Humanitarian work should never be a death sentence - yet for many it increasingly is

Geneva, 5 May 2026 - As the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) marks the 107th anniversary of its founding on 5 May and prepares for World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day on 8 May, we must confront a stark reality. Humanitarian work has become increasingly deadly, and it is local humanitarian personnel who are paying the heaviest price.Most recently, the conflict in the Middle East has taken an enormous toll on our colleagues. Six volunteers, including four from the Iranian Red Crescent and two from the Lebanese Red Cross, were killed and many more injured while trying to help others.It is the latest example of a deadly trend that is increasingly putting humanitarian personnel – and particularly local humanitarians - in harm’s way.The numbers tell a clear story (IFRC network figures):Thirteen volunteers and staff from National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have lost their lives in the first four months of 2026 while carrying out their humanitarian work. Nine of them were killed in violent attacks and four died in accidents while on duty, while many others have faced attacks, injuries and threats.Four members of the Iranian Red Crescent and two volunteers from the Lebanese Red Cross were killed while carrying out their humanitarian duties since the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East in 2026.From 2023 to today, almost 100 volunteers and staff from the IFRC network have died or been killed while serving their communities. This is part of a broader global trend, with 2024 marking the deadliest year on record for humanitarians worldwide.For context, during the previous five years (2018-2022 inclusive), over 30 volunteers and staff from the IFRC network died in the line of duty - around half of them in violent attacks.Prior to 2018, only one other year was comparable - 2017 – which saw one of the single most deadly attacks against our staff and volunteers, when 10 members of the Central African Republic Red Cross were killed on duty. That same year, a total of 32 volunteers and staff were killed by violence and 5 died in accidents.Since 2023, three National Red Crescent Societies have been particularly hard hit, accounting for more than 70 per cent of deaths in the IFRC network. The Sudanese Red Crescent Society has lost 23 volunteers and staff, the Palestine Red Crescent Society 32, and the Iranian Red Crescent Society 15.Figures for deaths of humanitarian personnel killed while on duty from the IFRC network also show that the proportion of those killed in violent versus non-violent incidents has also increased.In 2023, 65% of volunteers and staff from National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies killed in the line of duty, were killed in violent incidents.In 2024, this figure jumped to 92%.In 2025, the figure was 88%So far in 2026, 69% of the IFRC network’s humanitarian personnel killed in the line of duty have died in violent incidents.Lastly, it is overwhelmingly local humanitarian personnel who are paying the heaviest price. Global data from the Aid Worker Security Database (which tracks the violent deaths of all humanitarian personnel globally), shows that in 2025, of the 332 humanitarians who were killed in violent incidents worldwide, 99 percent were local personnel.The data is clear. This is not a one-off spike caused by a single incident or context, but a dangerous trend that threatens the security of humanitarian workers. It also points to a changing risk environment, with an increasingly complex range of actors involved in violence against humanitarian personnel.Each of these numbers tells a story of acceleration; inequality; consequences for humanitarian operations; lack of accountability.International humanitarian law is clear. Humanitarian personnel, facilities and assets must be respected and protected. The emblems of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal are symbols of protection. Attacks on humanitarian personnel are unacceptable, and they must not be allowed to become normalised.The international community must take concrete steps to respect and protect humanitarian personnel and ensure their safe and unimpeded access. States must use their influence to ensure respect for international humanitarian law.At the same time, more must be done to support the safety and wellbeing of humanitarian workers, particularly local staff and volunteers. This includes investment in training, protective equipment, insurance, and support for them and their families.We call for concrete steps to support measures such as the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, together with our 191 National Societies and 17 million volunteers, stands ready to work with governments, the United Nations, and all partners to turn this Declaration into concrete action for real and lasting protection.It is time this message was heard and acted on. It is time to stop the cycle of violence.For more information or to request an interview, please contact:[email protected] Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 4367 Scott Craig, +41 76 370 3575

IFRC on five Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers killed: 'We are horrified'

Geneva, 28 October 2025 – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is horrified, shocked, and deeply saddened by the killing of five volunteers of the Sudanese Red Crescent (SRC) who were on duty in the city of Bara, North Kordofan, on 27 October. Another three volunteers are still missing.The Sudanese Red Crescent team was on an official mission as part of a food distribution team in the city of Bara. They were clearly identified by wearing Red Crescent vests, which are supposed to provide them with full protection, and carried identification cards issued by the local branch.Any attack on humanitarian teams is unacceptable. We strongly reiterate our call for unwavering respect for the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems and the crucial humanitarian services they represent.The IFRC sends its deepest condolences to the families of those killed and to their friends and colleagues.The Sudanese Red Crescent has lost 21 colleagues on duty since the beginning of the conflict.Since the beginning of 2025, 25 Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers from across the globe have lost their lives while carrying out their humanitarian duties.This is unacceptable.For information, please contact: [email protected] Nairobi: Susan Mbalu, +254 733 827 654In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 43 67

‘I was sure I was going to die’: Magen David Adom emergency responders remember the lives lost as they continue their courageous, life-saving work

On the front lines of humanity: The unwavering dedication of Palestine Red Crescent Society volunteers and staff

Statement: IFRC mourns the loss of Ethiopian RC staff member

The IFRC is deeply saddened by the tragic death ofAto (Mr.) Honelegn Fentahun, a dedicated staff member with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society and stands in solidarity with the Ethiopian Red Cross (ERCS) during this difficult time.Ato Honelegn Fentahun was on duty when he lost his life.On 14 August, a security incident occurred in the Cheneq area of Janamora Woreda, North Gondar Zone, Amhara Region. Three ERCS staff members including Ato Honelegn Fentahun, were abducted by unidentified armed individuals while returning from delivering an ambulance. They were released on 15 August, but upon release, Ato Honelegn Fentahun required immediate medical attention and was transported to hospital, where he tragically passed away shortly after arrival.Today marks World Humanitarian Day, and this heartbreaking loss highlights once again the dangers faced by humanitarian workers who put themselves at risk serving vulnerable communities. Since the beginning of 2025, 18 Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers from across the globe have lost their lives while carrying out their humanitarian duties.Any attack, abduction, or obstruction targeting humanitarian personnel compromises the ability of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to deliver life-saving assistance. The Movement strongly condemns such incidents and calls on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of humanitarian workers, who dedicate their lives to helping those in need.Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Ato Honelegn Fentahun, as well as with our colleagues at the Ethiopian Red Cross Society during this very difficult time.For more information or to request an interview, please contact:[email protected]

The price of humanity: Protecting those who serve

By Kate Forbes, IFRC PresidentWhen I decided to run for the position of IFRC President, I never thought that one of my most painful responsibilities in this role would be writing condolence letters. Yet, over the past years, I have written far too many - to our National Societies, to grieving families, to colleagues mourning the loss of their friends and loved ones.Each letter is written with a heavy heart.Each letter is a reminder of the immense sacrifice borne by those who choose to serve humanity.Nothing prepares you for the message that another of our staff or volunteers has been killed while carrying out humanitarian work.Each time I receive the devastating news of another colleague killed in the line of duty, I am overwhelmed with sorrow and with anger.Sorrow, because every loss is personal. Behind every statistic is a face, a name, a life dedicated to service. They are fathers and mothers, daughters and sons, friends and neighbours. They are people who believed in compassion, who wore our Red Cross and Red Crescent emblem as a promise of humanity. Their absence leaves an unfillable void in their families, in their communities, and in our Red Cross and Red Crescent network.Anger, because this should not be happening. Humanitarian workers are not and must never be a target. Yet they continue to be attacked, abducted, and killed. We issue statement after statement, appeal after appeal, reminding governments and parties to conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law. Still, the violence persists. And still, families are left to grieve in silence while the world moves on too quickly.We must raise our voices louder, together. We must demand accountability where there is impunity. We must continue to insist on the protection and respect that humanitarian law guarantees.We must raise our voices louder, together. We must demand accountability where there is impunity. We must continue to insist on the protection and respect that humanitarian law guarantees.IFRC President Kate ForbesThe weight of this reality is difficult to bear. It is the most difficult part of my role as President and yet, it is also the most urgent reminder of why we must persist. To honour those we have lost, we cannot afford to be silent.Humanitarian workers embody the best of humanity. They enter danger when others flee. They provide medical care under bombardment. They rescue, comfort, and protect with no other agenda than to affirm life and dignity. Their courage is not abstract - it is lived daily in places where compassion is scarce, and fear is abundant.Their deaths are not just tragedies. They are violations of the laws that exist to protect civilians and those who serve them. Violations of the most basic principles of humanity. Violations of the moral fabric that holds us together as a global community.To the families who have lost their loved ones in this noble cause: please know that their sacrifice is not forgotten, and it will never be in vain. They remind us of what it means to be humanitarian, of the cost of compassion, and of the urgency of protecting those who protect othersToday and every day, I stand in solidarity with the families of the fallen, with the countless volunteers and staff who continue their work in danger, and with every person who has ever carried the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblem into situations of risk. Their courage humbles me, their sacrifice compels me, and their memory fuels my determination.We must raise our voices louder, together. We must demand accountability where there is impunity. We must continue to insist on the protection and respect that humanitarian law guarantees. And we must never stop honouring those who, in their final act, showed us the truest meaning of humanity.Today, I bow my head in grief. But I also lift my voice in resolve:Protect humanity. Protect those who protect others.Learn more:Join the call to #ProtectHumanitySupport the families of fallen Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers

'The deaths must stop': IFRC Secretary General speech for World Humanitarian Day 2025

On World Humanitarian Day (August 19, 2025) I had the solemn duty of reflecting on the rising attacks against our staff and volunteers, and calling for stronger protection of humanitarian workers. The event was hosted by the IFRC with the support of the Australian mission in Geneva.At the IFRC, we’re proud to support the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel – an Australian Government initiative which will set out practical and actionable steps to protect humanitarian workers. I was delighted to hear that the Declaration is nearing finalization. States will be invited to commit to driving real, practical action to protect humanitarian workers very soon.Below is the is the speech I gave during the event:"Until four days ago, Honelegn Fentahun was one of our best. Dedicated to the collective mission of the Red Cross, Red Crescent family. Honoring our Fundamental Principles. Local to his community. Committed to it. He was part of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society's North Gondar team.But, on 14 August, as Honelegn and two colleagues were returning from delivering an ambulance to Janamora district – their vehicle was intercepted, and they were kidnapped by armed men. The three were released the next day, without their vehicle. But Honelegn’s health had been gravely affected. He died on August 15.Awful. And – tragically – just the latest.This year our National Societies have lost EIGHTEEN people while on duty. Honelegn’s death is not an exception — it is part of a worrying trend.Take another – more horrific still. Rifatt Radwan was 23-years-old; a volunteer with the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS). A dedicated humanitarian, serving his community.With whatever he could earn, he supported his ill father and dreamt of continuing his studies. But before he could fulfill those dreams, Rifat was killed on duty alongside SEVEN fellow PRCS ambulance staff, in Tel-Al-Sultan, Rafah. Their bodies were found buried in the sand, still wearing their red vests.Rifat and Honelegn’s stories are among many. Far too many.In 2025 alone, the PRCS has lost 9 colleagues on duty. Since October 7, 2023, 31 colleagues from the PRCS have died. Magen David Adom – our National Society in Israel - has lost 6 colleagues since the same date.In 2024 overall, 32 volunteers and staff of National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies lost their lives. And I repeat - already 18 colleagues from our members have been killed on duty this year. All local. All working to save lives in their communities.I’ve visited lots of National Societies this year, from Syria to Somalia, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Lesotho - and one thing keeps standing out. While, with funding cuts particularly, many international organizations are leaving, National Red Crescent and Red Cross staff and volunteers remain. They are often the only ones on the ground.They do the work so necessary and yet so often overlooked. It’s vital. We must protect it. We must protect THEM. In the last few years, our volunteers have become targets. The Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems on their vests and helmets – which should be shields – are ignored.That’s why we back – 100 per cent - the forthcoming Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel to protect humanitarian workers. This declaration is a big step forward in protecting those who protect others . . . particularly LOCAL workers, committed to the communities in which they live and work. And I applaud the leadership of Australia in this regard.At the IFRC, we do not start and stop at condolences. We stand up to protect those we can. This is the work we've been doing for some time. This year, and especially today, we are pushing for our #ProtectHumanity exhibit with the names and photos of colleagues lost in the course of their work.We must and do mourn but today is also about looking forward - committing to action that puts an end to violence against humanitarian workers. So, here’s what we are doing.First: supporting families. Last year at our General Assembly we launched the 'Red Family Fund’ to support families of those killed on duty. The fund is a sign of solidarity, to show families they are not alone. We welcome the efforts of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to promote the Red Family Fund as part of their World Humanitarian Day campaign. If you’d like to contribute anything – big or small – donations can be made through this link.Second, we must raise awareness. We want the world to know the names and if possible, the stories of those we have lost. That’s why I started with two today. We urge people to use their voices to say humanitarians are NOT a target, to raise awareness in their own networks and communities . . . and to urge leaders to uphold their obligations under international law.Finally, we must seek action. And that is why the Declaration that Clare mentioned, and we’re committed to, is so vital.As part of its ongoing commitment, the IFRC is collecting messages of solidarity and condolences in two dedicated books: one for the families and colleagues of those who have died, and another to express support, empathy, and unity with staff and volunteers. These messages will be shared on International Volunteer Day, December 5, as a gesture of appreciation for the extraordinary dedication of humanitarian workers worldwide.The protection of those who are the frontlines of crises is not optional – it is essential. Their work is vital, yet their safety increasingly fragile. The international community must act decisively and ensure that humanitarian workers are never again treated as targets. The deaths must – I repeat MUST – stop."

'A grave betrayal of humanity': Abhorrent attacks on aid workers must stop

Geneva (IFRC/ICRC)— In 2025 alone, 18 staff and volunteers of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement were killed while carrying out their lifesaving work in Gaza, in Sudan, in South Sudan, in Iran, in Ethiopia and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Many others have been killed off duty – in their homes, with their families or simply going about daily life. Others have been injured, arbitrarily detained or kidnapped.Deliberately targeting humanitarian organisations through false and harmful information adds to the threats faced by aid workers, notably by portraying them as legitimate targets.Despite these risks, our colleagues continue to show up not because they are fearless, but because the suffering is too urgent to ignore. Yet, courage is not protection, and dedication does not deflect bullets.The Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, which seeks to unite states in reversing this tragic trend, is a critical step and must translate into tangible action on the ground.The rules of war are clear: humanitarian personnel must be respected and protected. Every attack is a grave betrayal of humanity, and the rules designed to protect them and the communities they serve. Each killing sends a dangerous message that their lives were expendable. They were not.We call on all states, parties to conflict and global leaders to take immediate concrete steps to protect those who risk everything to save lives. When humanitarian workers are protected, so is our shared humanity.

World Humanitarian Day: An urgent call to honor, respect and protect those who #ActForHumanity

On a conflict-torn night in Tehran, Morteza Zakeri, head of a relief and rescue team, was dispatched to a residential building struck by airstrikes. He arrived to find devastation – collapsed homes, shattered glass, and streets filled with terrified women and children.“There was no time to pause,” he says. “We began clearing debris immediately. The screams of trapped families pushed us to move faster, despite the constant risk of further collapse.”Yet in the middle of fear and rubble, Zakeri found pride in the courage of his team. “It’s not just duty anymore,” he says. “It’s love. We stand by our people until the very end.”On World Humanitarian Day 2025 (19 August), we unite with humanitarians around the world under the banner #ActForHumanity to honour the courage of people like Morteza who rush toward danger to save lives - often at great personal risk.We also join with others in pledging to further heighten our resolve to ensure humanitarian workers and emergency responders are respected and protected as they carry out their life-saving duties.This year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), the lead sponsor of World Humanitarian Day, is directing its fund-raising efforts for the day to the Red Family Fund, which provides support to the families of Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian workers who die in the line of duty.Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 50 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and workers have been killed in the line of duty. 18 of those deaths occurred in 2025. Each one of them stood under the protective emblems of the Red Cross, Red Crescent, or Red Crystal – which under international humanitarian law means they must be respected, protected and never become a target.This includes five people from the Iranian Red Crescent Society, whose volunteers and staff responded with extraordinary bravery during a deadly escalation of violence in June 2025.Some of them made the ultimate sacrifice. Others survived, but carry with them the scars, stories, and spirit of what it means to be a humanitarian. In this story, we pay tribute to both: those who gave their lives while helping others, and to those who continue, against all odds, to serve with love, resilience, and act with unwavering humanity.Nima Ahmadi: A lens and a lifelineFor nearly two decades, Nima Ahmadi has served with the Iranian Red Crescent, both as a rescuer and a storyteller. During the 12-day conflict, he embodied both roles.When explosions shook his neighborhood on the first night, Nima rushed to the scene in his own car, first - aid kit in hand. He treated the injured before other responders arrived - and documented the devastation through his camera lens.“I put on my relief uniform and went to the explosion site,”he recalls. “I drove my own car to the location. People had already crowded into the area. I entered the scene as a relief worker. No one had arrived yet to aid; I had my aid kit with me, and I provided first aid to injured people. When emergency services and other rescue agencies arrived, I continued providing support. Alongside the relief work, I was also documenting the scene with photography.”In another neighborhood, he found three children lying in the street, covered in dust. “I was alone. I aided them, then moved on to another area. I didn’t stop - neither providing aid nor reporting and photographing.”Kianoush Fallahi: When a mission turns into mourningKianoush Fallahi, a search and rescue dog trainer, was responding alongside his dog Zhiro in western Tehran. As they began operations, a second wave of airstrikes hit the area.“A powerful explosion rocked the area; Zhiro was shaken by the shockwave. I quickly moved him to safety and tried to continue the operation on my own - but the strikes kept coming. Every time we approached, another blast would follow.”But the cost of service soon became personal. As he approached an Iranian Red Crescent ambulance to greet fellow responders, a strike hit.“As I was leaving the Doukhouheh area, my colleague Mojtaba Maleki and another colleague were standing near an ambulance parked along the highway. I walked over to greet them, but seconds later, that same ambulance was struck.“I was thrown by the blast. When I got up, I couldn’t find my colleague Mojtaba. Someone told me he had been killed. I just stood there and wept.”Honouring the fallen: A call to protect those who protect othersThe death of Mojtaba Maleki was not an isolated tragedy. He was one of five Iranian Red Crescent staff and volunteers who lost their lives during the recent escalation of violence - each of them killed while fulfilling their humanitarian duty to protect and save others.On 13 June, Mehdi Zartaji Saray, a staff member of the IRCS rescue team, was killed in East Azerbaijan province while responding to wounded civilians.On 14 June, Yaser Zivari, a volunteer firefighter and rescuer, was seriously injured while providing humanitarian assistance in Hamedan. He succumbed to his injuries eight days later.On 16 June, during a rescue operation in northwest Tehran, an ambulance was struck in an airstrike, killing Mojtaba Maleki and his colleague Amir Hassan Jamshidpour- both dedicated IRCS volunteers.On 22 June, Seyyed Ali Akbar Mir Mohammadi, a volunteer offering humanitarian aid in Isfahan, was killed during an attack.These five lives - cut short while helping others - represent the deepest cost of humanitarian service. They were not carrying weapons. They carried stretchers, medical kits and hope.On World Humanitarian Day 2025, we remember these five brave people, and countless others across the world, who gave their lives in service to humanity. We hopestand with us to protect humanity; our call is urgent and clear:Protect humanitarian workers.Respect humanitarian emblems.No one should ever die while saving lives.Learn how you can support those who #ActForHumanity:Stand with us to protect humanityHonor the fallen: visit the IFRC In Memoriam pageSupport the Red Family FundMake a donation to the Red Family Fund

IFRC condemns attack on Palestine Red Crescent headquarters in Khan Younis and killing of staff member

Beirut, Geneva, 3 August 2025: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) condemns the attack on the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) headquarters in Khan Younis, which resulted in the killing of PRCS staff member Omar Isleem, and injuries to two additional staff members and one civilian who was trying to help extinguish the fire that broke out at the site.The facility, clearly marked with the Red Crescent emblem, protected under universally agreed rules of international humanitarian law, was reportedly struck multiple times, with the second and ground floors hit while PRCS teams were evacuating the premises and working to contain a fire.A total of 51 PRCS staff and volunteers have lost their lives during this conflict. Of these, 31 — including 29 in Gaza and two in the West Bank — were killed while on duty, wearing the Red Crescent emblem that should have guaranteed their protection under international humanitarian law.We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Omar Isleem, his colleagues, and the entire PRCS team.IFRC President Kate Forbes said: "I am outraged and devastated by the horrific news from Gaza. I offer my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Omar Isleem. My thoughts are also with those who have been injured and with all the staff and volunteers of PRCS.”IFRC Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain, said: "I am horrified and appalled by news of this attack. I cannot stress enough that humanitarian workers and facilities must be protected. It's a moral and legal imperative."For almost two years, the PRCS has been providing ambulance services and critical healthcare under relentless and extremely dangerous conditions in Gaza, caring for the many wounded amidst continuous hostilities. With the healthcare system on the brink of collapse and medical resources nearly depleted, PRCS teams remain a lifeline for civilians in desperate need of life-saving support. Any attack on their facilities or personnel is an attack on humanitarian assistance itself.This incident is a stark reminder of the dire and unacceptable conditions facing humanitarian workers and civilians in Gaza.We stand in full solidarity with the Palestine Red Crescent Society.We reiterate our calls:Civilians must be protected.Humanitarians must be protected.The Red Crescent emblem must be respected and protected.There are no excuses.For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Beirut:Mey Al Sayegh: +961 761 744 68 Joanna Daou: +961 71 802 779In Geneva:Scott Craig, +41 76 370 3575

IFRC Secretary General in new op-ed: ‘Our aid workers were brutally killed and thrown into a mass grave. This must never happen again’

The following op-ed article by IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain was first published by the UK Guardian on 5 April, 2025.Which was most horrific? The agonising week-long wait – silence after our colleagues went missing, as we suspected the worst but hoped for something different? Or the confirmation, seven days later, that bodies had been found? Or, since, the ghastly details of how they were found, and killed?Their ambulances were crushed and partly buried. Nearby were their bodies – also buried, en masse, in the sand. Our dead colleagues were still wearing their Red Crescent vests. In life, those uniforms signalled their status as humanitarian workers; they should have protected them. Instead, in death, those red vests became their shrouds.Ambulance officers Mostafa Khufaga, Saleh Muamer and Ezzedine Shaath, and first responder volunteers Mohammad Bahloul, Mohammed Al-Heila, Ashraf Abu Labda, Raed Al-Sharif and Rifatt Radwan were good people. Alongside fellow Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance officer Asaad Al-Nasasra – who is still missing – and medical and humanitarian workers from other organisations, they were in emergency vehicles, rushing in to do what they do.Post-ceasefire Gaza is dangerous, of course. But these men were not cavalier. They believed their Red Crescent-marked vehicles would make it clear who was inside and their purpose. They believed international humanitarian law meant something; that healthcare workers would be protected. They assumed that meant they would not be a target. But they were wrong. Tragically, horrifically wrong.So I’m writing with a plea. Make that assumption right again. Those deaths in Gaza – while especially awful – were part of a growing trend. More and more humanitarian aid workers are being killed around the world. The trend must be reversed.As the secretary general of a worldwide humanitarian federation, a network of 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies with more than 16 million staff and volunteers, I’m well used to trauma. Helping people prepare for crisis and then dealing with it when it hits is what our people do. Right now, thousands of colleagues from the Myanmar Red Cross are helping people with their immediate post-earthquake needs. In Russia and Ukraine our members are helping people affected on both sides of the conflict.Our teams can help people deal with trauma. But they should not be subjected to it because of what they do. International humanitarian law requires that. Health and humanitarian aid workers must be protected. They wear emblems for a reason. Yet according to the Aid Worker Security Database, they are being killed in growing numbers. In 2023, that number was 280.Our network lost 18 that year on duty – including six from our national society in Israel, Magen David Adom, on that awful day in October. Last year, a record 382 humanitarians are known to have been killed. Of those, 32 were members of our Red Cross or Red Crescent societies, including 18 from the Palestine Red Crescent Society. A further eight were killed while working in Sudan. This year is looking even worse.We cannot allow these deaths – any of these attacks – to become normalised. We must reject any narrative that they are inevitable, or part of the risk of the job. I’m grateful for the political, media and online outrage over the deaths of our workers last month. I share it. But we must all go further.First, we must see the same when any humanitarian is killed, wherever and whenever. Too often when a worker is local to the community they serve, there is far less attention than when an “international” worker dies.Second, we must demand that governments change their behaviour and that of those who answer to them. Whatever the circumstances, states have a legal responsibility to protect all civilians, including humanitarian workers. There must be tangible consequences for those who commit the atrocity of killing – through malice or recklessness – humanitarians trying to help.Third, other governments have a duty to put diplomatic and political pressure on their peers.This week, leaders of the Palestine Red Crescent Society have travelled from the West Bank to New York to brief the UN security council and demand more protection for humanitarian workers. In Geneva, I have made “protect humanity” central to my engagement with governments, publicly and privately.But at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) we tread a fine line. Neutrality and impartiality are at our core – constitutional, fundamental principles of our organisation. Straying from them could impede our work. Our job is to manage consequences, not point fingers at causes. Even in circumstances as horrific as those of last month, or 18 months ago in Israel, neither I nor my organisation assign blame towards people, groups, institutions or governments. You’ll notice I don’t in this article, even as others on this website and elsewhere do exactly that.Why? Because we believe in sticking to our principles just as we demand others stick to laws, especially international humanitarian law. We hope our commitments to neutrality and impartiality mean our voice carries even more weight when we demand justice.And demand justice we do. In Gaza, independent investigators must be allowed access and given full details of what happened two Sundays ago, however uncomfortable for those who have them. There must be respect for those who died through consequences for those who killed them. Impunity in any place breeds impunity in every place. That can never stand.Last week the IFRC’s president and I sent letters of condolence to the families of three of our network’s members in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Syria. We mourned their loss and, through an EU-supported Red Family Fund that we wish we didn’t need, offered token financial contributions. Similar letters will be sent soon to grieving families in Gaza.But letters of condolence, of course, are far too little, far too late. What will make a difference is if the tide of disrespect for international humanitarian law is turned.I am outraged. But I’m also tired of being outraged. Humanitarian aid workers must be protected. For the sake, quite simply, of humanity.

With too many wars raging and tensions rising, we must uphold international humanitarian law and the vision of a mine-free world

Geneva, 04 april 2025: Joint statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden National Red Cross SocietiesRecent announcements by several states in northern and central Europe on their decision to withdraw from the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention mark a dangerous setback for the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Citing a deteriorating security situation and military threats, these decisions come at a time of rising international tensions and armed conflicts, which have already claimed tens of thousands of lives.History is clear and the indiscriminate effects of these weapons cannot be glossed over. Even when initially placed on frontlines, they inevitably kill and maim the very people they were meant to protect before they are eventually cleared at astronomical costs.The Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention comprehensively prohibits anti-personnel mines and provides vital protections for civilians in both armed conflict and post-conflict situations. States withdrawing from such treatiesrisk eroding life-saving protectionsandthreaten decades of global efforts to eradicate these inhumane weapons. This is a step backward withdevastating humanitarian consequences, exposing civilians to a lasting risk of death and injury.International humanitarian law, including this convention, exists to protect people in the darkest times, based on the experience from war’s battlefields and their human costs. To adopt these rules in times of peace and to abandon them in times of war or increased tensions is to misunderstand their meaning entirely. To abandon them because the adversary does not respect them leads to a dangerous downward spiral, of which civilians will pay the price.Their limited military utility has not changed since the Convention was adopted in 1997: whatever it may be, states agreed to ban these weapons, because some weapons are simply not acceptable.Honouring humanitarian commitments is vital for protecting people caught up in armed conflict and serves the interest of all, regardless of the actions of others. Now is the time to uphold – not weaken – humanitarian norms.In times of great uncertainty and acute international tensions,we call on states to reinforce the stigma againstweapons whose human cost is unacceptable. Over 80% of the world’s states are committed to a mine-free world, and this is the vision we must and will continue to work towards.For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Budapest:Corrie Butler, +36 70 430 6506

IFRC condemns the killing of eight Palestine Red Crescent medics in Gaza

Geneva, 30 March 2025: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is outraged at the deaths of eight medics from Palestine Red Crescent Society, killed on duty in Gaza.An emergency medical team of nine disappeared along with their ambulances when they came under heavy fire in Al-Hashashin on 23 March. After seven days of silence and having access denied to the area of Rafah where they were last seen, the bodies of ambulance officers Mostafa Khufaga, Saleh Muamer and Ezzedine Shaath and first responder volunteers Mohammad Bahloul, Mohammed Al-Heila, Ashraf Abu Labda, Raed Al Sharif and Rifatt Radwan were retrieved today (30 March). Ambulance officer Assad Al-Nassasra is still missing.IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said: “I am heartbroken. These dedicated ambulance workers were responding to wounded people. They were humanitarians. They wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked. They should have returned to their families; they did not.”“Even in the most complex conflict zones, there are rules. These rules of International Humanitarian Law could not be clearer – civilians must be protected; humanitarians must be protected. Health services must be protected.“Our network is in mourning, but this is not enough. Instead of another call on all parties to protect and respect humanitarians and civilians, I pose a question: ‘When will this stop? All parties must stop the killing, and all humanitarians must be protected.’”This devastating incident represents the single most deadly attack on Red Cross Red Crescent workers anywhere in the world since 2017.Chapagain added: “The number of Palestine Red Crescent volunteers and staff killed since the start of this conflict is now 30. We stand with Palestine Red Crescent and the loved ones of those killed on this darkest of days.”For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Beirut:Mey Al Sayegh: +961 761 744 68 In London:Nichola Jones: +44 771 545 99 56 In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67 

Statement: The IFRC calls for access and information on the fate of nine missing Palestine Red Crescent medics

Geneva, 29 March 2025: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is standing with the Palestine Red Crescent and calling for urgent access and information following seven days of silence on the fate of nine medics in Gaza.The IFRC is gravely concerned for the ambulance crews of the Palestine Red Crescentwho came under heavy gunfire while responding in the early hours of 23 March in the Al-Hashashin area of Rafah. Since then, there has been no communication with the teams.International Humanitarian Law is clear that humanitarian and healthcare workers must be protected and respected.It is vital that there is information and access to ensure the safe return of these humanitarians to their families who are living in a nightmare without knowing if their loved ones are alive.For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Beirut:Mey Al Sayegh: +961 761 744 68 In London:Nichola Jones: +44 771 545 99 56 In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67 

Speaking up for people caught in crisis: Unpacking ‘humanitarian diplomacy’ with IFRC’s Dylan Winder

Most people have some idea of what is meant by diplomacy. But what is ‘humanitarian diplomacy?’ Dylan Winder, permanent observer to the United Nations and director of global humanitarian diplomacy at the IFRC, says it’s about speaking up and finding solutions for people caught in crisis, who find themselves in vulnerable situations but don’t have a voice in the halls of power. These days, it also means standing up for local people who try to help their vulnerable neighbours. “By far the majority of humanitarian workers killed or injured in crisis situations are local workers,” he says. “That has to change and be recognized as a critical issue for the global community.”

Statement: Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territory: After a year of suffering, humanity must prevail

"The world remains on edge.Hostages must come home. Bombs must stop falling. Aid must be allowed to get to where it’s needed most.7 October marks one year since the horrific attacks that led to a major escalation of armed hostilities in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. The urgent need for peace and stability has never been clearer. However, political and diplomatic efforts have yet to achieve this.Humanitarian assistance cannot replace political will.Twelve months later, the situation is still dire and its impact is spreading. Millions of people are desperate for humanitarian assistance. In the last two weeks, we’ve seen an alarming escalation of hostilities in Lebanon too.Everywhere, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have responded immediately, mobilising ambulances and volunteers to provide medical care, assist the injured, and deliver essential humanitarian aid to the people affected.Despite the exceptionally dangerous conditions and continuous barriers to access, our teams have remained resolute in their commitment to helping people in need.Tragically, many have paid the ultimate price in their service to humanity: 27 staff and volunteers have been killed on duty during this crisis, six from Magen David Adom in Israel and 21 from the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Gaza and the West Bank.Today, we honour their memory and express our solidarity with all victims of the conflict.We mourn these tragic losses, and we remain deeply concerned that this conflict continues to escalate, causing more humanitarian suffering throughout the region.Humanitarians and civilians must be respected and protected.Hostages must come home.Bombs must stop falling.Humanity must prevail."The above statement can be attributed to the IFRC President, Kate Forbes, and the IFRC Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain.Our calls:The IFRC takes no side other than the side of humanity. We reiterate our calls on all parties to:Protect civilians, humanitarians, and healthcare workers and facilities.The Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems must be respected and protected, and all parties must ensure the safety of those providing humanitarian aid.Ensure safe and unhindered access for aid and essential services,everywhere in the Gaza Strip.Open all available border crossings to ensure a continuous and expanded flow of humanitarian aid, including medical supplies and food, and fuel into Gaza, especially through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings.Immediately and unconditionally release all hostages.For more information or to request an interview, please contact:[email protected] Beirut:Mey El Sayegh, +961 03 229 352In Budapest:Nora Peter, +36 70 953 7709In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 4367Andrew Thomas, +41 76 367 6587

World Humanitarian Day 2024: The time is now to #ActforHumanity and #ProtectHumanity

It’s only natural that when we hear of danger — an outbreak of infectious disease, rising flood waters, a fast-moving fire or of people being injured by violence – that we instinctively want to go the other way.But there is also a natural human instinct to want to help and, if necessary, move toward the impending danger to see what we can do.Today, on World Humanitarian Day (19 August, 2024) we honor those around the world who #ActforHumanity every day by facing any number of dangers in order to bring life-saving first-aid, medical attention or other forms help to people impacted by the crisis.We also demand, via the IFRC's #ProtectHumanity campaign launched today, that all humanitarian volunteers and workers are fully protected from harm or violence as they carry out their life-saving work.Ordinary herosThese volunteers and humanitarian workers are not super-heroes. They are ordinary people, bolstered by their compulsion to help others, and equipped with the training and experience on how to respond during emergencies.These volunteers are not without fear, however. They have been trained to handle difficult situations and protect themselves as best as possible but that training cannot fully protect them if they are not given the full respect, access and support they deserve as they work urgently to save lives.They are people likeHélène Mula, a volunteer with the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who brings life-saving information to communities now confronted with a deadly emerging mpox outbreak.“At first I was scared about going into communities to talk about mpox and the risks,”she says. “Because I know it can spread from person to person. But it’s okay to be scared. I am a volunteer, I have no choice but to go and try to save lives.”Or it’s people like Dil Mohammed, aged 46, one of roughly 3,300 Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers who serve as the bedrock of community readiness and emergency response within the Cox’s Bazar settlements for displaced people in Bangladesh.Dil is one of the many unsung heroes of disaster preparedness and response in a place where cyclones pose a perpetual threat. "People know we will be there for them if they need us during any disaster," he says.For Hamasseo Borotia of the Cameroon Red Cross it’s about helping people in local communities avoid the dangers of deadly infectious diseases such as cholera. "I'm happy to help protect my community from contagious diseases,”says Hamasseo. “Seeing that the information I pass on is put into practice and that the community is better off fills me with pride.”Others face daily, life-treatening dangers while working in active combat zones. And they know what it's like to lose colleagues who are killed as they try to help others.Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance driver Jihad Mansour is reminded of that loss every time he opens the door of his locker at his local branch office. On that locker door, he has posted a photo of his close friend and colleague Fadi Al-Maani, killed earlier this year while on duty.“Every time I open the closet, memories of my dear friend and colleague Fadi Al-Maani come back to me,” he says, recalling other colleagues lost while on duty. “We enjoyed a lot of beautiful days and years together and losing them deeply affected us, leaving us emotionally drained. But we will continue our humanitarian mission until the very end.”Mohammed Alburai also understands that loss. And like Mansour, his passion to help his fellow human beings continues unabated. Alburai was a volunteer ambulance crew member for the Palestine Red Crescent before he and his family moved to Slovenia due to insecurity in Gaza.“Sometimes as a volunteer, you go out to do your job and you don't know if you will meet your family again or not, you don't know if you will get back home or not,”he recalls. “But the volunteers never stop helping others … They are the heroes for humanity at this time.”Now Alburai works as a Red Cross volunteer in Slovenia where he helps fellow refugees cope in their new surroundings.Time to #ActforHumanity and#ProtectHumanity All these volunteers are an example of the many different ways humanitarian volunteers and workers are making a difference and saving lives despite the multiple dangers they themselves face. Today on World Humanitarian Day, we honor such volunteers and we demand they get the support, protection and respect they deserve.Sadly, the world is now failing humanitarian workers and the people they serve. This year alone, 28 Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian volunteers have been killed in the line of duty — killed while simply trying to save the lives of others.This is why today we launch theProtect Humanity Campaign, which demands safety and protection for humanitarian workers and highlights the alarming number of our volunteers and staff who have been killed while performing their duties since the beginning of the year.In a joint statement announcing the campaign, IFRC President, Kate Forbes, and the IFRC Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain, said:“This period has seen some of the highest levels of global violence against our volunteers and staff. Even one life lost is far too many. We have reached a tipping point where we must demand the safety and protection of our workers."The IFRC asks you to join this campaign, launched during a 'Stand in Solidarity' event at IFRC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on World Humanitarian Day. This solidarity is critical because, as Mohammed Alburai knows well, volunteers will continue to work on behalf of humanity despite the dangers. And they need us standing behind them.“We will not stop what we do as Red Cross Red Crescent Movement,”he says. “We are neutral and we support all humans. But we need this to change. If we still continue acting like this, what kind of future we will be building for the future?”

IFRC on three Palestine Red Crescent members killed: 'Unacceptable'.

Geneva, 02 February 2024:The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is shocked and deeply saddened by the killing of three members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in the Gaza Strip - one staff member and one volunteer on 31 January 2024 and one staff member on 2 February 2024.In the first incident, two colleagues, Naeem Hasan Al-Jabali and Khalid Kulab, were both near the gate of the PRCS Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis when they were killed. Today, Hedaya Hamad was killed at the PRCS headquarters, which is in the same compound as the Al-Amal hospital.These deaths came after several days of shelling and fighting around the hospital which hindered access to the premises and created panic and distress among patients and thousands of displaced people.The IFRC sends its deepest condolences to the families of those killed and to their friends and colleagues at the Palestine Red Crescent Society.Under International Humanitarian Law, hospitals, ambulances, healthcare workers, and their patients must be respected and protected in every situation.Any attack on healthcare workers, ambulances, and medical facilities is unacceptable.We strongly reiterate our call for unwavering respect for the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems and the crucial humanitarian services they represent.The IFRC stands with the PRCS, urging protection for all medical facilities and workers. We commend the dedication of PRCS volunteers and paramedics, many of whom have lost family members or been affected yet continue to respond.Since the beginning of the conflict, the IFRC network has lost 14 members. Eleven PRCS staff and volunteers have been killed, and three from Israel’s Magen David Adom. This is unacceptable.For more information or to request an interview, contact:[email protected] Beirut:Mey Al Sayegh: +961 761 74468In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa +41797084367Mrinalini Santhanam +41 76 381 5006Andrew Thomas +41 76 367 6587

Statement: IFRC condemns killing of Ethiopian Red Cross ambulance driver

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is devastated to confirm the killing of an on-duty Ethiopian Red Cross staff member in the northern Tigray region of the country. Woldu Aregawi Berha – an ambulance driver – was shot while in a vehicle clearly marked with the Red Cross emblem. He was severely injured and died before reaching hospital. The IFRC condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the killing. Healthcare workers must be respected and protected in every situation. The IFRC sends its deepest condolences to the man’s family and to his colleagues in the Ethiopian Red Cross. Since the start of the year, seven members of the IFRC network teams lost their lives while carrying out their life-saving humanitarian work. This is unacceptable. They are #NotATarget.

Statement: The IFRC condemns the killing of four members of Palestine Red Crescent Society in Gaza 

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the killing of four dedicated ambulance team members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the two patients they were transporting. They were killed when the ambulance was hit on the 10th of January 2024. Youssef Abu Muammar was the ambulance’s driver. Fadi Fouad Al-Maani was a paramedic. Islam Abu Riyala was a first responder, while Fouad Abu Khamash was a volunteer. All were killed while on duty, in a vehicle clearly marked with the protective Red Crescent emblem. These deaths are shocking and completely unacceptable. Under International Humanitarian Law, ambulances, healthcare workers and their patients must be respected and protected. Tragically Youssef, Islam, Fadi and Fouad bring to eight the number of PRCS staff and volunteers killed on duty in Gaza since October. We send our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and all those in the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Healthcare facilities and healthcare workers must be protected and respected in every situation. Any attack onhealth care workers, ambulances, and medical facilities is unacceptable. We forcefully reiterate our call for unwavering respect for the Red Crescent emblem and the crucial humanitarian services it represents. More information, [email protected] In Beirut: Mey Alsayegh: +961 3 229 352 In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67 Mrinalini Santhanam: +41 76 381 50 06 Andrew Thomas: +41 76 367 65 87

Statement: IFRC condemns the attacks on Al-Amal Hospital and urges increased respect for the protective Red Crescent emblem

Geneva/Beirut, 5 January 2024 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is appalled by the continuous shelling of the Al-Amal Hospital and the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) headquarters in Khan Yunis. These strikes have led to the loss of innocent civilian lives, including a five-day old infant, and displaced thousands who were taking shelter at the hospital. One of our colleagues, a volunteer from the PRCS emergency medical services was injured in the strike, which is in addition to the 26 who have been injured since the beginning of the escalation of hostilities and the four colleagues who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty. After the north of Gaza health services were largely destroyed, the health care system in the southern part of the Gaza Strip is on the brink of collapse. Most hospitals in the north, including PRCS's Al-Quds hospital, have ceased operations due to fuel shortages, lack of medicines, medical equipment, and safe access. Al-Amal Hospital, one of the few still functioning in the south, is duly marked by the Red Crescent emblem. The Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems, symbolize neutral and independent humanitarian assistance at all times, and guarantee protection in times of conflict and disaster around the world. Continuous shelling, coupled with a dire shortage of fuel and supplies, has pushed the health facility to its limits. The continuous bombardments have disrupted PRCS ambulances and paramedics, hindering vital medical aid and basic lifesaving emergency care. Access to medical care is a basic right, and blocking these services is unacceptable. The IFRC stands with the PRCS, urging protection for all medical facilities and workers. We commend the bravery of PRCS volunteers and paramedics, many of whom have lost family members or been detained, yet continue to respond selflessly. We call on all parties to uphold their obligations under International Humanitarian Law. That means the protection of civilians, healthcare workers, and facilities. We call for rapid and unimpeded passage for humanitarian aid, and safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers. In any conflict or crisis, access to health care is a question of life or death. People in Gaza have suffered enough, and healthcare is one of the last remaining beacons of hope. It’s a humanitarian and moral imperative to ensure the people of Gaza can access health care during this period of intense conflict. More information, contact [email protected] In Beirut: Mey Alsayegh: +961 3 229 352 In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67 Mrinalini Santhanam: +41 76 381 50 06

Statement by the IFRC at the Follow-up to the International Humanitarian Conference for the Civilian Population of Gaza

Excellencies, The human suffering in Gaza is a permanent stain on our shared humanity. A month since we last met, we face a collective moral failure to forge political and peaceful solutions to end this conflict, release all hostages, protect civilians and civilian infrastructures. On the ground, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza and the Egyptian Red Crescent across the border work tirelessly to save lives and provide medical aid, food, and relief. The Egyptian Red Crescent has delivered nearly 3000 trucks of medical, food and relief supplies into Gaza while the Palestinian Red Crescent Society continues to provide emergency health services and coordinate the receipt and delivery of aid. They are operating under constant severe restrictions and life-threatening danger. As we sadly know, the Palestine Red Crescent Society just lost another volunteer this week and a staff member was injured. The IFRC is supporting these efforts. In partnership with ECHO, we have delivered 890 tons of supplies through our humanitarian air bridge for Gaza. Let’s be unequivocal--no amount of humanitarian assistance or funding alone will stop the destruction of Gaza and its people without protection and a political solution. In this darkest hour, we call on you to turn these urgent asks into powerful actions: De-escalation - Prioritize concrete solutions to stop the bloodshed and establish lasting peace. This will allow scaling up of aid efforts so that hospitals, ambulances, water facilities, and waste management can function. Protection- Ensure neutral, independent humanitarian action with full respect of international humanitarian law. Protect civilians and healthcare workers. Access - Grant unhindered and safe access to reach all parts of Gaza. Thank you.

Statement by the IFRC Secretary General at France’s International Humanitarian Conference on the Civilian Population in Gaza

Excellencies, No words adequately capture the depth of human suffering in Gaza. In this conflict, civilians, particularly children and women and healthcare workers pay the heaviest burden, some losing their lives, casting a lasting moral shadow upon us all for generations to come. This suffering must end. Now. Israel has suffered heartbreaking human loss, including the taking of hostages which must end now. Magen David Adom in Israel is providing vital assistance, ambulance and health services. The Palestine Red Crescent Society is working around the clock with all affected communities in Gaza to provide vital humanitarian assistance and psychosocial support. They do so fearlessly with unseen dedication in extremely dangerous situations. The ICRC is playing a critical role, and we are coordinating closely as a Movement. Today I am here with Dr Younis Alkhatib, President of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. PRCS is the leading Emergency Medical Service provider and is central to the receipt, delivery and coordination of aid in Gaza. However, they operate under constant threat to their lives, lack of access and inadequate relief and medical supplies. In these difficult situations, the role of the local actors like the Red Cross and Red Crescent becomes central as they have the trust of the communities and of the authorities. We see this in the work of the Egyptian Red Crescent as well as in the preparatory work of National Societies in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and more. The IFRC is supporting and coordinating these national efforts while working hard to augment their capacities as well as partnering with ECHO for a humanitarian air bridge for Gaza. Today we call for three things and ask for your influence to– Protection to ensure neutral, independent humanitarian action of our member National Societies at local level as per IHL. Access to ensure unhindered and safe access for National Societies to reach all parts of Gaza including the north. Assistance to scale up aid efforts unconditionally so that hospitals, ambulances, water facilities, and waste management can function. No matter how dark the hour, we must support one another and be a collective beacon of hope. Thank you.

The IFRC calls for safe and unhindered access across the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages

A month since the onsetof violence across Israel and Palestine, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) calls forsafe and unhindered access across the Gaza Stripand the release of hostages seized during the conflict. It also calls upon the diplomatic community to accelerate efforts towards a longer-term peace agreement and a massive scaling up of humanitarian assistance, including fuel. The Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel and the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, both members of the IFRC network, have been responding since the beginning of the hostilities. Staff and volunteers of both National Societies have been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts. And they have seen the violence firsthand. Many have lost friends and family members. Seven members, three of MDA and four of PRCS, have lost their own lives while helping others; many more have been injured. The IFRC repeats its calls for all parties to respect International Humanitarian Law and immediately cease indiscriminate attacks. That means the protection of civilians, healthcare workers and facilities,humanitarian first responders, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, rapid and unimpeded passage for humanitarian aid, including fuel, throughout the entire Gaza Strip and safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers. Civilians, humanitarian aid workers, hospitals and ambulances are not targets and must be protected. It is not possible to evacuate patients and those who care for themfromhospitals; we ask for an end to demands to the contrary. The last month has been the most devastating period of violence ever across Israel and Palestine, killing around twelve thousand people and gravely injuring many more, mostly women and children. The siege of Gaza has caused immense suffering to more than two million people. Both the violence and the siege need to end. We call on all parties forsafe and unhindered access across the Gaza Stripand the release of hostages. Now.