Population Movement

IFRC Emergency Appeal launched as Afghan returnee crisis escalates

Kabul/Kuala Lumpur/Geneva, 2 May 2025 – Nearly one million Afghans have made the challenging journey back to Afghanistan from Pakistan in the last 18 months, with almost 145,000 people returning this month alone – a massive eight times more than in February.Upon return, many of these people are confronted with dire conditions, including overcrowded temporary shelters accommodating up to 4 families in one tent. The unprecedented increase in people returning in a short time (an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 people crossing borders daily) is placing immense strain on Afghanistan’s already fragile healthcare system, essential services and food stocks.Initially, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) allocated 750,000 Swiss Francs from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) in delivering urgently needed shelter, emergency healthcare, food, and water—basic resources that are now in short supply.Given the scale and gravity of this escalating and intensifying crisis, however, the IFRC is now launching a comprehensive Emergency Appeal, aiming to raise 25 million Swiss francs in order to deliver vital lifesaving aid over the next two years, covering support for recovery and reintegration including income generation activities, vocational training and cash-for-work opportunities.The appeal funds will be funneled to the most at-risk and vulnerable returnees, including pregnant women, unaccompanied children, the elderly, those with disabilities, and families lacking shelter. The aim is to mitigate threats such as gender-based violence, malnutrition, and social marginalization— and to ensure that vital assistance reaches those in greatest need.The humanitarian challenges facing returnees are profound and heartbreaking. Many have sacrificed their livelihoods, belongings, and stability in Pakistan, only to face overwhelming difficulties upon their return to Afghanistan. Children, already more at risk, are suffering from malnutrition and urgently require specialized care and nutritional support. In many cases, families have been torn apart during their migration journey, leaving individuals stranded and desperate to reconnect.Salima*, a mother who gave birth to her baby at Spin Boldak Crossing Point in Kandahar while on the move, said:“My children were born in Pakistan and don’t have any form of identification. I don’t know how or where to obtain ID cards for them. Their education has already been delayed significantly, and I don’t know how to enroll them in schools here in Afghanistan. We have no shelter in Kabul or Baghlan. We don’t know where to go or how to meet our daily needs.”Beyond immediate relief, we must act decisively to provide long-term support that empowers people to rebuild their lives, gain access to education, secure livelihoods, and reintegrate into their communities in Afghanistan.Mawlawi Sheikh Shahabuddin Delawar, Acting President of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), makes a heartfelt plea for swift action:“Returnees are facing insurmountable challenges—many have lost their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones along their journey. Women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable, and ensuring their safety and dignity must be our highest priority. Through this emergency response, we are dedicated to delivering lifesaving aid now and providing sustainable support that respects their dignity as they work to rebuild their lives.”Ahmed Suliman, the interim IFRC Head of Delegation in Afghanistan, highlighted the urgency of the situation:“This crisis is evolving at an alarming pace, and its impact will resonate with millions of already vulnerable people. Our immediate focus is on delivering essential aid—food, healthcare, and shelter—to those in desperate need. Simultaneously, we are committed to partnering closely with ARCS, Red Cross and Crescent Movement partners and other stakeholders to create long-term solutions that enable returnees to restore their lives and heal from this crisis.”The IFRC urgently calls upon the international community, partners, and donors to unite in support of Afghans during this critical juncture. Your contribution to the Emergency Appeal can make a life-changing difference, ensuring that those who are returning or displaced have the opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.*name has been changed to protect identityFor more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected]   Pictures and AV material can be found here.In Afghanistan:  Sayed Eshaq Muqbel: +93 70 733 6040 In Kuala Lumpur: Afrhill Rances: +60 19 271 3641 In Geneva: Hannah Copeland: +41 76 236 91 09

01/05/2025 |

Afghanistan: Population movement (returnees)

Since September 2023, nearly one million Afghans, including over 118,400 in April 2025 alone, have returned from Pakistan following the implementation of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. A further 1.5 million people are estimated to be affected or at risk in the months ahead. As they arrive in communities already strained by poverty, food insecurity, and limited healthcare, urgent support is needed to help them rebuild their lives safely and with dignity.Your donation will help the Afghan Red Crescent Society provide vital support to returnees and the communities that host them.

15/04/2025 |

Sudan conflict: Two years on — a nation at the breaking point

Once known for its cultural wealth and resilience, Sudan is now a place where the sound of gunfire regularly replaces the call to prayer, and silence falls heavy over homes left empty. Yet, even amid the rubble and ruin, resilience endures.“Right now, there are children who have been displaced, families torn apart, and people who have died far away from their loved ones,” says Rania Mohamed, who was forced to leave her home in Al Jazirah State due to the fighting. “We are experiencing immense suffering as citizens.”15 April 2025 marks a grim milestone for Sudan: two years has spiralled into one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes.More than 700 days of a deepening humanitarian crisis have battered this nation: people displaced, cities in ruins, and systems on the brink of total collapse.The conflict has decimated infrastructure, halted public services, and fractured communities, with critical transport routes and essential services barely functioning. With the rainy season on the horizon, further flooding threatens to cut off aid corridors, compounding the suffering.Urgent need for supportTo respond to the unprecedented needs, the IFRC launched two emergency appeals; 80 million Swiss francs for the Sudan Complex Emergency Appeal and 47.5 million Swiss francs for the Regional Population Movement Appeal supporting displaced populations in neighbouring countries.These appeals aim to support Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) efforts to sustain vital services and scale-up humanitarian operations amidst growing needs, logistical challenges, and escalating violence.“We are calling on the international community to help restore our operational capacity—so we can continue to reach those who need us most,” saidMrs. Aida Al-Sayed Abdullah, Secretary General of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society. “The needs are immense, and we cannot do this alone.”A nation displacedMeanwhile, the needs continue to mount. Sudan is now home to the world’s largest displacement crisis. More than 12.6 million people have fled their homes, with 8.6 million internally displaced and another 3.8 million crossing into neighbouring countries like Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Uganda and Ethiopia.Present in all 18 states with nearly 12,000 active volunteers, the SRCS has been a lifeline to communities. Despite immense operational challenges and direct threats to their safety, including the tragic deaths of SRCS staff and volunteers, they have reached over 7.5 million people. They continue to provide lifesaving assistance, including food, water, psychosocial support, and dignified burials.Tragically, humanitarian workers providing those life-saving services have been injured and even killed while working to save the lives of others.“Since the outbreak of fighting, [the SRCS has] been gravely impacted,”the secretary general added. “We have lost volunteers and staff members—humanitarian workers who died while serving their communities.“Our headquarters and many branch offices have been damaged or destroyed. Ambulances, vehicles, medical equipment, and warehouses have been looted or lost. Yet, despite these enormous challenges, we remain on the ground, working under dangerous and exhausting conditions, but we have not stopped.”For this reason, the IFRC has repeatedly called on all parties to the conflict to respect International Humanitarian Law and protect humanitarian workers. Without such protection, the ability to deliver aid remains dangerously constrained.Humanitarian needs at alarming levelsAccording to the United Nations' Organization for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, over two-thirds of Sudan’s population—some 30.4 million people—need humanitarian assistance. Half of them are children. In conflict-ravaged areas like Darfur and Al Jazirah, the situation is particularly acute.SRCS volunteers on the ground report families going days without food, relying on contaminated water sources, and surviving in overcrowded displacement camps like Zamzam in North Darfur, now swelling to over 500,000 people.Gasim El Basheer, an internally displaced person from Al Jazirah State, says: “There are so many issues that need greater attention—displacement, hunger, missing persons. This war has taken too much.”Millions of people now face acute food insecurity, violence, destruction of farmland, and disruption of trade routes have devastated food production. “Eighty percent of the population relies on agriculture and livestock,” says a local SRCS representative, “but the conflict has taken away their land, their tools, and their hope.”Health systems on the edgeThe health system has also been ravaged. Up to 80 percent of health facilities are non-functional in conflict affected areas, and those that remain open are stretched beyond capacity with shortages of staff, medicine, and even electricity.Cholera, dengue, measles, and malaria are surging. In 2024, 12 States battled multiple epidemics. By March 2025, over 58,000 cholera cases were recorded, fuelled by flooding, poor sanitation, and overcrowding.Volunteer Hawa Eizaldeen Abdallah Hamed reflects: “Before the displacement, there were no diseases like cholera. Now they’re everywhere.”Widespread protection risksThe conflict has also triggered a protection emergency. Gender-based violence, including rape and sexual exploitation, is widespread. Children have been recruited into armed groups, subjected to early and forced marriage, or denied access to education, as up to 90 per cent of schools remain closed. Many displaced children are unaccompanied or separated from families.The SRCS is providing critical protection services, reaching over 650,000 people with safe spaces, psychosocial support, dignity kits, and referrals for survivors of violence. However, the needs continue to outpace the available resources.Despite immense challenges, the unwavering dedication of Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers offers a glimmer of hope.“They are from the communities they serve,” notes Thierry Balloy IFRC Head of Delegation, Sudan and Eritrea. “They know the terrain, the people, and the needs better than anyone. They are the first in and the last out.”

14/04/2025 |

Return of Afghans from Pakistan could worsen already dire humanitarian situation

Kabul/Kuala Lumpur/Geneva, 14 April 2025 - After decades of seeking refuge in Pakistan, up to a million Afghans could face return to Afghanistan following a directive by the government of Pakistan which would require all Afghans without valid visas to leave the country by 31 March 2025.In response, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is supporting the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) to address the immediate and longer-term needs of 50,000 people. The IFRC has allocated an initial 750,000 Swiss Francs from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) to enable the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) to provide shelter, emergency health services, food and water, all of which are in desperately short supply for Afghans returning from Pakistan.The humanitarian needs of people returning to Afghanistan are high. Many have abandoned their livelihoods and personal belongings in Pakistan. Children, many of whom are already malnourished, need specialized care. Many families have been separated during the journey and need support to restore family links. Longer term support will also be needed to help people to re-establish their lives in Afghanistan. This latest development comes on top of already high numbers of people returning to Afghanistan. Since September 2023, almost 850,000 people have already returned from Pakistan in addition to significant numbers of Afghans also returning from Iran, according to UN data. (Source: https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/afghanistan).Mawlawi Sheikh Shahabuddin Delawar, the Acting President of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), emphasized the urgent need for action.“People returning are facing numerous challenges that they cannot navigate alone. Women and children represent a significant portion of those returning, and ensuring their safety and well-being must be our top priority. As a local organisation with a presence across the country, our aim is to provide immediate relief and long-term support to help people rebuild their lives safely and with dignity.”Ahmed Suliman, the interim Head of Delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Afghanistan, expressed concern about the potential scale of the crisis:“This dynamic situation will impact millions of people. Addressing immediate needs - such as food, healthcare, and shelter – is our top priority, while also planning to support people in the longer-term. The IFRC and National Societies are working alongside ARCS to tackle these challenges and provide tailored support people most in need.”Currently, conditions in Afghanistan are not conducive for sustainable return and reintegration of large numbers of people, amid high levels of malnutrition and a struggling economy. There are also millions of internally displaced people in the country. Existing humanitarian support is insufficient to meet current needs and will only come under more pressure as higher numbers of people return. In Afghanistan, support for people returning is part of a broader humanitarian response, addressing the needs of both returnees and communities in places of return. The Afghan Red Crescent Society, as a local humanitarian organisation, is well placed to understand the evolving needs and priorities of returnees at various points along the return process. IFRC emphasizes that all returns must be voluntary, safe and dignified.   IFRC also calls on the international community to provide adequate support to meet the growing humanitarian needs of people returning to Afghanistan.For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected]  For more information on IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund: https://www.ifrc.org/happening-now/emergency-appeals/ifrc-disaster-response-emergency-fundIn Afghanistan:  Sayed Eshaq Muqbel: +93 70 733 6040In Kuala Lumpur: Lili Chin: +60 16 234 0872In Geneva: Scott Craig, +41 76 370 3575

27/03/2025 |

IFRC president Kate Forbes in Rafah: ‘The struggle is no longer just about survival—it is about holding on to humanity’

By Kate Forbes, President of IFRCThe road to Rafah stretches through history, through heartbreak, and through the resilience of those who live at its edges. This was my second visit to Rafah—a key border-crossing point between Egypt and Gaza—since I became President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).My first visit was in February last year, when the crisis had already reached unbearable levels. I had hoped to find a different situation upon my return. But when we arrived, the reality was painfully familiar.During my first visit, the first thing I noticed was the line of trucks—packed with supplies that the people of Gaza desperately needed but could only receive in painstaking trickles.This time, a year later, there were fewer trucks backed up at the border as, during the first days of the ceasefire, the Egyptian Red Crescent had managed to get more aid into Gaza.The aid was still far too little to meet the enormous needs but it allowed the Palestine Red Crescent to deliver critical supplies and services. Sadly, on 2 March, the border crossing was once again closed to aid deliveries.Quiet determination, eroding hopeThe second thing I have witnessed at the Rafah border crossing is the quiet determination of the Egyptian Red Crescent staff and volunteers, working tirelessly to sort, coordinate, and push as much aid forward as possible.Their work is invisible to many, but without them, the humanitarian pipeline would collapse. They are the silent hands trying to stitch together the pieces of broken lives.Twelve months ago, the humanitarian situation in Gaza was already dire. It was a place of limited movement, of blockades, of recurring violence that flared and receded, leaving deeper scars each time. But there was still a semblance of hope—a belief that things could change.That belief has eroded. Today, the people in Gaza are trapped—not only by physical borders but by political and geopolitical constraints. The recent escalation of the conflict has not only reshaped the landscape of destruction but has fundamentally altered lives across the region.In South Lebanon, tension has escalated, turning daily life into a precarious existence where the next escalation could come at any moment.In Egypt, the border town of Rafah has become an unwilling witness to one of the most protracted humanitarian blockades of our time. Moreover, Egypt has become a safe harbor for those fleeing conflict, violence, and other humanitarian crises. Today, it is home to hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee their homes in search of safety and dignity—Palestinians from Gaza, Sudanese escaping a devastating armed conflict, and Syrians displaced by over a decade of conflict.For the people of Gaza, the struggle is no longer just about survival—it is about holding on to their humanity in a world that often seems to have forgotten them.What has changed in 12 months? The scale of suffering has grown. Hopes for peace have faded even further. Humanitarian access has become even more difficult.Serving humanity against all oddsWhat has not changed is the resilience of our Red Cross and Red Crescent teams.In the face of these multiple, overlapping humanitarian crises, our volunteers and staff continue, against all odds, to serve and to stand at the gates of crisis, refusing to turn their backs on those in need. They continue to demonstrate extraordinary courage, professionalism, and humanity.In South Lebanon, the Lebanese Red Cross staff continues to respond to the mounting needs of communities affected by rising tensions, providing emergency medical services, and support to those displaced.In the Occupied Palestinian Territorties (OPT), our Palestine Red Crescent teams continue to work under unimaginable conditions, providing life-saving care and support to communities shattered by violence and loss.On the other side of the border, the Egyptian Red Crescent plays a vital role in sustaining the humanitarian response. The National Society's dedicated teams coordinate the flow of aid, support displaced people, and ensure that hope continues to cross into Gaza even when the borders are closed.But our National Societies have not stood alone. The IFRC network has always been by their side. Since the outset of the escalation of hostilities, the IFRC has provided emergency funding and medical supplies, deployed technical expertise, coordinated logistics and ensured that humanitarian diplomacy amplifies the needs of those in vulnerable situations.Today, we face a challenge not only of responding to immediate needs, but of sustaining our support over time while ensuring safety of our teams in Gaza. Humanitarian fatigue is real. Resources are stretched. The crises are multiplying. Yet the needs are growing by the day.As I return from these travels, I keep thinking of the words of an Egyptian Red Crescent staff member:“We don’t have an exit strategy. We are from these communities, and we stand with the people of our communities for as long as they need us.”This is the essence and spirit of our National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies—something I witness in all my visits, something that makes our IFRC network so unique and so deeply human.

25/03/2025 |

Podcast

‘A month of giving’ during ‘unprecedented suffering’: IFRC’s director for the Middle East and North Africa reflects on Ramadan and acts of kindness amidst conflict and tragedy

As Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan, IFRC’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Hossam Elsharkawi, reflects on the humanitarian crises impacting his region and on what Muslims consider a sacred month of fasting, giving and prayer.“Through fasting, you feel what's it like to be hungry, what's it like to be thirsty,” says Elsharkawi. “Ramadan is also a month of giving, when people share their meals and give more to charity.” Elsharkawi explains the time-honoured tradition of giving in the Islamic world, and about a campaign launched during Ramadan by the IFRC to accept zakat, a traditional form of giving in Muslim culture.

27/02/2025 |

Red Cross calls for urgent funding to meet growing humanitarian needs in DRC

Kinshasa/Nairobi/Geneva, 27 February – The humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to escalate, with many facing displacement, food insecurity, and health risks. Over 21 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance across the country, according to the UN OCHA Humanitarian Response Plan 2025.In response, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Red Cross Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC Red Cross) are calling for urgent international support to address these growing humanitarian needs.The 50 million Swiss francs IFRC wide Emergency Appeal initially launched to support 500,000 people in North and South Kivu is now being expanded to provide immediate life-saving assistance to recently displaced Congolese refugees in Burundi.As fighting continues to force people from their homes at an alarming rate in Eastern DRC, nearly 300,000 people have fled from displacement camps around North Kivu and into Burundi. The closure of the Goma and Kavumu airports is also making humanitarian access more difficult.There is an urgent need for food, safe water, shelter and other basic needs. Red Cross volunteers have also been mobilized to help protect the public from the serious health risks posed by unburied bodies in conflict areas and to ensure dignified burials for those who have lost their lives.“In just the last 12 months, the DRC Red Cross with support from IFRC reached up to 100,000 displaced persons and their host communities with lifesaving food assistance while more than 370,000 individuals received essential household items including psychosocial support. We are grateful to our volunteers who have not slept for weeks for their commitment to stop the suffering in North and South Kivu. Yet the humanitarian situation remains dire”, said Grégoire Mateso Mbuta, President of the DRC Red Cross. “We need urgent support to scale up our response and provide life-saving aid to those in need.”Mercy Laker, IFRC’s Head of Country Delegation in Kinshasa said: “The humanitarian crisis in DR Congo is reaching a breaking point, the IFRC Emergency Appeal remains critically underfunded. Millions are in desperate need of food, shelter, and medical aid. Urgent funding is needed to avoid worse outcomes. We urge donors to act now—every second, every minute, every hour counts.”The IFRC calls for all parties to the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law, ensuring safe access for humanitarian workers and the protection of civilians. Humanitarian workers need safe access to affected populations to provide essential aid.The IFRC urges governments, donors, and international partners to act swiftly to fund the Emergency Appeal to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.Notes for editors:Further details about the number of people reached by the DRC Red Cross are available in the latest update.For more information or to set up interview, please contact: [email protected] Nairobi: Susan Mbalu, +254 733 827 654In Dakar: Moustapha Diallo, +221 774501004In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa +41 79 708 43 67, Scott Craig: +41 76 370 35 75  

17/02/2025 |

Humanity across the Americas: How the Red Cross is assisting people on the move

The history of Latin America and the Caribbean is marked by migration. Thousands of people move every day from north to south, from south to north, between Caribbean countries and between the continent and other regions of the world.People on the move, and the communities that host them, are not alone. In countries of origin, transit and destination, local Red Cross teams offer them assistance and protection.Along the migration routes, IFRC member National Societies in the region operate a network of Humanitarian Service Points that provide critical health, nutrition and psychosocial support to people in very vulnerable situations, regardless of their age, gender or beliefs, their reasons for leaving home, or which direction they are travelling.This includes migrants who are being returned to their country of origin by the national immigration authorities of other countries.Protection and assistance for returneesOne example is the work being done by the Red Cross in Honduras.In 2024, nearly 47,000 Honduran migrants returned home, equivalent to more than 128 people per day, according to the International Organization for Migration. In January 2025, 90 Hondurans migrants returned daily, for a total of 2,700.In close coordination with the state authorities, the Honduran Red Cross operates two public shelters that receive people who were unable to complete their journey northwards, including unaccompanied children and adolescents.At these centres, the Red Cross provides information, legal advice and looks after people’s physical and mental health. Returning migrants are often afraid to return to their communities so the Red Cross also provides support in assessing the risks and working to help people find a pathway to safe and successful reintegration.In 2024, at the Belén Care Centre for Migrant Children and Families, the Red Cross assisted more than 14,300 people, 59 per cent of whom were children. The year before, in 2023, the centre also assisted thousands of migrants, a large percentage of which were children. The words of the woman who manages the centre for the Honduran Red Cross still rings true today."All the cases in the centre are tough to listen to, all of them,”Gabriela Oviedo said at the time. “People come in frustrated and upset because they did not achieve their objective of reaching their destination.”Similar stories are unfolding in other Latin American countries. The Mexican Red Cross, for example, has activated its national emergency plan in response to the possible increase in returns this year. The plan provide for pre-hospital care, psychological first aid, hygiene kits, food kits and other relief items to those in need in the states of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Tamaulipas.In Colombia, Red Cross has already provided assistance at El Dorado Airport in the country’s capital Bogota, to more than 200 migrants who arrived on the first two flights of people forced to return from the United States. The Red Cross offered health assistance, psychosocial support and counselling, with special attention to children and adolescents.At the same time, in Ecuador, Red Cross teams are also coordinating with national authorities to provide humanitarian assistance at Manta and Guayaquil airports as flights arrive.The Venezuelan Red Cross has also started to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants upon their return to Venezuela. Its services focus on primary health care and psychosocial support, in coordination with the national government authorities.The team of 40 multidisciplinary volunteers, doctors and first-aid workers also provided personal hygiene kits, refreshments, and medicines to people arriving on the first two flights of returnees landing at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela.Social inclusion is also keyColombia and Ecuador are also examples of countries where Red Cross teams provide another indispensable service: support for social and economic inclusion.In Colombia, for example, more than 2.8 million Venezuelan people have settled in the country in the last six years. Of these, 52 per cent are women and almost half of them is in need of protection.In Cundinamarca and Bogotá, the Colombian Red Cross is strengthening the resilience of women through shelters, offering specialized sexual and reproductive health services, distribution of protection kits and training to prevent gender-based violence. It also promotes community initiatives against xenophobia and discrimination.This intervention targets women of all ages, including women and girls displaced by violence, and includes nutritional assessments, access to medicines and safe spaces that promote their emotional well-being.“We have a safe space for children where they can play, have fun and grieve while their parents attend trainings on employability, and workshops on life and social skills, to enable them to start over,”says Erika Cardona, Director of Humanitarian Affairs for the Colombian Red Cross.If migrant and displaced women decide to stay temporarily or permanently in the community, the Colombia Red Cross’s Centre for Comprehensive Attention and Development supports them in finding employment and offers them spaces to continue their schooling.In Ecuador, the Red Cross works on the social inclusion of migrants who have decided to settle in the country, facilitating access to health, education and employment services.“For people who have decided to stay permanently or temporarily in the country, we have created free and voluntary associations”, says Roque Fabián Soria Vasco, president of the Ecuadorian Red Cross. “Through our job bank, they can access jobs according to their abilities, for example bakery, tailoring, beauty, among other options”.Usually, new arrivals do not have the means to buy food, basic goods or pay rent. There, the Ecuadorian Red Cross provides cash assistance and support to the small businesses of the migrant and host population. Red Cross is always thereEvery country faces unique challenges around migration flows. For the IFRC, the priority is to support people in vulnerable situations, according to their needs and regardless of their migration status, in accordance with our Fundamental Principles.In total, there are 22 countries in the Americas where local Red Cross teams work to ensure that the dignity and rights of migrants are respected and protected. The services they offer include:Pre-hospital care:First aid, health monitoring and medical assistance.Basic medical care: Healing of ampoules, provision of hydration serums and assessment of signs and symptoms.Provision of humanitarian aid: Delivery of food kits, personal hygiene and other basic supplies.Basic psychological support: Counselling and emotional support.Restoring family links: Providing tools and means of communication to promote family reunification and contact with loved ones.Information on available services: Guidance is provided on the resources and services available in the different areas to support the reintegration of people forced to return to their country of origin.To learn more, visit our migration programmes page.

14/02/2025 |

'At a tipping point': Hardship for Ukrainians abroad

Kyiv, Budapest, Geneva, 14 February 2025 –A new report from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) highlights that financial hardship is pushing more displaced Ukrainians to return home even to front-line areas where devastation and the threat of violence remains high.The reportpaints a stark picture of people pushed to their limits both inside and outside of Ukraine. For those abroad, support systems are weakened, and living costs continue to rise. For many, especially older individuals, debt is mounting, healthcare is inaccessible, and the daily struggles are becoming overwhelming.“People are reaching a tipping point—between the hardship of displacement and the uncertainty of returning to potentially dangerous areas. Whether they stay or go, their needs are growing and require sustained support,” said Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen, IFRC Regional Director for Europe.“Once they return to Ukraine, the humanitarian needs are significant – ranging from food and necessities to assistance finding employment. Still, many are returning to contribute to Ukraine’s rebuilding efforts, despite the immense challenges that await.”Key Findings from the Report:Economic strains driving people to return: Over half of those returning to Ukraine are doing so due to economic pressures, with 23 per cent reducing their food intake due to lack of resources.Returning to high-risk areas:27 per cent of returnees are settling in areas near the front lines, despite serious security risks. A shocking 79 per cent of returnees to frontline areas report urgent unmet humanitarian needs.Debt: One in three returning refugees are currently in debt, with 12 per cent facing crippling debt they are unable to pay back.Older populations at severe risk:54 per cent of displaced elderly Ukrainians rely on government aid, which is often insufficient. 32 per cent are living alone, increasing their vulnerability.Declining support: A drop in projected international aid in 2025 is putting critical humanitarian programmes at risk. The IFRC currently faces a CHF 280 million funding gap to sustain essential services for those affected.With millions of Ukrainians facing worsening conditions both at home and in host countries, the IFRC is urging governments, donors, and humanitarian partners to step up support for displaced populations.“Without urgent funding and policy action, we are pushing people into an impossible choice: poverty abroad or insecure conditions at home. We must do better,” said Ebbesen.The IFRC network continues to deliver critical aid, including emergency cash assistance, mental health support, and essential winter supplies to vulnerable populations in Ukraine and host countries globally.With one of the largest humanitarian responses in history, 60 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are supporting people impacted by the Russia-Ukraine International Armed Conflict across the globe.However, sustained funding and policy commitments are crucial to ensuring displaced Ukrainians can rebuild their lives with dignity.*This analysis is based on data collected from 5,400 displaced Ukrainians, returnees, and communities affected by the crisis inside and outside Ukraine. It covers six countries across Europe as well as Ukraine.For more information, contact:For all media inquiries, reach out [email protected] Kyiv: Anastasiia Shvets, +380 99 408 5860In Budapest:Corrie Butler, +36 70 430 6506; Nora Peter, +36 70 265 4020In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 4367; Hannah Copeland, +41 76 236 9109

04/02/2025 |

Migration: A father pens a poem of pain and loss after rescue turns to tragedy

“On the shore of death, your journey ended.Your little heart, still unripe, could not endure.It was filled with love, overflowing until the very last breath.You left, my beautiful one, my little one…”These are the painful, mournful words of a father grieving, written in the hours after his seven-year-old daughter suffered a cardiac arrest — shortly after she herself was rescued from a boat in distress in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Her name was Rahaf and she and her family had just been brought on board the search and rescue ship Ocean Viking, which is run by SOS Mediterranee and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).Shortly after the rescue, Rahaf, who had an underlying heart condition, went into cardiac arrest. After CPR by the team on board, she was airlifted to a hospital in Malta. Tragically, she did not survive the journey and passed away in the helicopter.Plunged into grief, her father put his pain into words, which he inscribed with a ballpoint pen on a simple piece of white paper. He then asked that this poem and the story of his daughter be shared with the world — as an homage to his daughter and to bring attention to the situation facing people crossing the Mediterranean.The family of four was among a group of 92 migrants rescued from a boat in distress in the Central Mediterranean, near Malta. Here is the full version of the father's poem:“On the shore of death, your journey ended.Your little heart, still unripe, could not endure.It was filled with love, overflowing until the very last breath.You left, my beautiful one, my little one…Your gentle voice has vanished foreverLeaving behind a father, a mother, and a sister—Lost, wandering between sea and sky.How could your kind heart leave your dears suddenly?You bore the hardship of travel, the cruelty of the waves—All for what?For a dignified life. Yes, you have found it now, Rahaf. You are in eternal bliss.May your soul rest in peace, my love.”An ocean of human sufferingSadly, Rahaf’s death is not an isolated case. The Mediterranean is one of the deadliest migration routes in the world. At least 115 children lost their lives attempting to cross the Mediterranean in 2024 alone.Since 2014, more than 31,000 migrants have drowned or gone missing during the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean Sea.Behind every number is a person: a child, father, a sister—risking everything in search of safety.To help avert more tragic stories and unnecessary deaths, the IFRC remains committed to the rescue efforts and to working aboard the Ocean Viking to ensure that people lost and in distress in the vast Mediterranean receive critical life-saving care they need, as well as psychological support to help them deal with the stresses they have been through.Supported with an ongoing emergency appeal to support their operations in the Mediterranean, the IFRC operates what it calls a “humanitarian service point” or HSP on the Ocean Viking. This floating, mobile HSP offers several critical services, including medical care, psychological support, and other kinds of counseling to help migrants cope with what they’ve been through and prepare for what may lie ahead when they finally reach a European port and new challenges arise.

21/12/2024 |

Syria: Complex Emergency

The humanitarian crisis in Syria has sharply worsened following intensified hostilities since late November 2024, leading to mass displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and severe shortages in basic services. Donations to this urgent emergency appeal will help the Syrian Arab Red Crescent provide life-saving assistance, including food, shelter, health and protection services to 5 million people across Syria.

17/12/2024 |

Podcast

The meaning of water: For Guillermo Sanchez, giving water is not just about saving lives. It’s about helping people reclaim their inherent dignity

“I was always told that water is life,” says Guillermo Sanchez, a water, sanitation and hygiene specialist for the Panamanian Red Cross who lives and works in the Darien Gap, a stretch of undeveloped jungle that connects South and Central America. “But I never really appreciated what that meant until I was able to see water really save the lives of people coming out of the Darien Gap.” This roadless, lawless and hilly forest on the border between Colombia and Panama is now one of the world’s most used, and most dangerous, routes for people seeking a better life. When people finally make it through, they’re exhausted, dehydrated and covered with mud. That’s when water takes on even more meaning. “Just having a clean shower means people can feel like themselves again; they can reclaim themselves, their dignity.”

22/11/2024 |

Lebanon: A former hospital has become a place of shelter and hope

In the Jnah area of Beirut, a former hospital that closed its doors more than a decade ago has been transformed into a shelter for families who were forced to leave their homes due to weeks of escalating conflict in Lebanon.Where there was once medical care and recovery, the building now shelters people who have lost everything, filling its halls with stories of struggle and survival.Among the shelter’s residents is Ahmed, a fourteen-year-old boy whose life has been turned upside down by the conflict. After being forced to move three times, Ahmed’s family finally arrived at this shelter, having escaped their suburban Beirut home one night when bombs shattered the neighborhood’s quiet.“That night, we just ran,” he recalled. They first took shelter on a beach until morning, then moved to Tripoli, 70 km north of Beirut, before eventually moving back to Beirut.Now, he continues his education remotely with lessons sent by email, though it’s not the same as being in school with friends.“I miss my friends,” he shared quietly. Despite the challenges, he expressed gratitude for the support his family has received from the Lebanese Red Cross, which has provided food, mattresses, and medical services.Another resident, Zahraa, was studying educational management and planning a career in teaching. She fled her home in the early hours of the morning when bombings made it unsafe to stay. Though her career is on hold, she is thankful for the shelter and the small comforts it offers, such as private bathrooms in each room.“We’re lucky to have found this shelter. It used to be a hospital, so every room has a bathroom, which makes things a bit easier,” Zahraa said, acknowledging the challenges while remaining hopeful for a more stable future.Kamal, another resident, has suffered an especially heavy loss—he has not only lost his home and livelihood but also four family members to the conflict. After leaving Nabatieh, South Lebanon, his family initially sought refuge in Ouzai, another Beirut suburb, but soon had to leave there as well. Now at the shelter, he’s struggling to rebuild his life from the ground up.Being forced to flee their homes multiple times was a common experience among residents of this shelter. And while many share a deep desire to return home, that hope feels distant. The areas they left behind are still dangerous, and some people don’t even have homes to return to anymore. Still, the displaced families express appreciation for the services provided by the Lebanese Red Cross.Reem, a volunteer with the Lebanese Red Cross from South Lebanon, has been helping her community for years. She was among those who built the Lebanese Red Cross center in the city of Nabatieh. Forced to leave her own home, she now finds herself in the role of both volunteer and displaced resident.“It’s incredibly hard to leave, but we have no choice,” she said as her eyes filled with tears.Despite the difficult circumstances, Reem is determined to keep wearing the red vest and continue supporting people in need..The support that Reem and other volunteers are providing is being backed up byaglobal emergency appeal, launched by the IFRC inNovember, that aims to address the urgent needs of 600,000 people.With the recent increase in airstrikes and attacks, the conflict has resulted in over 3,500 deaths and 15,000 injuries as of 28 October 2024. Through the emergency appeal, the IFRC will support the Lebanese Red Cross providing healthcare, food and shelter, as well as support with water, sanitation and hygiene. This appeal will also help scale up the search and rescue capacity of the Lebanese Red Cross.

14/11/2024 |

Mauritania: More support needed to meet the growing needs of Malian refugees

By Fatima Lô, Mauritanian Red Crescent, and Moustapha Diallo, IFRCThe village of Aghor, located in Bassikounou in the Hodh El Chargui region, south-east Mauritania, is a place where thousands of people who have fled the conflict in neighboring Mali have found refuge for over eleven months.The makeshift camp is home to women, children, the elderly and entire families who are trying to rebuild their lives despite the difficulties and uncertainties they face daily, far from their places of origin. Living conditions are deplorable and access to basic services is very limited, exposing refugees to food insecurity and health risks.In the midst of this community in search of stability and security, the Mauritanian Red Crescent was one of the first humanitarian organizations to intervene, by distributing cash and essential household items.The poignant story of a refugee womenIt was in this camp that we met Marieme Mint Hamdinou, a 40-year-old mother of four, who shared her experiences as she gazed out at the horizon.“We arrived here in November 2023. We left our village (Timbuktu in Mali) taking only what we could carry’, she says.For Marieme and her family, the road to Mauritania was long and perilous, but faced with intensifying insecurity and armed clashes, they had no choice but to leave.“When we arrived at Fassala, one of the entry points to Mauritania, we were exhausted, hungry and terrified”, Marieme points out.With no money and no host family, Marieme and her children owed their salvation only to the generosity of humanitarian workers and the Mauritanian authorities, who took them in before settling them in Aghor. By then, the Mbera camp set up in 2012 to receive Malian refugees had reached saturation point.“The first few weeks in the camp were particularly difficult. I felt powerless to meet some of my family's basic needs, such as eating, drinking, washing, proper accommodation, etc.’ explains Marieme. To survive, she had to beg and get into debt.Mauritanian Red Crescent support and ever-growing needsThe story of Marieme and her children is similar to that of many refugee women and families in Aghor. Thanks to a cash distribution operation by the Mauritanian Red Crescent, funded by the IFRC, many of them have been able to get back on their feet, even if only temporarily.“With the money I received, I was able to pay off some of my debts and buy some food to feed my family, but there are so many unmet needs, and many families still haven't received any aid, not counting those who are still arriving,” says Marieme.Since last year, Mauritania has witnessed a massive influx of Malian refugees fleeing the intensification of conflict and armed clashes in their country. On 30 September 2024, there were some 260,000 Malian refugees and over 12,000 returnees.The Hodh El Chargui region, which has very limited resources, hosts most of them. Some 152,000 refugees are living outside the official camps, without adequate shelter and access to other basic services such as water, sanitation and healthcare, as in the makeshift camp of Aghor.Since May, the Mauritanian Red Crescent's response has provided cash to around 1,000 people and distributed shelter kits, mats and mosquito nets to the most vulnerable displaced households. But this is far from enough as the humanitarian needs are still mounting.In response to the continuing influx of refugees and their growing needs, the IFRC has launched an emergency appeal for 4 million Swiss francs to help the Mauritanian Red Crescent Society scale up its response.The funds raised will be used to support 61,750 people through a holistic response, including the distribution of emergency shelter and essential household items, the provision of cash, water and health services and the implementation of protection strategies.The funds will also enable the creation of humanitarian service points (HSPs) where people can access a wide range of services, such as safe water, nutrition support, emergency health and first aid, psychological support services (PSS) communication and referrals, regardless of their status.The IFRC has also launched a separate emergency appeal to support the Malian Red Cross in its efforts to assist people displaced by violence as well as severe flooding.

13/11/2024 |

Mali: Complex Emergency

Mali faces a severe humanitarian crisis as unprecedented flooding and ongoing armed conflict displace thousands, destroy homes, and devastate the agricultural economy. As the country grapples with this complex emergency, millions are left without basic necessities such as food and safe drinking water. Your donation helps us in making a meaningful difference for the 200,000 people supported by the Mali Red Cross in this response.

14/11/2024 |

Mauritania: Population Movement

The internal conflict in Mali intensified throughout 2024, increasing displacement of civilians to Mauritania. As of 30 September this year, 262,000 refugees crossed the border to Mauritania, and approximately 12,400 Mauritanian civilians returned from Mali. Services in camps are already limited due to overcrowding and lack of humanitarian services, and those living outside camps have extremely limited access to basic services, such as shelter, water, sanitation, food, healthcare, protection and education. Your donation will help the IFRC make a meaningful difference for the 61,760 people supported by the Mauritanian Red Crescent in this response.

10/09/2024 |

Podcast

Federico Rios Escobar: Award-winning photojournalist talks about his trek with migrants through Central America’s perilous Darién Gap

Federico Rios Escobar has spent more than a decade documenting the epic struggles of migrants in South and Central America. The hardships they face in the roadless jungle known as the Darien Gap go beyond anything he’s seen before. “There’s only one way to cross and it’s on foot,” he says. “There's the mud, rain, humidity, the hot sun, rivers that suddenly grow, landslides — and many migrants have died of these things — but many are also victims of robberies, assaults, extortion, and sexual assaults.” For migrants, he says, the Red Cross volunteers there offer more than first-aid, they offer a sense of hope, safety and humanity to people in desperate conditions. Tune in to find out where you can see his award-winning, heart-breaking and inspiring photographs.

04/09/2024 |

Echoes from the jungle: Unseen human stories from the Darién Gap

An unseen crisis is unfolding in the Darién jungle. Beneath the dense foliage of this tropical forest that links Colombia and Panama, hundreds of thousands of people are on the move – risking their lives in search of safety and opportunity.This journey is one of the most dangerous in the world. Countless risks await those who attempt it. And yet hundreds of thousands of people do it every year. A new exhibit of photographs and stories, produced by the IFRC, with funding from the European Union, tells their story — and the story of the people who provide life-saving support to them.Echoes from the junglefeatures photos taken by photojournalist Federico Rios, who journeyed through Darién in 2022 and 2023 on assignment for the New York Times, as well as photos taken by IFRC and Red Cross staff in the region. Here is a selection of photos from the exhibit and the stories behind them.To leave everything behind and walk into the jungleThe Darién is a remote, roadless area covering both Panamanian and Colombian territory, which is the only possible overland crossing between South and Central America. Spanning more than 60 miles of swamp, dense rainforest, fast-flowing rivers and mountains, the Darién jungle is as remarkable as it is inhospitable.Why cross the Darién jungle?Why would someone choose to attempt such a perilous journey? Economic collapse, political instability, intense violence and conflict, persecution, and limited legal pathways can all contribute to the decision. And often, compounding crises and challenges will force people to move.Dangers in the heart of the jungleThe harsh reality of the Darién jungle unfolds as we witness a woman, burdened with the weight of her small child, navigating through its unforgiving terrain (see photo above). The relentless heat and stifling humidity only add to the exhaustion felt by the women, children and men on the move.Counting every dropCrossing the Darién is not just a matter of hours. It can take days or even weeks depending on the time of the year. Access to food and water becomes increasingly scarce, especially for people travelling with minimal supplies. Unable to rely on water from streams and rivers due to contamination, they must carry their own supplies to sustain themselves on their journey.Facing diverse threatsThe Darién jungle is full of threats, some of which are deadly. Surging river crossings, poisonous snakes, paths marked only by the footsteps of those who were there before, and weather that can turn at any moment.Then there are the human threats – robbery, smuggling, human trafficking, physical and sexual violence – that are sadly all too common. Between 2018 and 2023, 258 people died in the Darién.People crossing the jungle are exposed to insect bites, infections, diarrhoea, dehydration, fractures, or skin injuries with no access to first aid before reaching the closest town. During the most difficult parts of their journey, their only consolation is to trust and support each other.Rainfall and rising riversThe Darién is characterized by numerous rivers, many of which flow through dense rainforest and mountainous terrain. However, they pose significant challenges to people attempting to cross them, especially during periods of heavy and frequent rainfall between May and December. As water levels rise rapidly and the rivers become more powerful, drowning poses a significant risk.At the edge of the jungle, worlds meetWhile many of the people who traverse this jungle are from South America, this journey is also used by people from around the world. In recent years, a growing number of migrants have arrived from far further afield including China, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Cameroon and Angola. For these people, the existing dangers of the Darién are heightened by cultural and linguistic barriers.Unprecedented numbersThe scale of migration through the Darién in recent decades is unprecedented. In a region with a relatively low population density, the passage of more than 500,000 people from different parts of the world in 2023 has brought additional challenges to local communities: this number is more than seven times the resident population.Because the Darién is a remote and protected area, basic resources and infrastructure such as clean water and waste collection services are scarce, heightening the environmental impact on the region as both local communities and groups of migrants face these challenges on a daily basis.Who are the people crossing the Darién and who are the people there to help?The reasons for travelling through this jungle are as varied as the people themselves – whether travelling alone, with family or with people they meet along the way. Here are some of their stories.Zidane's many talentsColombian by origin, Zidane is a multifaceted individual – a cultural manager, shortfilm producer, Red Bull competitor, freestyler, rapper, hairdresser, and baker. Despitehis vibrant artistic pursuits, he found himself compelled to migrate."We left my country because things were not going well there, there was no money,there was nothing. My [rapper] foundation had completed its cycle and I thought itwas a good idea to leave, but since I didn't have a passport, we decided to travelthrough the Darién jungle."Navil’s passportNavil* was asked what the most precious object he always carried with him was. Heanswered immediately: his passport. Without it he would not have been able to leave India, his country of origin, to attempt to reach the United States.*Name changed on requestKaren's reason for not giving upKaren’s son Dylan is her motivation for everything she does in life, her reason for not giving up during difficult times and especially now, when she has faced moments of danger and pain crossing through the jungle."Crossing the Darién is not easy. I don't recommend it to anyone. The danger there is not the animals, it's facing people who hurt you, who steal from you, who abuse both your body and the little you carry with you.”A symbol of hopeFor the people travelling through the Darién, the Red Cross is a symbol of hope on their difficult journey. In Panama, the IFRC and the Panamanian Red Cross, with support from the European Union, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and other partners, have been responding to the needs of migrants crossing the Darién for several years.What’s been provided so far: The Red Cross response in numbersOur support during one of those years, 2023, offers a snapshot of the enormous needs and the very concrete support offered by Red Cross staff and volunteers. In that year, Red Cross provided migrants with more than 29.7 million litres of safe water, over 20,000 basic health care consultations, 2,000 first-aid services, and more than 24,500 maternal and child care services.They also facilitated more than 33,000 international calls so migrants could communicate with their loved ones. Staff and volunteers also provide information, an internet connection to allow contact with family members, and referrals to specialized services.Safe, welcoming and neutral spacesOnce through the jungle, people on the move can access support in camps, where they receive protection services and trusted information so they continue their journey as safely as possible. People can also find assistance at Humanitarian Service Points, run by the Panamanian Red Cross with support from the IFRC, the European Union, and other partners.

27/08/2024 |

IFRC saddened by yet another killing of Sudanese Red Crescent volunteer in East Darfur State, Sudan

The IFRC is deeply saddened to announce the tragic loss of Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) volunteer, Mr Sabeil Ibrahim Adam on 26 August 2024. Sabeil lost his life while providing first aid services in Eldein town, East Darfur State. He was among the dedicated volunteers supporting El-Daein teaching hospital. Since the conflict in Sudan began in mid-April last year, eight volunteers from the Sudanese Red Crescent have tragically lost their lives. The IFRC extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, Sudanese Red Crescent Society, friends, and colleagues of Sabeil Ibrahim Adam. The protection of humanitarian workers is a fundamental obligation. We reiterate our call for the protection of humanitarian workers and implore all parties to respect international humanitarian law. The loss of our staff and volunteers underscores the risks faced by those delivering vital humanitarian assistance in conflict zones. 

15/08/2024 |

‘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

19/06/2024 |

World Refugee Day: Syrian refugees in Jordan stitch a new life through skills training and education

Words by Joe Baaklini, IFRC Communications OfficerWhen Faten fled war-torn Syria in 2012, she found herself a refugee in a makeshift camp in the town of Al-Lubban, Jordan. She lived in a tent with her husband - the sole provider for the family - and her children.The family’s situation went from bad to worse when Faten’s husband got sick and could no longer provide for the family. That is when Faten realized she had to act fast to support her spouse and children. Thanks to her friends, Faten learned about a series of vocational trainings that were being organized by the Jordan Red Crescent (JNRCS). She saw a career opportunity in those trainings, and she took it.“I had never worked before, so I had to learn new skills,” says Faten, who has been taking these workshops, and working, since 2013.“I participated in sewing and crochet workshops, and they were extremely beneficial. Thanks to these trainings, I am now earning enough money to support my husband and children. However, it’s not just about the money, but the feeling of being capable and empowered.”A lifeline to livelihoods and dignityThe Jordan Red Crescent’s workshops offer a lifeline to refugees in Al-Lubban camp, equipping them with valuable skills in cooking, baking, soap-making, sewing, and crochet.By learning new crafts or rediscovering forgotten talents, refugees gain the confidence and ability to generate income. This not only provides for their basic needs but also restores a sense of dignity and purpose.“Most of the refugees who take these trainings want to improve their lives,” says Nawal Sadeq, a vocational trainer for the Jordan Red Crescent, who took similar workshops years ago and eventually started her own business.“They want a source of income, and they want a better future. Thanks to our trainings, these women are starting their own businesses and/or finding job opportunities that allow them to sustain.”The Jordan Red Crescent’s program goes beyond just workshops, however. “I took a baking course and it was a massive success for me, but the Red Crescent’s support didn’t end there, as they offered me an oven, thus helping me start my own cooking business,” says Fatima,also a Syrian refugee in Al-Lubban. “I am so grateful and I’m so proud of myself. I pay rent and provide for my two daughters now.”A healthy new startThe Jordan Red Crescent also includes health interventions are also part of its support program. The National Society organizes periodic health visits all year round, therefore ensuring the refugees’ physical and mental well-being.“As part of our efforts to protect vulnerable populations and their dignity, we organize health visits to makeshift camps, such as the Al-Lubban camp, where we regularly set up mobile health clinics that provide treatment and medication to the refugees,” says Mahmoud Al-Eswid, Relief Distribution Officer at the Jordan Red Crescent.According to Mahmoud, what’s as important as regular health check-ups is education and learning opportunities. He adds:"Education is the most important of all and that’s what we’re trying to focus on with the refugees here in Al-Lubban camp; teaching them to read and write, training them in new skills, it’s all very crucial for their integration in their new community. It empowers them to build a brighter future, both for themselves and the community.”Learn more about ways in which the Red Cross and Red Crescent Network ensures that Migrants are #NotAlone.

17/06/2024 |

World Refugee Day: Europe’s experience with ‘private hosting’ of Ukrainian Refugees offers a new model for supporting people fleeing conflict and violence

After the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, countless people fled the country. Most went to other countries in Europe and now some 7 million people still live abroad.A significant percentage of these refugees were supported by host communities including individuals and families who welcomed them into their homes. This widespread show of solidarity provided an essential lifeline to numerous people from Ukraine.“She [the host] has done a lot for me,” said one of the Ukrainian guests, speaking about the people she is staying with in Hungary. “I found a job with her help... And somehow, we slowly became a family... And we started taking care of each other.”It was also an enriching experience for many of the host families."Sometimes we went shopping together or one bought a thing or two for the other, we shared things," says one woman from Poland who hosted a Ukranian family. “Together we supported and helped each other.”Such solidarity is not unique to the Ukraine conflict. People have welcomed refugees into their homes for as long as there have been wars, famines, and other calamities. But the movement of people from Ukraine that began after the escalation of hostilities in 2022 — and the response of many European countries — marks a significant moment in recent history.Instead of closing their doors to refugees, communities in Europe largely accepted them. The spontaneous expression of solidarity toward them —by private individuals and government authorities — meant that the people coming from Ukraine had additional accommodation options than the common reception facilities as collective centers or camps (as often happens when large amounts of people flee from one country to another).Rather, communities across Europe focused their support on the idea of housing people in private accommodations within host communities.Humanitarian organizations, government agencies, and enterprises that support people in need worked together in unprecedented ways in order to build on this solidarity. They coordinated multiple types of support, both for refugees and the people and communities hosting them.One key example is the Safe Homes Programme. Funded by the European Commission’s Asylum Migration and Integration Fund, the programme was implemented by the IFRCalong with Red Cross National Societies in nine European countries: Belgium, France, Ireland, Hungary, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.Driven by the dedication of individuals, organisations and national authorities, the programme aimed to provide safe homes for people who fled Ukraine and to support their integration into national systems.A new modelWhile this approach is not new and National Societies and other organizations have matched refugees with host families, it has never before been done on this scale. The Safe Homes Programme, therefore, helped with the monumental tasks of sourcing, matching, safeguarding and nurturing relationships between hosts and guests. It also helped the organizations involved to reflect on good practices and lessons learned so that communities, governments and host communities might be better prepared for similar situations in the future.Recently, the programme released a comprehensive report “Safe Homes: Key Lessons From Hosting People Displaced from Ukraine in Private Homes”, which in many ways serves as a blueprint or model for similar mass collaboration around private hosting.“The aim is to grasp the full picture of the hosting situation in these countries, which not only allows for better decision-making in the short term, but also informs strategies for potential future initiatives,” says Denisse Solis, Manager of the Safe Homes Programme, IFRC Europe Regional Office.New lessons and new questionsThis is particularly critical in cases such as this when the potential solutions are as complex as the challenges. For example, the kind of solidarity shown toward Ukrainian refugees is also extended to all people in need of safety,It’s worth noting, however, that private hosting is not new, nor is it exclusive to Europe and Ukrainian refugees.Private hosting has been widely supported by National Societies, local organizations, and individuals in various ways in all regions along crises where population movement has taken place. The Irish Red Cross’s work in helping to pair Syrian refugees with host families is just one example.There are also other complexities within host communities. Often, they too are going through tough times in different ways. At the time of the Ukraine conflict escalation, for example, the world was still grappling with the aftermath of a global pandemic, with economies and supply chains stressed, and money for public services severely stretched.One key question therefore, is to what degree is it fair to rely too much on private hosting without a proper strategy on what will happen next, as this type of crisis usually it do not resolve easily.“The state has relied almost entirely on the solidarity of its citizens,” noted one representative for local authorities Belgium who was quoted in the report. “It’s a problem because there was no prospect of a long-term solution. Host families were stretched to the limit. Then the pressure fell on local authorities, which had to find solutions.”The Safe Homes Programme report centers around 15 key ‘Lessons learned’. Lesson number one: “Hosting schemes must be designed with clear exit strategies, set up from the start, which enable guests to transition from hosting arrangements.”This lesson is backed up by a quote in the report from a Ukrainian case worker for the Irish Red Cross. “At the very beginning, people thought they were going to be here for a short period of time. Everybody was in this temporary mode,” the case worker said. “Most people were sitting on their suitcases waiting for the day to go back home. But now, you can see the changes in people’s way of thinking. They finally started to realise that it is not going to happen anytime soon.”It all starts with a Safe HomeIn each country, Red Cross Societies implemented the Safe Homes programme in different ways, in the “Safe Homes: Case Studies” you will find detailed information of the differentefforts, successful experiences, but also different challenges. [See also one-page, country-specific summaries of the case studies].“One of the biggest challenges has been the lack of housing, and this is particularly frustrating for social workers because they have no influence on this issue,” said one social worker from the Luxembourg Red Cross quoted in the report.“Many guests feel deeply frustrated because they do not want to return to reception facilities, but they do not have access to social housing either.”In short, hosts provide essential support, but it cannot replace public financing and support for housing. Nor can host families be expected to replace the role of social workers and public authorities. In the end, it’s about providing a complex array of support from a variety of angles and partners. But it starts with a safe home.“Everything starts with accommodation,” says one social worker, Slovak Red Cross quoted in the report. “We heard that all the time from the refugees. Unless they know where they are going to stay, they can't focus on something else like enrolling kids to school, find a job, and so on.”

12/06/2024 |

IFRC appeals for safe access to address growing needs of Sudanese refugees at Ethiopia-Sudan border

Addis Ababa/Nairobi/Geneva, 12 June 2024 – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) urgently call for safe and unhindered humanitarian access to thousands of vulnerable Sudanese refugees near the Metema border point in Ethiopia.Since late April 2023, the Metema and Kumruk entry points have seen people, including Ethiopian returnees, seeking refuge from the ongoing crisis in Sudan. Since the onset of the conflict, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society has been at the forefront of providing humanitarian assistance, delivering psychological first aid, emergency medical services, water, high-energy biscuits, and health promotion initiatives. However, operational, security, and resource challenges significantly hinder these efforts.“Despite our concerted efforts, major challenges persist, including safety and security threats, transport access issues, and insufficient supplies of food, water, and sanitation materials,” said Mohamed Mukhier, IFRC Regional Director for Africa. “These challenges impede our ability to provide the necessary support to the affected communities. Our staff and volunteers are ready and willing to provide assistance, but we need safe and unhindered humanitarian access to carry out our lifesaving work effectively.”Ethiopia now hosts over one million refugees, making it the second-largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, many of whom have fled brutal conflict, leaving everything behind, and are extremely traumatized. There is a need for more support to meet the mounting needs of the refugees, including potable water, food, non-food items, and health and wellbeing facilities at entry points and within the camps. Additionally, support is needed to address the concerns of those protesting for better and more humane conditions in the camps.Paula Fitzgerald, IFRC Head of Country Cluster Delegation for Ethiopia & Djibouti, stressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “Without immediate and sustained support, their situation will worsen. We urgently need resources to improve living conditions for displaced people until a durable solution is found. We call on all parties to come together for the sake of humanity and urge global support for our emergency appeals to help affected communities cope with this crisis.”The IFRC renews its call for financial support, as the Sudan conflict remains one of the most underfunded operations globally. The Emergency Appeal to support the Sudan Red Crescent Society is underfunded, with only 18 percent of the required funds raised. Similarly, a regional population movement appeal to help National Societies in Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and Libya support people displaced from Sudan is only 12 percent funded.For more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected] Nairobi: Susan Nzisa Mbalu, +254 733 827 654In Geneva: Mrinalini Santhanam, +41 76 381 50 06

29/05/2024 |