Best friends forever: Two women, friends since childhood, dedicate their lives to helping others

Cho Cho Aye and Phu Ngon Wai have been best friends since childhood.Now both at 26 years old, they share more than just childhood memories; they share a deep commitment to humanitarian service as volunteers at the Kyite Ma Yaw Township Red Cross Branch in Mon State.Their journey with the Red Cross began in 2014, right after completing high school and attending a Red Cross basic training session in their community. Beyond their humanitarian work, Cho is a tailor who designs and makes clothes, while Phu runs an online business selling women's apparel.A shared commitmentThey also share a deep commitment to supporting their community through their humanitarian volunteer work. And they share a first-hand understanding of the severe impacts that climate-related crises like storms and floods can have on people and communities.Cho vividly recalls one harrowing experience during the floods in June 2024.“The ground floor of my house was flooded, and my family was trapped inside,”she recalls. “I couldn’t go out, but I was certain my friends were out there, rescuing people. Compared to other houses, mine was still in good condition. As soon as I got in contact with them, I joined the rescue efforts, evacuating flooded neighbors and distributing food and water”.“It’s about recognizing the unseen efforts … I always try to be the one who can give support so that they can live without relying on anyone.”Myanmar Red Cross volunteer Phu Ngon WaiMyanmar is one of the most disaster-prone countries in Asia. During the monsoon season from May to October, the country is particularly vulnerable to widespread flooding and landslides, affecting thousands of people. In fact, nearly 95 per cent of the country’s total annual rainfall occurs during the monsoon season, often accompanied by tropical storms.In July 2024, heavy monsoon rains caused multiple rivers and waterways to overflow, leading to severe flooding throughout the country. This unprecedented flooding claimed lives and affected more than 100,000 people in both rural and urban areas across the country.The Myanmar Red Cross Society and the IFRC responded quickly. With support from an 825,000 Swiss franc allocation the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF), the Myanmar Red Cross Society provided both immediate relief and early recovery assistancein the most affected areas.“Seeing their smiles makes us happy. It’s this Red Cross mindset that keeps us moving forward – to be there for the people who need us the most.”Myanmar Red Cross volunteer Cho Cho AyeThese disasters frequently lead to mass displacement in villages and towns, particularly in low-lying areas like Kyite Ma Yaw Township in Mon State, southeast Myanmar, where Cho and Phu’s neighbourhood of 100 homes is located.As part of a team of dedicated Red Cross youth volunteers, the majority of Cho and Phu’s work now involves engaging with local communities to prepare before disaster strikes.Both of these volunteers have spent much of their lives building skills to stay safe, change their community and thrive. Throughout their Red Cross journey, for example, they have received extensive training in first aid and water rescue skills that are crucial during emergency responses.“I grew up swimming, so I’m not afraid of water. This is my strength. I believe that if men can do it, women can, too,” Cho said with confidence.They both share a strong belief that women play a key role as leaders in community empowerment. “There’s a saying, ‘Behind every great man is a great woman.”says Phu. “But why behind? There’s a gap. It’s about recognizing the unseen efforts. Not just for our community but for my colleagues and friends, I always try to be the one who can give support so that they can live without relying on anyone. Support should go both ways.”Whether it’s rescuing people during floods or delivering essential supplies, Cho and Pu never hesitate to answer the call for help, be it from the Red Cross branch or other charity groups. Their dedication has made them well-known and respected within the township.“When we deliver food to their homes, they’re already waiting at the door,” says Cho. “Seeing their smiles makes us happy. It’s this Red Cross mindset that keeps us moving forward – to be there for the people who need us the most.”While Cho dreams of becoming a fashion designer and Phu aims to expand her online business, their commitment to humanitarian work remains unwavering.“We are determined to continue volunteering with the Red Cross for as long as we live,” she says.Their dedication has strengthened the Kyite Ma Yaw Township Red Cross Branch, inspiring others to join. Today, their branch has grown to 20 volunteers, with many young women stepping forward to become humanitarians.“I believe that together, we can build a more inclusive and empowered future!” Phu said.How can you get involved?Learn more about volunteering within the IFRC NetworkLearn more about disaster preparedness efforts within the IFRC networkLearn more about International Women’s Day at the IFRCRead our other International Women’s Day stories:International Women's Day: ‘At first, I was afraid, but I’ve learned that with determination, anything is possible.’International Women's Day: Patricia’s path from exclusion to ‘a profound sense of belonging’How investing in women humanitarian leadership paid off in the Americas

International Volunteer Day: Standing together to ‘Protect Humanity’ and to honor those who give everything to save others

They gathered in town squares, held candles in city parks, and stood among the ruins of bombed-out buildings. They were Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers from all corners of the globe and they all had one common message: Violence against humanitarian workers must stop.Under the banner of “Protect Humanity,” IFRC member National Societies from around the world came together to raise the alarm about the urgent need to protect humanitarian workers and volunteers.This urgent plea mounted in the days leading up to International Volunteer Day [Dec 5] in hopes of raising attention about what has become one of the most urgent issues facing the humanitarian sector today.“2024 is now the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers, especially for local staff and volunteers worldwide,”Nena Stoiljkovic, IFRCUnder Secretary General for Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, told a group of volunteers and staff gathered at IFRC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.“This grim milestone has not spared the IFRC network,” she continued. “Red Cross, Red Crescent, and Red Crystal National Societies have been deeply affected by this devastating violence.”“When a volunteer is killed, it is not just an individual loss; it weakens entire communities. They have families, friends, and colleagues who rely on them. They are the first responders when crises strike, and without them, we cannot help the people who need it most.”Holding candles and photos of the Red Cross and Red Crescent colleagues who had been killed this year up until that point, IFRC staff and volunteers of the Geneva Red Cross stood together in a moment of silence.“Our work is recognized by international humanitarian law, but for some of us, those who respond to complex emergencies, this work is becoming increasingly difficult, dangerous, and deadly,” Geneva Red Cross volunteer representative Brent Turner told the gathering. “For all our sakes, this trend must change.”“As a local volunteer with the Geneva Red Cross, I did not work directly with any of the individuals whom we remember today. Yet, that does not mean that I am unaffected. It is our humanity, our ability to acknowledge human suffering … which allows each of us to recognize our own loss because of these deaths.”Yet another death shakes IFRC networkThe urgency of this call was dramatically emphasized by the fact that only hours after the gathering, the IFRC once again had the sad duty to issueanother statement condemning the killing of a volunteer while trying to provide life-saving services, in this casePalestine Red Crescent volunteer Alaa Al-Derawi.Now, 32 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staffhave died or been killed while performing their humanitarian duties this year – 29 in violent attacks and 3 in accidents.This is among the highest levels of global violence against IFRC network teams that we have ever experienced.As of 5 December , seven Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies have experienced death and loss in 2024: Palestine Red Crescent Society (18 people), Sudanese Red Crescent (eight people), Iranian Red Crescent (two people), Algerian Red Crescent (one person), Ethiopian Red Cross Society (one person), Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of Congo (one person) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (one person).“I feel deep sorrow over the losses we have witnessed this year,” said Sami Moussa Abu Mustafa, ambulancevolunteer with the Palestine Red Crescent.“Everyone standing in solidarity with us strengthens our resilience, supports our efforts, and ensures the continuity of theservices we provide to communities.”“If you're a first responder, you're an extraordinary human being facing different and often terrifying situations, working tirelessly day and night,” added Jihad Mansour, another Palestine Red Crescent volunteer who vowed to continue his work even while mourning the loss of several colleagues this year.For National Societies based in countries at peace, or where there are fewer risks of death or injury, the Protect Humanity message was a chance to stand in solidarity with those working in dangerous situations, while raising the issue with their national media and political bodies.National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world – including, among others, Palestine, Syria, Venezuela, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Singapore, Slovenia and Pakistan -paid tribute to the colleagues lost this year.The International Volunteer Day events were also a chance to honour and celebrate the many positive contributions that volunteers make everyday in their communities.“In the midst of humanitarian crises, volunteers and humanitarian workers do more than provide aid - they become symbols of hope,” said Camelia Șucu, a volunteer and President of the Romanian Red Cross.“The losses we have felt this year highlight our interconnectedness as a global family,”she continued. “That is why their protection is vital, not only for their safety but also for the continuity of support to the most vulnerable. We need global solidarity, authorities to adopt clear measures, and communities to back this mission.”This humanitarian mission is personified by volunteers like Ange Mulanga and her fellow volunteers from the North Kivu Red Cross Branch of the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Every day, they deliver a rapid emergency response to a range of ongoing crises, from volcanic eruptions, to outbreaks of infectious diseeases to mass population movements caused by conflict.In the area where Ange works, there is on-going fighting between government and armed groups, and tensions along ethnic and tribal lines. The places where people are most in need are often the very places where violence between these groups erupts. Humanitarian workers and other civilians are often caught in the crossfire.“It becomes a bit complicated,” says Ange. “Not only because one must prepare the response very quickly with the authorizations [of the government and armed groups], but one must also keep a positive relationship with community leaders and groups that can either facilitate or hinder relief efforts.”Events such as International Volunteer Day, and IFRC’s #ProtectHumanity campaign, aim to ensure support and protection for volunteers like Ange and her colleagues, as well as for the millions of other volunteers around the world doing life-saving work every day.Learn more: Volunteering with usInternational Volunteer DayIn Memoriam

‘Protect Humanity’ event commemorates humanitarians killed this year

Geneva, 5 December - As the world’s largest humanitarian network, the IFRC’s message is clear: violence against humanitarian workers must stop. Even one life lost is far too many. Yet since the beginning of the year, 32 of our volunteers and staff have died or been killed while performing their humanitarian duties – 29 in violent attacks and 3 in accidents. This is among the highest levels of global violence against IFRC network teams that we have ever experienced.The protection of civilians, humanitarians, healthcare workers and facilities is not just a legal and moral obligation, but a pressing concern that demands immediate attention.Seven Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies have experienced death and loss in 2024: Palestine Red Crescent Society (18 people), Sudanese Red Crescent (eight people), Iranian Red Crescent (two people), Algerian Red Crescent (one person), Ethiopian Red Cross Society (one person), Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of Congo (one person) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (one person).In the lead-up to International Volunteer Day on 5 December, 26 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world – including, among others, Palestine, Syria, Venezuela, Italy, America, Greece, Netherlands, Nigeria, Singapore, Slovenia and Pakistan - are gathering in their cities to pay tribute to the colleagues we have lost this year. Sami Moussa Abu Mustafa, ambulancevolunteer with the Palestine Red Crescent, provided a testimony, along with volunteers from other affected National Societies:“I feel deep sorrow over the losses we have witnessed this year, including the loss of colleagues. Everyone standing in solidarity with us strengthens our resilience, supports our efforts, and ensures the continuity of theservices we provide to communities. What motivates us to persevere is our sense of humanitarian duty, our desire to alleviate the suffering of others, and our commitment to saving lives despite the sacrifices involved.”At a special event held at IFRC Geneva headquarters on 4 December, IFRC staff and volunteers congregatedto highlight the importance of ‘Protecting Humanity’. IFRCUnder Secretary General for Global Relations and Humanitarian Diplomacy,Nena Stoiljkovic, anda Geneva Red Cross volunteer spoke, and the names of the colleagues we have lost this year were read out, with candles, the Red Cross Red Crescent emblems, and pictures of those colleagues as a backdrop, providing a powerful and moving visual.AV materials are also available here from the different National Societies taking part globally (regularly updated as events happen).For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 4367 Hannah Copeland, +41 76 236 91 09

International Volunteer Day: In the Philippines, volunteers brought unwavering support in the face of six devastating typhoons

In the course of just two months – October to November 2024 – the Philippines were hit with an unrelenting onslaught of destructive typhoons, each one bringing floods and landslides that devastated communities.With over 10 million people affected, the disasters have left a trail of destruction and heartache. But through it all, volunteers from the Philippine Red Cross Society have been there, in communities around the country, offering support and comfort to those in need.Felisa Buquel, a volunteer from the Isabela chapter has been out there every day, working in evacuation centres, talking, listening and conducting damage assessments to ensure that people get the support they need to recover and rebuild. As we mark International Volunteer Day [December 5], she shares her story of perseverance, compassion and courage“My journey with the Philippine Red Cross began in school, where my classmates and I were encouraged to volunteer. We first got involved on World CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) Day, where we were taught the basics. During the training, we thought, 'Wow, they're so skilled even though they’re so young!' After that, I thought, 'I want to know how this volunteering works; I want to try it myself.'I realized that being a Red Cross volunteer isn't just about showing up—there’s a lot of training involved. So at first, it felt like just a small effort, but eventually, it became more challenging and meaningful.Every time I joined a deployment, the thought would cross my mind: ‘What if something happens, and I don’t make it back to my family?’After volunteering at the Marikina chapter for a while, I was asked if I wanted to join a deployment. My first deployment took me to the eruption of the Taal volcano [in the Province of Batangas].My first task was preparing hot meals. I didn’t even know how to cook properly back then! But in the Red Cross, as a leader once told me, you need to be multitasking—you can’t just know one thing.I’ll never forget the Taal deployment. I still remember the ashfall—it was so intense, I couldn’t breathe. I was shaking, and I thought, 'Lord, is this it? Will I be okay?'Every time I joined a deployment, the thought would cross my mind: ‘What if something happens, and I don’t make it back to my family?’But when I see the people in the community who really need help, it feels like everything else doesn’t matter anymore. When I see how much they’re suffering, I can set aside my fears and just do what I can to help.With the typhoons, I have been supporting in a lot of different ways, especially in the evacuation centres. What’s important is that people know they’re not just a number, a statistic, to us.We genuinely want to hear how they are feeling and do what we can to help. For children, the impact of the back-to-back storms has been especially overwhelming. Every time it rains, even just a bit, I can see they get scared—they’re afraid it will start to flood again.When I see the children enjoying themselves, I feel relieved. But sometimes, when they start getting bored or upset, that’s when I know I need to step in and come up with a new activity or strategy to keep their spirits up.Singing and dancing to songs like ‘Baby Shark’ may seem simple but seeing the children happy made it all worthwhile. Their joy reminds me why we do this work—to bring comfort, even in small ways, when everything else seems lost.While we bring essential supplies, I believe what makes us unique is that we bring support and comfort too. One person said, ‘You became like family to us.’ They felt cared for and helped in a way they hadn't before.Their joy reminds me why we do this work—to bring comfort, even in small ways, when everything else seems lost.In the end, I’m proud to be with the Red Cross. I'm proud of the deployments I’ve been part of, and I’m grateful to my mentors at the Red Cross who have been like second parents to me, always supporting me in my studies and personal growth.When someone expresses their gratitude, saying, 'Thank you, ma’am, for coming,' even when you haven’t given them much—just a simple greeting, asking them how they are—that’s something you can’t forget. Those moments when you can show them someone cares, that’s the time I realize what volunteering is all about.”Philippine Red Cross has deployed over 4,000 volunteers to support communities in response to the six typhoons that hit the country from October to November 2024. As their work continues, the IFRC has launched anEmergency Appeal to support the work of Philippine Red Cross in helping communities to recover and rebuild.

International Volunteer Day: Every day, volunteers like Ange bring ‘a first, life-saving response’

In the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ange Mulanga and a team of fellow volunteers from the North Kivu Red Cross Branch deliver a rapid emergency response to a range of ongoing crises on a near daily basis.No matter what the emergency, they are there. They come to provide first-aid, water and shelter services, like they did for peopledisplaced by a volcanic eruption as happened in 2021. Or to help stop the spread ofMpox, Covid-19 or other infectious diseases, as they did multiple times in recent years.These days, Ange and her team are most often bringing critical support to some of the nearly 1.7 million people in her region that have been displaced by the ongoing, internal conflict.“After going out in the communities to make an assessment, we work rapidly to bring a first, life-saving response,” says Mulanga, a volunteer for the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (RCDRC) North Kivu Branch.“Generally, it’s a question of essential items. Household goods and bedding and medicine for the health centers, which are in the midst of receiving the displaced people.”But doing this job is rarely easy.In the area where Ange works, there is on-going fighting between government and armed groups, and tensions along ethnic and tribal lines. The places where people are most in need are often the very places where violence between these groups erupts. Humanitarian workers and other civilians are often caught in the crossfire.To bring humanitarian services to people living in these areas, Red Cross teams liaise with both government authorities and armed groups to ensure safe passage, and they communicate with local leaders so that everyone understands the Red Cross mission is purely humanitarian, independent and neutral.“It becomes a bit complicated,” says Ange.“Not only because one must prepare the response very quickly with the authorizations [of the government and armed groups], but one must also keep a positive relationship with community leaders and groups that can either facilitate or hinder relief efforts.“Sometimes it feels like we are going from one country to another,” she adds, referring to the work of gaining authorizations to pass roadblocks and enter areas controlled by different groups.One of manyAnge is not alone. She is just one of many dedicated volunteers in the DRC – and around the world – who take on critical jobs of helping people in very difficult situations. As the humanitarian world marks International Volunteer Day on Dec 5, the IFRC pays tribute to volunteers such as Ange who employ incredible professionalism, persistence and compassion as they bring humanity to people in exteremely vulnerable situations.In the case of North Kivu, the region has long been impacted by humanitarian crises, including violence, in neighboring Rwanda and nearby Burundi.In February 2024, the IFRC launched an emergency appeal following an increasing number of attacks in eastern DRC that led to a new round of large scale displacement. The appeal seeks 50 million Swiss Francs to support the DRC Red Cross in its provision of food assistance, health services, water, sanitation and hygiene and protection services to 500,000 displaced people and their host communities in North and South Kivu.Fighting in this area has severely hindered people's ability to access and cultivate crop lands, get supplies and deliver goods. Inflation has been further aggravated by the depreciation of the Congolese franc, leading to substantial price increases for food.Overcrowded camps for the people who have been displaced have left people in extremely desparate conditions. Women represent some 60 per cent of the total displaced population, and children under 5 account about 18 per cent.Sadly, volunteers such as Ange don’t always get the full support they need to carry out their work. The emergency appeal remains significantly underfunded, putting much of the planned emergency response in jeopardy, while various factors continue to get in the way of the volunteers’ work.Thanks to the reputation of the Red Cross, the power of the Red Cross brand and the dedications of the people like Ange, the branch volunteers do manage to make their response.“But it’s not always easy because unfortunately, on the ground, there are people who don’t understand that we are there just to help the displaced people,” Ange notes. In a situation in which nearly everyone is on one side or another, it is hard for many to believe that there are some people who remain independent, impartial and neutral.“Sometimes they ask us, ‘Are you really neutral?’ ” Ange continues.‘We couldn't touch the children’In addition to negotiating their way past roadblocks, doing the hard work of delivering relief supplies, setting up water stations or delivering health messages, they must also work constantly to battle the constant flow of misinformation.A case in point was the Covid-19 pandemic. “In my part of the world, people thought COVID-19 came because of Western people,” Ange noted. “So when we went to the villages to talk about COVID-19, and how to avoid it, and people saw our cars, they thought we were bringing them COVID.”This perception is somewhat understandable. Each time there is an outbreak, health and humanitarian workers arrive, often in rugged, white utility vehicles emblazoned with logos (including the Red Cross, to deliver vaccines, hygiene services and other interventions.Ange recalls when Red Cross teams went to one community to address malnutrition, some parents were wary of the Red Cross workers.“We couldn't touch the children,” Ange recalled. “Even the children started crying. We understood that to them, us touching the children was meaning us bringing COVID and other diseases including Ebola. Because even when Ebola struck, we were among the organizations that were very active in responding to that epidemic.”Addressing this challenge is not easy. A good portion of Red Cross and IFRC actions in situations like this one falls under something calledCommunity Engagement and Accountability, or CEA, in which volunteers listen to community concerns and develop regular feedback mechanisms to show people their concerns are being heard and addressed.The volunteers also take the time necessary to explain to people, through door-to-door visits, community gatherings and radio programmes, what the Red Cross is all about.“Communications is key,” Ange says. “But because there are no cell phone connections, no internet in many parts of North Kivu, getting the message out is difficult.”With these and other challenges that face volunteers every day, it is critical that they get the support, respect and protection they need and deserve.To learn more about volunteering within the IFRC network and our efforts to ensure respect for impartial, neutral humanitarian work please visit the following links:#ProtectHumanityInMemoriam: A list of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers killed in the line of duty.International Volunteers Day

‘Climate-preneurship’: One young Ghanian’s response to the worsening impacts of climate change

Climate change is hurting everyone in Ghana, but it’s hitting young people particularly hard, says Abudi Razak, volunteer and national youth president for the Ghana Red Cross. Droughts in the north and floods down south mean that crop yields and incomes are low, while the cost of living is skyrocketing. Young people see their futures evaporating. Razak’s response is to motivate young people take matters into their own hands. One example is something he calls “climate-preneurship”; projects that earn income while solving climate-related challenges. Razak was recently honored by the IFRC with its highest humanitarian award, named after its founder Henry Davison.

New IFRC Youth Commission leader: Young volunteers want real influence, not ‘box-checking’ exercises

Young people do not fit into “cookie-cutter” stereotypes, says Michelle Chew, IFRC’s newly elected Youth Commission Chair. “Young people are very diverse and only by valuing and accepting all forms of young people can we engage communities properly.” While young people are gaining influence, she says efforts to engage with youth can seem like “box-checking exercises” that end up turning young people away. As someone with experience as a front-line volunteer with Malaysian Red Crescent ambulance crews, she says she’ll do her best to ensure the voices of young, community-based first responders are represented in the strategies, plans and decisions made by IFRC’s Governing Board.

Climate change, economic uncertainty and the future of volunteering: IFRC youth leader takes on the hot issues impacting young people

When Bas van Rossum was elected to represent youth on the IFRC Governing Board, he was the youngest person to ever serve in that role. Now as he steps down as president of IFRC’s Youth Commission, he talks about the challenges that defined his tenure. “Young people are perhaps the closest to the front lines,” he says in this special episode, recorded during the IFRC Youth Forum and released on the first day of the IFRC General Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. “So it's really important that we listen to young volunteers and that we give them space to really shape the direction we're heading.”

Harnessing Technology for Humanitarian Efforts

In a world where digital solutions are crucial, the IFRC, the Spanish Red Cross, French Red Cross and Kenya Red Cross Society are leading the way in transforming how volunteering data is managed globally. Powered by CiviCRM, our Volunteer Data Management System (VDMS) streamlines and enhances the efficiency of volunteer operations across National Societies.

‘We are ready’: For hospital workers in Southern Lebanon, years of training face another test as conflict arrives at their doorstep

The ongoing crisis in the Middle East, sparked by the Israel-Gaza conflict, has sent shockwaves throughout the region, affecting neighboring countries and communities far beyond the initial conflict zone.In the city of Sidon in Lebanon’s South Governorate, staff and volunteers at the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s Al-Hamshari hospital have been preparing for worst-case scenarios, as bombings occur regularly right on their doorstep and Lebanon’s southern region becomes increasingly affected by the escalation of hostilities.Al-Hamshari is one of two Palestine Red Crescent hospitals in south Lebanon, serving Palestinian refugees and people of all nationalities. It’s also the largest of all five PRCS hospitals in Lebanon, meaning it is a crucial healthcare facility, especially in times of conflict, when its services are needed the most.This volatile environment has compelled the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon to brace for a surge in need, mobilizing resources and being on full alert to respond to the unfolding crisis.“We have more than 300 volunteers and staff members who have been receiving trainings as part of our emergency plan,”says Dr. Ziad El Ainen, Director of Emergency and Ambulance service in the Palestine Red Crescent’s Lebanon branch.A significant part of that training has been done with the Lebanese Red Cross, which also has significant experience responding to mass casualty events. “[Hospital personnel] have been well trained by the Lebanese Red Cross to respond effectively in times of conflict,” El Ainen says.To bolster its capacity to respond effectively to the escalating conflict, PRCS’s Al-Hamshari hospital initiated a comprehensive training program, which encompassed a range of essential skills, including basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, emergency echocardiography, mass casualty triage, and advanced first aid techniques. These trainings equipped the hospital's personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to mitigate the impact of conflict-related injuries and ensure timely and appropriate medical intervention.One person who has benefited from these trainings and is geared up to serve his people, especially during this conflict, is 58-year-old Hossam Sabha, a first responder who has been with the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon for almost 40 years.“As the Emergency Medical Services unit in the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon, we have taken all necessary precautions and steps to respond to any emergency,” Hossam says.“We’ve completed our trainings, and we are ready to mobilize at any time. We have an emergency plan in place for the South and Beirut, and all our teams are on stand-by. We are not afraid."It’s not just Hossam who’s driven by a sense of humanity. His own daughter, Saja, has inherited her father’s fearlessness. The conflict will not stop her from delivering life-saving services, she says.“I’m not afraid at all. I come to the hospital every day because I want to help other people, including my colleagues,” says 22-year-old Saja, who volunteers at Al-Hamshari hospital and is studying to become a nurse. Volunteering, she reckons, is unlike anything she’s experienced.“When you volunteer, you’re exposed to so many people, you get to see what’s happening in the real world. There’s nothing quite like the look of gratitude and relief on a person’s face after you have provided them with the help that they need.”There is no shame in feeling afraid, however, and hospital volunteers and staff are also trained to support each other in coping with their emotional reactions to the events unfolding around them. Saja works closely with 20-year-old Nagham Chanaa – the youngest intern in Al-Hamshari hospital – who's pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor.Despite the stressful nature of her job and the country’s turbulent situation, Nagham somehow manages to smile through it all.“I’m someone who’s very anxious, actually,”she says. “I felt very afraid when I heard an explosion a few days ago — which turned out to be fake air raids — but everyone at the hospital came to me and tried to comfort me. I get a lot of mental support from my colleagues here. We support each other, and we convey that support to our patients as well.”While medical professionals like Nagham and Saja are essential in providing emergency care, anyone can contribute to their community during times of need. All it takes is a caring heart and a willingness to volunteer.19-year-old Ahmad Marwan El Issa, who’s pursuing a Mechanical Engineering degree, is a prime example of that. He volunteers for the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon as an Emergency Medical Technician, and he does so knowing the risks involved.“The situation is scary because of its unpredictability,” he says. “We don’t know when an airstrike will hit and where it will hit, but we are ready to serve those in need, no matter what.”

Taking on the ‘toxic’ hero narrative: Red Cross youth volunteer leader says it’s time to change the way we speak about and work with young volunteers

It’s quite common to refer to volunteers and first-responders as ‘heroes’. After all, they often risk their lives to save others. But in some cases, can that hero narrative do more harm than good? Ukraine Red Cross volunteer and IFRC Youth Commission member Maryna Kozhedub answers unequivocally ‘yes’, especially for young volunteers. Calling them heroes in conflict situations puts unreal expectations and pressure on people who are also impacted by crisis. “I am absolutely against hero narratives,” she says. “I'm about the narrative that volunteers work hard, but they are humans who have needs and should be protected and cared for, because this pressure would be enormous for anyone.”

Stand with us to Protect Humanity

Violence against humanitarian workers and volunteers must stop. But we can’t make it stop without your help. The Protect Humanity campaign needs you – your voice, your involvement and your action – to help us put an end to violence against those who risk their lives to help others. We must protect the first responders and volunteers who give everything to protect us. Together, we can #ProtectHumanity.

‘We will be there for them’: In communities most vulnerable to storms, volunteers rise to the challenge

In the Cox’s Bazar camps of Bangladesh, where cyclones pose a perpetual threat, a remarkable group of individuals emerges as the unsung heroes of disaster preparedness and response.Numbering around 3,300, these Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers serve as the bedrock of community readiness and emergency response within the camp settlement.Dil Mohammed, aged 46, is one of them. "People know we will be there for them if they need us during any disaster," he says.Trained and prepared by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Dil Mohammed and his fellow volunteers play a pivotal role in disseminating cyclone early warning information and facilitating anticipatory actions to reduce the unprecedented loss and damage that cyclones can bring.The cyclone seasons in Bangladesh, spanning from April to May and October to November, are periods of heightened alertness. Since 2018, the volunteers have received training on disaster preparedness and the camp’s early warning system, as well as safety gear and early warning equipment.As cyclone Mocha approached in May 2023, for example, these volunteers sprang into action. Dil Mohammed recalls their swift response: "When cyclone signal 1 was announced, we immediately got the news and started verbal messaging among the people living in my camp. After receiving the cyclone signal 4 announcement, we hoisted 1 cyclone signal flag and disseminated signal information through megaphones across the camp."While male volunteers focused on informing the broader community, their female counterparts played a vital role in raising awareness among the female members of the camp community."We reached out door-to-door, making a tremendous impact in our community, where 52 per cent of the population is female," says Dil Kayas, a female volunteer from camp 8W.Another woman volunteer in Camp 7, Minara sais "the learnings enabled me to support my own community people during their need".Along with other volunteers, Minara helps facilitate block-level awareness sessions, ensuring that even those who were unable to attend large-scale events receive vital cyclone preparedness information.Minara also used her first-aid training to provide immediate assistance to her injured nephew, showcasing the real-world impact of capacity enhancement initiatives within the camps.As the cyclone threat escalated, the volunteers doubled their efforts. Dil Mohammed explains, "When we heard that signal 8 was announced, we hoisted 3 signal flags and started using sirens, megaphones, mosque microphones, and every available communication tool to ensure that every camp resident knew about the impending danger."Recognizing that women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities are the most vulnerable during disasters, the volunteers devised a plan to ensure their safety. They maintained a list of households with “extremely vulnerbale individuals” and once the first flag was hoisted, they visited every such household, offering reassurance and readiness to help.In one instance, a pregnant woman approached the volunteers, expressing concern about her fragile shelter's ability to withstand the cyclone. The volunteers, in coordination with site management, arranged her relocation to a nearby family's shelter, prioritizing her safety and well-being.Dil Kayas and Dil Mohammed continued their efforts, using megaphones to disseminate signal information. They advised community members to secure their shelters and protect important documents in plastic bags.They also highlighted the availability of communal shelters for emergency use. As a result of their messages, the community actively participated in securing their shelters, with women playing a proactive role.After the cyclone's passag, they swiftly transitioned to post-cyclone responsibilities, conducting assessments to measure the extent of the damage in their respective camps and identifying those in need of emergency assistance. They also engaged in the demanding task of clearing roads and paths, ensuring access and communication within the camps.“After the landfall of cyclone Mocha, we started cleaning the roads in the camp blocks,” says Mahabu Alam, a young volunteer from camp 1W. “Trees were uprooted, debris scattered, hindering accessibility."Similar stories unfolding in other settlementsCox’s Bazar is not the only place where people displaced from Myanmar are making a difference in their own communities.In some cases, the volunteers include people whose families came to Bangladesh from Mryanmar in earlier years.Inthe Basan Char settlement, Bangladesh Red Crescent volunteerJafor Alamwheels a bicycle full of tools used for cleaning debris from water canals. If these canals get blocks during heavy rains, the result can be sudden flooding.Volunteers like Nur Hossain, meanwhile, play an important role in ensuring the maintenance and functionality of essential shelter infrastructure. An experienced foreman, Hossain has worked in various places in Chittagong, one the country’s largest cities.In addition to maintaining shelters, to ensure their strength and safety, he organizes awareness sessions, and resolves issues that arise at the community level under the guidance of the BDRCS team.Many also have considerable expertise in their fields.Abdul Hamid, who lives with his wife and children in Bhasan Char,joined the BDRCS Bhasan Char Operation as a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) volunteer in 2021.Due to his technical expertise and his experience with biogas initiatives, he became site-management support volunteer responsible for maintaining biogas services in Bhasan Char.In this way, Abdul Hamid plays an important role in ensuring the maintenance and functionality of essential biogas infrastructure, contributing significantly to his community's sustainability efforts.Through their actions, all these volunteers not only protect their fellow residents but also empower their communities to face cyclones and associated hazards with resilience and readiness.Story by Farhan Arafin KarimPhotos: Humayra TasnimWith editing by Al-Shahriar Rupam and Rachel Punitha

#PassTheTorch: Volunteers from around the world gather in Solferino, Italy to ignite the spirit of humanity

Thousands of Red Cross and Red Crescent members and volunteers gathered in Solferino, Italy, on Saturday, 22 June, for a moving, torchlit procession called the “Fiaccolata,” which follows the path Henry Dunant and local volutneer nurses took as they responded to the Battle of Solferino in northern Italy 165 years ago today.It was that battle, and the suffering Dunant witnessed among thousands of injured soldiers, that inspired his years-long mission to create a neutral and impartial humanitarian corps of volunteers who would help all people suffering due to conflict.‘Zealous, devoted volunteers’Having witnessed the horrific aftermath of the Battle of Solferino, Dunant was also inspired to write A Memory of Solferino and later set about a process that led to the creation of the Geneva Conventions and the establishment of the International Red Cross (ICRC) in 1863.“Would it not be possible,” he wrote, “in time of peace and quiet to form relief societies for the purpose of having care given to the wounded in wartime by zealous, devoted and thoroughly qualified volunteers?”A week of festivitiesThe weeklong festivities include speakers, a learning academy, entertainment, group events and guided tours which culminate in the Fiaccolata.The Fiaccolata route retraces the steps of the women from the town of Castiglione delle Stiviere in the battle's aftermath, as they transported 600 soldiers from Solferino to a nearby church in Castiglione delle Stiviere.Henry Dunant organized these women to provide first aid and care to the many wounded left laying on that battlefield. They paid no attention to a soldier’s nationality, and thus laid the foundation for neutral and impartial humanitarian action.This celebration of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement in Solferino has been held every year since 1992. For the IFRC and its 191 member Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, the anniversary is a time to re-ignight the flame of humanity, refresh our humanitarian drive to help others and to thank the 16 million Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers who give their time, their passions and who often risk their lives in order to save the lives of others.Learn more about the Battle of Solferino and this weeks events.

World Malaria Day: Volunteer goes the last mile to save baby boy’s life in Sierra Leone

Baindu Momoh is a mother from Gbaigibu in Kailahun district, eastern Sierra Leone. Her village is so small and remote it doesn’t show up on most maps—but that doesn’t stop the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society from looking out for the health of her community.In October 2023, Baindu came rushing to her local Red Cross volunteer, Joseph. Something was deeply wrong. Her baby boy, Senesie, had a fever, was sweating and vomiting, and had a puffy face and eyes. Baindu feared for his life.Thankfully, Joseph is part of the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3) and is trained in how to detect, report, and respond to disease threats—meaning he knew exactly what to do.“I have established strong relationships with both the health facility and the community. When the child’s mother reached out to me in distress, I immediately recognized the urgency of the situation,” explains Joseph.In the absence of timely local ambulance services, Joseph rushed Baindu and her baby on his motorbike to the nearest Community Health Post in Woroma, where Senesie was diagnosed with severe malaria and anaemia. Baindu was told that, to survive, Senesie needed an urgent blood transfusion—only available at the Kailahun Government Hospital, some 30 miles away.Without hesitation, Joseph offered to help, explaining:“As a trained volunteer with a humanitarian organization, my community is my responsibility.”But in this part of the world, getting to the hospital is easier said than done.On his motorbike, with Baindu and Senesie on the back, Joseph embarked on the long, bumpy road to Kailahun—carefully navigating the treacherous terrain and crossing rivers along the way. Thankfully, they arrived safely and Senesie was quickly treated by hospital staff. “Since I could help, I couldn’t let him die. So I made the decision to pay for the treatment because the parents couldn’t afford the cost,” explains Joseph.Thanks to Joseph’s quick action and support, Senesie made a full recovery from malaria. After a week in hospital, Baindu and Senesie returned to their home in Gbaigibu. Joseph continues to check in on them to make sure they’re doing well.“Joseph risked his life to save my son’s. Upon reaching the Kailahun Government Hospital, he paid for a blood transfusion that the medical practitioners had recommended. To me, Joseph is a true lifesaver who helped us in our time of need,” says Baindu.Baindu isn’t the only person in Gbaigibu to be supported by Joseph. He regularly engages people in his community on how to prevent, detect, and respond to diseases—such as malaria, measles, and yellow fever—so they can stay healthy and safe.Fomba Lamin, head of the Woroma Community Health Post, feels Joseph plays an invaluable role in encouraging village members to seek health support.“We thank the CP3 programme, it is improving our referral rate. Community members we refer in the past did not go to Kailahun for obvious reasons: the means of transportation. But with people such as Joseph, who encourage our people to seek health care in Kailahun, we see the reduction of death in our community,” says Fomba.Although malaria is preventable and treatable, the death toll from the disease remains high for children under 5 and pregnant women, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach communities. Key challenges to controlling malaria include a lack of reliable access to health services and prevention supplies, a decrease in global funding for malaria, and a widespread and increasing rise in insecticide resistance in malaria-endemic countries. Recent innovations, such as the approval from WHO of new insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to address insecticide resistance and two new malaria vaccines for children, are positive steps to tackling the disease. Through programmes like CP3, the IFRC is supporting Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide to plan and deliver high-quality malaria prevention activities, such as:Supporting ministries of health and their partners to plan and implement distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets through mass campaigns or continuous distribution channels. Administering preventive treatment to children as part of seasonal malaria chemoprevention campaigns.Promoting individual preventive practices through social and behaviour change activities to encourage people to sleep under a bed net every night of the year, seek prompt and early healthcare in case of fever or malaria-related symptoms, and attend antenatal care for malaria prevention.This story from Sierra Leone is a great example of how National Societies are supporting communities to prevent and seek treatment for malaria, encouraging them to implement practices that will protect them from the disease, and improving their access to health care—even in remote and isolated communities.The IFRC also houses and chairs the Alliance for Malaria Prevention, a global partnership that supports ministries of health and their financial and implementing partners with the planning and implementation of ITN distribution, primarily through mass campaigns. ITNs remain the most effective tool to protect at-risk communities from malaria. --Joseph, the volunteer mentioned in this article, is part of the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3). Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the programme supports communities, National Societies, and other partners in seven countries to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats. If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more:Visit the malaria page on IFRC.orgVisit the Alliance for Malaria Prevention websiteSign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness NewsletterFollow the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society on X, Facebook and LinkedIn

Ani Gevorgyan: Communities and youth should drive the global climate-change agenda

Ani Gevorgyan started wearing the red vest when she was 14 years old and she signed up to bring joy, art and activity into the lives of refugee children. Two years later, the young volunteer for the Armenian Red Cross was organizing “eco-runs” in which people combined physical activity with environmental clean-ups. Now, as an IFRC Climate Champion, she spreads the word about climate action at high-level summits like COP-28, where she says local communities and youth need to be driving the agenda.

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.”

'Even in the darkest moments, women are strong and perseverant.’

As the media officer and spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society, Nebal Farsakh has been the voice of the Palestine Red Crescent during one of its most difficult and darkest times.To television viewers, social media followers and radio listeners around the world, Farsakh’s face, posts and voice have brought the daily — and often deadly — humanitarian challenges facing the people Gaza and her colleagues into stark relief.On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we asked Nebal Farsakh to reflect on the role women are playing in the humanitarian response, as well as her own approach to living as a woman professional during a devestating conflict.“I believe that women are capable of anything, and this is really my approach to life.I am married and have a ten-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter. As a family, we do not have stereotypes about women; my husband helps me with household chores and taking care of the children.And of course, I try to convey this to my children as well, meaning that I teach my son how to behave with his sister, and not to ask her to ‘serve him’. I am keen on having equality between them, and I emphasize that women should defend their full rights, whether the right to education or inheritance or other rights.On the professional side, I am breaking gender stereotypes through my work as the media officer and spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Some may think that women are not strong enough, or unable to work long hours or be available outside of working hours, but I have been working tirelessly since the war on Gaza started five months ago, appearing in the media, spreading news, and trying to be a source of support and a listening ear for my colleagues in Gaza.Shattering stereotypesThe war on Gaza confirmed to me that the volunteers and female employees of the Palestine Red Crescent are a perfect example of women who shatter stereotypes. We have female paramedics who are present in the field, providing first aid and medical support, despite the dangers and difficulties.For example, one paramedic continued her life-saving work despite her husband being detained, and despite all the other challenges, such as providing food and drinking water for her children. She was strong and powerful enough to carry out her humanitarian mission.And our colleague Hidaya Hamad, who was killed while she was in her office at the Palestine Red Crescent Society headquarters. Huda, who was the director of volunteers, was present at the Amal Hospital until the very last moment; she was a source of support and strength for the volunteers and her colleagues until her last breath.Hidaya, and the female employees and volunteers of the Palestine Red Crescent are the best example of women being strong, and capable of breaking gender stereotypes. Even in the darkest moments, women are strong and perseverant, not just men.”

Kate Forbes: ‘I wasn't surprised, but I was still shocked’ — IFRC’s new president takes on today’s toughest humanitarian challenges

Inspired by her mother’s work helping migrant farm workers in the southwestern United States, Kate Forbes grew up understanding how hard people struggle for a better life. Starting as a Red Cross volunteer at her local branch, she now leads the world’s largest network of local humanitarian organizations. As newly elected president of the IFRC, she talks about extraordinary volunteers she’s met around the world who’ve risked everything to help others, and she explains her approach to today’s most complex humanitarian crises, from climate change to migration.

International Volunteer Day: Thank you volunteers for bringing hope and humanity

Jagan Chapagain: From volunteer to leader of the world's largest volunteer network

Jagan Chapagain was 14 years old when he joined the Nepal Red Cross Society as a volunteer. Now as Secretary General of the IFRC, he leads the world’s largest humanitarian volunteer network. In this debut episode, Chapagaintalks abouttoday’s greatest humanitarian challenges and opportunities, and he explains why we need to change the way we think and talk about the critical work of helping others through crisis.He also shares what inspired his own personal humanitarian journey.

World Humanitarian Day 2023

19 August is World Humanitarian Day. As the world’s largest humanitarian network, World Humanitarian Day is an important moment for the IFRC to reflect on the lifesaving, life-changing work of our more than 16 million volunteers and staff. In every corner of the globe, you’ll find a Red Cross or Red Crescent volunteer doing incredible things for their local community. Whether they’re performing first aid or providing emergency medical services to people after disaster strikes. Offering a friendly, listening ear to people struggling with their mental health. Supporting people on the move to access vital humanitarian services along their journeys, so they are not alone. Reuniting families with lost loved ones when separated by conflict or crisis. Setting up early warning systems so communities know when hazards are approaching and how to stay safe. Or cooking hot meals and setting up shelters for people who have lost their homes. They are all dedicated to serving, supporting, and caring for communities. In short: no matter the crisis, no matter how hard the challenge, no matter who needs help, and no matter where they are, our Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarians are there for communities. #NoMatterWhat We give our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of our volunteers and staff for making our world a better, safer and more united place. Because in the face of rising disasters and challenges, the world needs humanitarians more than ever. Get involved Learn more about how you can become a humanitarian by volunteering for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Join in the conversation about World Humanitarian Day on social media by following us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn using the hashtag #NoMatterWhat. Discover the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement that guide our humanitarian work.

Polish Red Cross runs Poland’s largest ever international rescue exercise to prepare for disasters

“One minute is a lot of time.In a rescue, one minute can be decisive,” says Agata Grajek from the Polish Red Cross Medical Rescue Group based in Wrocław. She’s one of 300 rescuers from seven Red Cross Societies in Europe who gathered last month in Malczyce, a small village in south-western Poland, to take part in the largest Red Cross rescue exercise ever held in the country. The exercise took place in an abandoned factory to simulate an urban disaster requiring an urgent and complex search and rescue response. Running for 30 hours non-stop, in both day and nighttime conditions, the gruelling exercise tested Red Cross volunteers and rescue dogs to their limits. Real people, rather than mannequins, posed as citizens injured in a collapsed building to make rescue efforts as realistic as possible. “We mainly practised the skills of searching the area, coordinating search and rescue operations, and evacuating victims from upper floors,” said Marcin Kowalski, head of the Polish Red Cross rescue team. The exercise was the 7th national gathering of the 19 specialized Polish Red Cross rescue groups based across the country. For the first time, they also welcomed fellow rescue teams from Lithuania, Germany, Croatia, Hungary, Spain and Finland to practise working effectively together during a response. “If a humanitarian, construction or natural disaster occurs somewhere, we are always ready to help,” says Pasi Raatikainen, a Finnish Red Cross rescuer who took part in the exercise. Like almost all Red Cross rescuers, Pasi is a volunteer. He leads a four-person rescue team in Helsinki and takes part in exercises – all in his spare time. “In Finland, there aren’t many training sessions dedicated to urban rescues with the use of rope techniques, so the exercise scenarios in Poland were very instructive,” he says. It wasn’t just search and rescue teams who got put to the test, though. 60 recent volunteer recruits from the Polish Red Cross’ Humanitarian Aid Groups initiative also took part in the exercise to practise setting up shelters, distributing aid and providing psychosocial support to people affected. “It warms my heart to see hundreds of people so committed to the idea of ​​the Red Cross.” said Polish Red Cross Director-General, Katarzyna Mikołajczyk. Based on the experience and learnings from the exercise, the seven Red Cross Societies who took part have now developed a cooperation framework so that they can work together more effectively on search and rescue in future whenever disasters strike across Europe. No rescuer or volunteer ever hopes for disaster, or hopes they’ll need to put their training into action. But in a world of increasing and increasingly complex disasters, it’s more important than ever that we take time to practise and prepare – so we can be there for people, whatever the disaster, and as soon as they need us. -- Find out more about how the IFRC prepares for disasters on our disaster preparedness page.

A heart and mind for solving universal problems

In a small town in Slovakia’s southwest, Romy Mikušincová grew up dreaming about discovering the origin of the stars and the universe. It was her curiosity, she says, that made her interested in pursuing a career in science – specifically in astrophysics and theoretical physics. Today, she is living her dream. She studies theoretical physics and astrophysics at the Roma Tre University, where she researches one of the greatest mysteries of astrophysics: black holes. Black holes are created when stars at the end of their life become so dense they collapse in on themselves and even light cannot escape their gravity. Still, there is much to learn. “The study of black holesisn’t a time-limited projectbecause we discovernew informationevery day”, she says.“Currently, I’m working on a simulationof black hole surveillanceforIXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer), a satellite that will be launchedby the end of 2021”. “Giving purpose to my free time” The time and effortrequired of a theoretical physics student is immense. But even thatis not the only thing that keeps Romy busy.Just as her passion for science grew as a teenager, Romy began another journey as a volunteer for theSlovak Red Cross.“Volunteering was interesting mainly because I wanted to help others, and to give purpose to my free time,” she says. These days, that free time is mostly spent ona newprojectthat addresses the needs of young peopleby discussingtopics that arenotoften talked about, but which are key social and humanitarian challenges. “Our main topics arehate-speech, peer pressure,cyberbullying andgender equality,” says Romy, adding that due to Covid-19 restrictions, most of that work today is online. The study of black holes may seem like light years from the everyday world of young people and volunteering. But to Romy, there is a clear connection. After all, the scientific method of asking questions, investigation and solving complex problems can also be very useful in the human sphere. “It’s a great advantage when someone from a science background enters the volunteering circle with the mindset of dealing with problems until they are solved,” she explains. Accomplishing great things This dual path of science and humanitarian concern is not new to Romy. Milan Holota, the director at Romy’s secondary school, said her preference for science-related subjects was clear early on, as was her desire to make the world around her a better place. “Her favourite (subjects) were the natural science classes, and she was exceptional in her extracurriculars,” he said, referring to her after-school work with the Red Cross, where she became one of its most active members. But she did not do all of this on her own. She recalls that the support oftwo women –hermother and her secondary school physics teacher– wereessential to her pursuit of a career in science and research. This kind of support can be essential for young women and girls interested in science. For many, such a pathis blocked by cultural attitudes that steer girls away from male-dominated topics such as mathematics and science. Accordingto theUNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS),there is a clear gender gapin the science field –only 30 per centof the world’s researchers are women.It was even less in Romy’s class at university.At the beginning of her university studies,onlya fourth of the studentswere women. “I thinkit is mainly becausegirls are not encouraged topick careers in naturalscience,” she says.“I want to tell allwomen and girls tobuild strong relationshipswith each other,to stop belittling one anotherand to help one anotherbecause I thinkthat’s how we accomplish truly great things”.

‘If someone told me this story, I wouldn’t believe it’

It’s one of those stories that even those involved find hard to swallow. “I think if someone told me this story, I wouldn’t believe it…but it happened to me,” says Hassan Al Kontar, a 38-year-oldSyrian refugee currently living in British Columbia, Canada For several months in 2018, Al Kontar was known as “the man at the airport” in the news, after he wasstranded at the Kuala Lumpur airport for 7 months. His story began in 2011 when conflict broke out in Syria while he was living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Not wanting to go back to Syria — to face civil war and likely conscription into the army — he stayed in UAE until his visa expired. Ultimately deported to Malaysia, he sought asylum in numerous countries, including Canada. In the meantime, he waited in the airport. And waited. He slept in airport chairs and in a small enclave under an escalator. He made friends with the cleaning staff who brought him food and coffee (the coffee shops were in a part of the airport he couldn’t access). Boredom and incessant boarding announcements were constant companions as the days ticked slowly by.He missed important family events, like his brother’s wedding, which he watched via Skype. Desperate and frustrated, he turned to social media, quickly becoming an internet and media phenomenon. News reports referred to him as a real-life version of Tom Hanks’s character in the film, The Terminal. “It’s the small things — taking a shower, washing your clothes, getting medicine — things you do all the time that suddenly become impossible”, explained Hassan. “I remember day 122. I felt something strange. I could not tell what it was until I discovered that someone had opened a door to the outside. It was the first time in 120 days that I smelled fresh air.” Finally, in November 2018, a private group of Canadians succeeded in sponsoring Hassan’s request for residency and he boarded a plane to British Columbia. Canada was the first country in the world to introduce a private sponsorship programme, which allows five individual Canadians or permanent residents to collectively sponsor a refugee. “Ordinary individuals are directly involved in saving lives,” says Hassan. “If that’s not being a hero, what is?” From limbo to inclusion Hassan’s airport experience was just one example of thelegal limboin which refugees often find themselves: stuck at borders, unable to move forward or back, as they try to make asylum claims and wait for some sign of hope. Today, Hassan’s story is an example of what can happenwhen refugees are given the chanceto make a life for themselves and give back to their new communities. In Hassan’s case, part of giving back means putting on the well-known red vest worn by volunteers and staff of the Canadian Red Cross. Inspired by the work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in Syria and in many other conflict and emergency zones around the world,Hassan decided to help othersas his adopted country coped with a worsening COVID-19 pandemic. “Working with the Red Cross is a dream come true,” he says. “It’s my way of giving back to the community that accepted me and gave me a chance. It’s my way of showing the Canadian people that they were not wrong in giving me a chance.” Afraid of forgetting Still, life is not always easy for a refugee half-way around the world from his family. “It’s my destiny and the destiny of every refugee to live between two worlds,” he says. It’s the little things — the aroma of coffee or fresh rain on a hot street — thatbring back memories of his home in Syria, where his family has a small farm. “I am afraid of forgetting,” says Hassan, as he prepares a Syrian style coffee in his flat in Vancouver. “I have not seen my mother, my siblings, for 12 years. I do not want to lose the connection.” What does it mean to be Syrian? Now Hassan’s mission is tohelp his family and other refugeesfind a similar sense of safety. He works with a group that helps sponsor other refugees and he continues posting on social media to raise awareness about the plight of refugees.He even wrote a bookcalledMan @ The Airport. “I want the western world to understand [Syrian refugees] more,” he says. “To bring the gap closer between our two cultures. What does it mean to be Syrian? To be powerless? To be voiceless?” But Hassan is hopeful. Ironically, he says the restrictions imposed due tothe COVID-19 pandemic has helped many people better understand the plight of refugees. “During the pandemic, when all the borders were closed, people could begin to understand how it has always been for refugees. When all airports were forbidden areas, when all our passports, regardless of the color, were equally useless. This is still is the situation for most refugees in the world today.” -- This story was produced and originally published by the Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine. To learn about the Magazine, and to read more stories like this,click here.