diseases can quickly overwhelm already strained medical resources, adding another layer of suffering to an already devastated community.”A delicate balance disruptedDisasters disrupt the delicate balance of water infrastructure. Earthquakes can rupture pipes and damage treatment plants, while floods can leave them submerged and inoperable. This loss of access to a clean, reliable water supply creates a ripple effect, impacting sanitation, hygiene, and the ability to prepare food safely.In the immediate aftermath of a major catastrophe like the massive, sudden flood in Libya, dead bodies near or in water supplies can also lead to serious health concerns.The impact goes beyond immediate health concerns, however. Without water for basic needs, people struggle to maintain hygiene, increasing the risk of infection. Displaced communities facing water scarcity often resort to unsafe alternatives, further jeopardizing their health. Water scarcity can also stall recovery efforts, as people are forced to spend time searching for water instead of rebuilding their lives.The good news is that providing clean water is a powerful intervention in times of disaster.“In both Morocco and Libya, water was an essential part of the relief efforts during the initial phase of the two emergencies,” Doueihy says.In many temporary settlements, which sprang up as people left their unsafe homes, running water and safe drinking water were simply not available. People also lacked access to toilets and sanitation facilities.Along with first aid, emergency tents and other critical supplies, therefore, the Moroccan Red Crescent, the IFRC and other partner National Societies delivered hygiene kits and installed temporary WASH facilities (toilets, showers, water points and incinerators) for people living in temporary settings.In Libya, meanwhile, the Libyan Red Crescent — along with partners in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement — addressed the immediate water, sanitation, and hygiene needs by distributing more than 240,000 bottles of waters and roughly 6000 hygiene kits, among other things.Other National Societies supported the efforts. The German Red Cross, for example, supported the installation of two water treatment plants, which were later replaced with filtration systems that better respond to evolving needs. To date, five simple desalination plants have been installed, in addition to the maintenance of groundwater wells, among other efforts.The next big challenge, Doueihy says, is to help communities develop longer-term solutions.“We provided clean drinking water for the affected population, but thegradual shiftfrom emergency phaseto a long-term recovery phase means that sustainable solutions – such as repairing damaged infrastructure – are needed to restore water security andthe communities’ ability to access clean water.”Water security is not a luxury in the face of disaster, it's a lifeline. By prioritizing clean water access in short-term and long-term disaster response, we can save lives, prevent disease outbreaks, and empower communities to rebuild.-Support the people of Morocco and Libya on their way to recovery by donating to the two Emergency Appeals:Morocco: Earthquake andLibya: Storm Daniel.

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21/03/2024 |

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World Water Day

Access to safe water is a basic human right and an essential element in maintaining our health and well-being. Still, hundreds of millions of people around the world lack access to safe water. On World Water Day, we join the call of those around the world working to ensure that all people have easy access to this essential ingredient to a safe, healthy and peaceful life.

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21/03/2024 |

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Bolivia: Drought on the one hand, floods on the other — safe water a critical challenge in both cases

In the last year, the Bolivian people have had to cope with devastating floods, the hottest year on record and the most severe drought in its history.Over two million people suffered from the lack of rain, while the storms left over 50 people dead and 430,000 people affected.These data seem to confirm what science has been telling us for some time: Bolivia is the most vulnerable country to the climate crisis in South America. Prolonged droughtsThe frequency and intensity of drought episodes is increasing in the highlands and plains of the country.In 2023, Bolivia experienced the longest dry period in its history, a consequence of high temperatures and the climate crisis, intensified by the El Niño phenomenon. In seven of Bolivia's nine departments (La Paz, Potosí, Cochabamba, Oruro, Chuquisaca, Tarija and Santa Cruz), nearly two million people saw the lack of rain dry up their fields, deplete their savings and damage their physical and mental health.The effects were particularly severe in rural areas, where income and jobs depend on agriculture and the raising of camelids, sheep and cows. Water reservoirs dried up completely; potato and other staple food crops were lost; and llamas and alpacas began to get sick and even die of thirst. "Every time a llama dies, apart from the emotional loss, we are losing about $100 USD, the equivalent of what we need to live for a month in our sector," says Evaristo Mamani Torrencio, a resident of Turco, in the department of Oruro.“Per family, we lose between 15-20 llamas. That is a lot of money and that is a loss not only for the community, but it is also a loss for the town, because that is where the money comes from to buy our things in Oruro. If we don't make that economic movement and if we don't have resources, then we are simply not going to move the market."Water scarcity can lead to restrictions on water use, an increase in its price and a decrease in its quality. This reduces the frequency by which people can hydrate themselves, weakens hygiene measures and increases the spread of stomach and infectious diseases.In cases such as Evaristo's and other communities supported by the Bolivian Red Cross, the long recovery time after drought can also lead families to make decisions with irreversible effects on their lives. These include being forced to sell their land, going into debt or migrating.Devastating floodsMeanwhile, in other parts of Bolivia, sudden flooding is also having a severe impact on people’s access to safe water supplies. On February 27, 2024, the Acre River in the city of Cobija, on the border with Brazil, exceeded its historical maximum and caused the flooding of 16 urban sectors and three rural communities."The landslides associated with rainfall in 90 per cent of the country contrast with a progressive annual decrease in rainfall recorded by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Service in recent years," says Julian Perez, Program and Operations Coordinator for the IFRC in the Andean countries."Something that concerns the IFRC is that both events, droughts and floods, have severe long-term impacts on the community, affecting food production, food security and generating water deficit and malnutrition."In addition to damage to fields and infrastructure, the population is already facing cases of dermatitis, respiratory infections and water-borne diseases such as diarrhea.They are also preparing to avoid mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue."In the first quarter of 2024 alone, Bolivia has registered a total of 11,000 cases of dengue fever,”Perez says.Bolivian Red Cross in actionIn both extreme cases, access to clean water and essential services is critical to maintain health and prevent the spread of disease.With support from the Bolivian Red Cross and the Emergency Fund for Disaster Response (IFRC-DREF), 6,500 people affected by the droughts and floods will be able to protect themselves via improved access to safe water and they will be able to better decide how to recover from the floods by receiving cash to address their most urgent needs."Bolivia urgently needs to implement climate change adaptation measures, such as reforestation and the construction of adequate infrastructure, as well as improve the early warning system and support the State's efforts to strengthen disaster management", Perez concludes.

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20/03/2024 |

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Joint statement: Millions at risk from cholera due to lack of clean water, soap and toilets, and shortage of cholera vaccine

Geneva/New York, 20 March 2024 – Immediate action is needed to stem an unprecedented multi-year upsurge in cholera cases worldwide, according to the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision. Actions include investing in access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, testing and detecting outbreaks quickly, improving quality of and access to healthcare, and fast-tracking additional production of affordable oral cholera vaccine (OCV) doses to better prevent cases.The ICG manages the global cholera vaccine stockpile.The group includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières, UNICEF and WHO. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, finances the vaccine stockpile and the delivery of OCV. ICG members are calling for governments, donors, vaccine manufacturers, partners and communities to join in an urgent effort to halt and reverse the rise in cholera.Cholera has been surging globally since 2021, with the 473000 cases reported to WHO in 2022, more than double those reported in 2021.Preliminary data for 2023 reveal further increases, with over 700000 cases reported. Several of the outbreaks have high case fatality rates, exceeding the 1% threshold used as an indicator for early and adequate treatment of cholera patients. These trends are tragic given that cholera is a preventable and treatable disease and that cases had been declining in previous years. Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water contaminated with faeces containing the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.The rise in cholera is being driven by persistent gaps in access to safe water and sanitation. Although efforts are being made to close these gaps in places, in many others the gaps are growing, driven by climate-related factors, economic insecurity, conflict, and population displacement.Safely managed water and sanitation are prerequisites for stopping the transmission of cholera.Currently, the most severely impacted countries include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Now more than ever, countries must adopt a multisectoral response to fight cholera.Members of the ICG call on currently and potentially affected countries to take urgent steps to ensure their populations have access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation services, and the information critical to prevent cholera’s spread. The establishment of these services requires political will and investment at the country level.This includes creating capacity for early detection and response, enhanced disease detection, rapid access to treatment and care, and working closely with communities, including on risk communication and community engagement.The severe gap in the number of available vaccine doses, compared with the level of current need, puts unprecedented pressure on theglobal stockpile of vaccines. Between 2021 and 2023, more doses were requested for outbreak response than the entire previous decade.In October 2022, the ongoing vaccine shortage necessitated the ICG to recommend a single vaccine dose, down from a previous, long-standing two-dose regimen. Approximately 36 million doses were produced last year, while 14 affected countries registered a need for 72 million doses for a one-dose reactive strategy. These requests understate the true need. Preventive vaccination campaigns have had to be delayed to preserve doses for emergency outbreak control efforts, creating a vicious cycle. The change in strategy enabled available vaccines to protect more people and respond to more cholera outbreaks amid the ongoing supply shortfall, but a return to a two-dose regimen and a resumption of preventive vaccination would provide longer protection.Global production capacity in 2024 is forecast to be 37-50 million doses but will likely continue to be inadequate to serve the needs of millions of people directly affected by cholera.Only one manufacturer, EuBiologics, currently produces the vaccine; while the company is doing its utmost to maximize output, more doses are needed. Currently, new manufacturers are not expected to join the market before 2025; they must be fast-tracked. The same urgency and innovation that we saw for COVID-19 must be applied to cholera.Additional manufacturers planning to enter the market need to accelerate their efforts and make doses available at affordable prices.We appeal to vaccine manufacturers, governments, donors and partners to prioritize an urgent scale-up of vaccine production, and to invest in all the efforts needed to prevent and control cholera.About the ICGPress release on dosing strategyGlobal task force on cholera controlIFRC on choleraUNICEF: cholera is endangering children globallyWHO on the cholera upsurge, including monthly situation reportsMedia contactsIFRC Email: [email protected]: Lukas Nef,Mobile: +41792400790Email: [email protected]: Sarah Al Hattab, UNICEF in New YorkTelephone: +1 917-957-6536Email: [email protected] Media TeamEmail: [email protected]

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18/03/2024 |

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Volunteers go the distance to bring water and health to remote Nepali mountain villages

Part 1 in a series of stories for World Water Day: Friday 22 March.By Shriluna Shrestha and Rachel PunithaFor Nepal Red Cross volunteer Muna, the steep, winding paths of rural Nepal have become somewhat of a regular commute. She treks to remote areas to educate communities, particularly women and children, about hygiene and sanitation practices that can keep them safe from communicable diseases.“Even though it takes me around four to five hours of walking to reach the school at the top of the hill, this doesn’t trouble me,” she says. “All my weariness fades away when I finally meet the children and the community."Muna’s health and hygiene sessions for schoolchildren, adolescents and mothers’ groups focus on handwashing, personal and menstrual hygiene, and community sanitation.She extends her impact by training female community health volunteers,appointed by the government, who then play a crucial role in delivering health and hygiene sessions in their own communities.One of those women community health volunteers is Indira.“In the session, we educate mothers about health and hygiene practices and thoroughly discuss their health-related issues,” Indira says. “They are curious and practicing what they have learned.”“The training helped me enhance my skills, and I learned to deliver the session to diverse groups,” she adds.In the early stages of the project, Muna and the Nepal Red Cross team faced significant challenges. It took a lot of work to convince local people to alter their hygiene and sanitation practices.But the Red Cross team made continuous efforts to build trust. They enrolled local-level authorities, formed community-based committees and organized activities to engage people and get their input.Their efforts yielded positive results. Once-reluctant communities have now become enthusiastic supporters.“I enjoy participating in community and health sessions conducted as part of this initiative,” says Nirmaya, one of the participants. “Such gatherings bring women together, providing a platform for sharing experiences and mutual learning.“For us, these sessions are like a respite from household responsibilities. It allows us to engage in insightful discussions on various health and hygiene topics."“A simple change in health habits can lead to a healthy life. That’s my biggest learning from the sessions.”One house, one tapAs Muna and her team focus on hygiene and behavioral changes, the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) team of the Nepal Red Cross takes charge of another vital component of the program—ensuring access to clean drinking water for every household in the district.Aligned with the government’s “Ek dhara, ek ghar” campaign — which translates to “one house, one tap” — the Nepal Red Cross, IFRC, British Red Cross, Finnish Red Cross and Hong Kong Red Cross each play a role in supporting the initiative.In short, here’s how it works. The Nepal Red Cross works with local authorities and the community through a co-funding approach. The IFRC contributes 60 per cent of the investment for materials such as pipelines, taps and cement and it offers technical assistance and trainings to enhance the skills needed to complete the project.The remaining 20 per cent of financial support is from local authorities, while the other 20 per cent is sourced from the communities through labor contributions and maintenance efforts.As of now, more than 250 households within the Okhaldhunga district have access to outdoor running taps, eliminating the need for women and children to go on lengthy walks to fetch water.A growing impactThese water, sanitation and hygiene projects in Nepal have been implemented in three districts—Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap, and Sindhuli — in the eastern part of the country. Here are the results so far:• Over 9,000 people in the districts benefit from health and hygiene sessions.• More than 700 households now have access to drinking water.• Six schools, two health posts, and one local authority office have water stations on their premises.• 37 people, including eight female participants, have received skill development training on plumbing and maintenance.“Easy access to water has improved our daily lives, saving us time previously spent on fetching water,” saysJeena, a community member who built one of the water taps with support from the Nepal Red Cross. “Now, we can efficiently use water to cultivate vegetables in our backyard and maintain a cleaner environment and better hygiene.”

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12/03/2024 |

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The power of youth: In Vanuatu, young volunteers keep the water flowing

Jean Philipe Clement, 58, stands ankle deep in the river that causes him and his community many sleepless nights.As he slowly sifts through the debris left behind by the recent floods, he feels a sense of bitterness thinking about the next rainfall, knowing it will come sooner or later — likely bringing further flooding in his community.He grips the handle of his trusty cane knife with one hand, and holds the stem of a tree branch with the other. As he swings the sharp metal blade at the base of the branch, a cracking sound can be heard as the branch is detached from the tree. It’s the only time the sounds of the mosquitoes are drowned out.“We are trimming some of the treetops so that the sunlight can pass through and dry up whatever water is left after the floods,” he explains.“The main cause of the flooding is the improper disposal of rubbish. People do not throw their rubbish in the right place and it’s their carelessness that is blocking the drainage and causing the flooding.”“The stagnant water has also resulted in breeding of mosquitoes.”‘No other option’While the water has receded over time, it is nothing compared to the terrifying experience water pouring into doorways in nearby Solwe, a community of 900 people located in Luganville on Santo island – a 45-minute flight from Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila.“When it rains, the water comes from the hills and the plantations. Then it meets in the middle where Solwe is located. Because of the debris clogging up the river, this has disrupted the flow of water.”“There is no outlet for the water and, as a result, the water has nowhere to go and levels start to rise and make its way inland, right to the houses.”Once the flooding has reached homes, children are not able to travel to school as the roads are underwater.“Most times the water levels reach as high as the windows of the houses. People have to enter and exit their homes using wooden planks,” says Philipe.“They have no other option.”Youth taking actionJust as his hopes for finding a solution for the frequent flooding was ebbing, Vanuatu Red Cross youth volunteers decided to take action.Vanuatu Red Cross youth volunteers in Solwe completed training in ‘Y-Adapt’, a curriculum for young people consisting of games and activities designed to help them understand climate change and to take practical action to adapt to the changing climate in their community.From this, they took the initiative to help people like Philipe prepare for the next rainfall – by clearing debris from the river and trimming treetops to let sunlight dry up stagnant water.Through the support of the IFRC and Japanese Red Cross, the volunteers completed the Y-Adapt programme and were able to purchase a brush cutter, chain saw, rakes, wheelbarrow and gloves to help with their clean-up campaign.“If we continue to clean the debris that is disrupting the flow of water and make new drainages, the water will flow out to the river and not straight into people's homes,” says Tiffanie Boihilan, 27, one of the Red Cross volunteers living in Solwe.Y-Adapt encourages youth to focus on low cost interventions that don’t require large-scale investment or technology to implement but that can nonetheless reduce the impacts of extreme-weather events.‘If we are lucky’In nearby Mango Station, a similar story is unfolding, though under very different conditions. Here, the sky is blue and the ground is dry. Heads turn to the skies to see the slightest hint of a dark cloud that might bring rain.On days like this, vegetable gardens are battered under the heat of the midday sun.Animals seek out shade wherever they can. Empty buckets in each hand as community members set foot on the dry, dusty terrain bound for the nearest creek – an hour away.Eric Tangarasi, 51, is the chief of Mango station. Married with six children, he says he hopes it will rain soon. Rain will replenish the sole water tank serving more than 900 people.Mango station relies on the public water supply, but that has been inconsistent. On some days, there is no water at all. With the nearest river about an hour walk through rough terrain, the best and safest option for this community is rain water.“In the community, there is a big challenge for water,” says Eric. “Sometimes there is no water for 2 or 3 days. Sometimes it can be as long as one month.”“If we are lucky, the water supply comes on at around midnight until 2am, that’s when each household stores enough water for cooking and drinking.”"Currently we have only one water tank for the community, and with over 900 people living here, we must use the tank sparingly making sure we leave enough for the others to use.”Once again, the Vanuatu Red Cross youth volunteers swung into action.As part of their Y-Adapt activities (and again with support from the IFRC and Japanese Red Cross), the Red Cross youth volunteers in Mango began to address the issues of water scarcity at the community level.“There are 17 people living with disabilities and it is difficult for them when the water runs out,” says Pascalina Moltau, 26, is a Vanuatu Red Cross volunteer who lives in Mango community and has been part of this project from the start. “They cannot travel to the nearby creek as accessibility is a huge challenge, it is not safe for them.”“We also must think of the elderly people. They are not strong enough to withstand the difficult terrain to get to the nearby creek and then carry water all the way back.”After discussions within the community to find out best course of action, they purchased an additional 10,000-litre water tank to supplement the existing 6,000-litre water tank. The volunteers, together with the community, began their Y-Adapt implementation plan by building the foundation for the water tank.“This 10,000 litre water tank will help the community with the growing demand for water,” Eric says. “We do not have to wait until midnight to store water now and we can be more able to manage water.”

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