World Red Cross & Red Crescent Day

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Article

In the hills along the border, Lupita brings water, first-aid and a big dose of humanity

In the city of Nogales, in the northern Mexican state of Sonora, just about everyone knows Rosa Guadalupe Gonzalez Bucio.Health personnel, local authorities, consular representatives, social organizations, local merchants – everyone knows this smart, determined, red-clad woman who drives an all-terrain vehicle through the streets and remote dirt paths in and around Nogales.“Lupita,” as she is affectionately known, is an emergency medical technician, the focal point of the Mexican Red Cross's humanitarian aid for vulnerable migrants on the Mexican side of Nogales, a city that straddles the United States and Mexican border.Every day, Lupita is out there, on her little Red Cross buggy, looking for people who are lost, dehydrated or who have been injured after trying to climb the wall that divides the two countries.For many migrants, Mexico is the last step in the journey that people from all over the world undertake to reach the United States. In 2023 alone, there were more than 2.4 million attempts to cross the border between the two countries, which the United Nations called the world's deadliest land migration route.In 2023, at least 686 migrants lost their lives on this route and almost half of them did so trying to cross arid landscapes such as the Sonoran Desert, the one Lupita drives through every day.Tragic stories on an unforgiving journey“Every day of the year we go out in the racer to look for migrants who need help,” Lupita says. “Although there are even more arid areas, here in Nogales during the summer, the temperatures are extreme. Heat stroke, dehydration and animal bites are common. But in the winter, the desert is also a deadly threat”.It was precisely one freezing night 15 years ago when Lupita experienced a story that marked her forever. A woman walking with her young daughter in the desert fell and was immobilized. The group she was walking with called 911 for help and continued on their way. By the time U.S. and Mexican rescue groups reached her, it was too late. She had died.The girl survived, protected by her mother's embrace. But since there were no shelters in the area intended for this type of case, the girl remained in the custody of the Red Cross until the authorities found her family.Today, in Nogales, there are dozens of centers that each year receive thousands of migrants and asylum seekers from countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, as well as from Mexico itself.“We have been providing humanitarian aid to vulnerable people in transit for some 20 years and their stories and needs continue to move me as they did on the first day,” says Lupita.“No matter where they come from, most are fleeing a difficult life and face an uncertain, dangerous path with no access to essential services. That's why, even if it seems little, we go out in the racer to look for them. That's why, even if it seems little, we leave water for them at the altars they build in the desert.”And that is why, although sometimes the needs of the vulnerable migrant population seem unmanageable, the Mexican Red Cross offers them basic medical attention, pre-hospital care, psychosocial support and services that help them reestablish contact with their families.The Red Cross offers these services throughout the country, from border to border, thanks to its network of humanitarian service points and thousands of volunteers who, with their commitment, keep humanity alive.

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Article

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day: How a vigilant volunteer helped thwart an emerging cholera outbreak

The city of Tog Wajaale, perched on the Somaliland-Ethiopia border, serves as a crucial crossing point for people and goods, particularly those coming and going from the port of Berbera, located about 300 kilometers away on the Gulf of Aden.It is also a place where an outbreak of any infectious disease could travel quickly — and far — because of the high levels of commerce and people passing through.That’s one reason the swift action of a Red Crescent community health volunteer Nimao Abdi Bade was so critical during the first days of a cholera outbreak in January 2024.Spotting a family with severe symptoms, Nimao recognized the signs and reported their case via a platform managed by the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS), which then triggered a swift official response from health authorities and the rapid activation of resources from IFRC's Disaster Resonse Emergency Fund.It turned to be the first reported case ofacute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and cholera in Somaliland and it led to a combined and coordinated response that greatly reduced the impact of the outbreak.A vigilant volunteerNimao's vigilance didn't stop at the first case. Tracing the family's contacts, she uncovered more potential cases involving people who had recently crossed the border. This led to confirmation of several cholera cases and a Ministry of Health intervention.Trained by SRCS to identify and reportcases ofacute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and cholera and inspired by her success, she urged others to report illnesses promptly."AWD/Cholera was new to us," Nimao says. "But SRCS training equipped us to respond. I am so proud of myself and being a volunteer of SRCS."The outbreak prompted SRCS to deploy more volunteers for house-to-house visits and hygiene promotion.Nimao's commitment went beyond initial reporting. During her house-to-house visits, she identified five additional cross-border cases, promptly reporting them. These reports, verified by SRCS Community Health Officer Roda Mohamoud Mohamed, led to further investigations. The following day, six more suspected cases were reported and escalated to the Ministry of Health.Empowered by her success, Nimao has become a champion for timely reporting and community-based surveillance. Her diligence exemplifies the vital role volunteers play in strengthening public health responses.SRCS also responded by mobilizing volunteers in Wajaale, another town on the Ethiopian-Somaliland border, and the surrounding areas, as well as the nearby Marodijeh region. The focus shifted to house-to-house visits, hygiene promotion, and raising community awareness about AWD/Cholera risks and prevention.

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Article

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day: Lebanese Red Cross offers relief and a ray of hope for migrant shipwreck survivors

Every year, hundreds of people of Lebanese, Syrian and other nationalities set off from the shores of Lebanon on extremely perilous sea journeys in desperate search for a better life.These journeys often end up in tragedy: In September 2022, a boat carrying over 140 migrants leaving Lebanon sank off the coast of Tartus, Syria; many people drowned, while others went missing.In other cases, boats leaving Lebanon have been pushed back by authorities in countries of destination.Since 2019, Lebanon has been facing anevolving complex humanitarian crisis, with severe inflation, unemployment and deteriorating living conditions pushing people to leave the country.“People who usually take the decision to leave often tell us that they have nothing to lose, so they are willing to risk their lives in order to have a chance at a better life in another country,” says Alaa Ammar, Migration Lead and Protection Coordinator at the Lebanese Red Cross.Migrants who survive drowning incidents return to the shore suffering from exhaustion and in need of medical assistance. They often have a place to go to, or a relative to stay with, but they don’t have any money for transportation or to simply get by.Bringing services where needed mostRecognizing the needs of migrants who suffer the consequences of pushbacks from other countries and shipwrecks, the Lebanese Red Cross established mobile Humanitarian Service Points (HSPs) covering different locations along the Lebanese coast.These HSPs are safe, welcoming and strategically located spaces where migrants and displaced people can access reliable support from Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.“The Lebanese Red Cross’ mobile HSPs offer a variety of services based on the need and urgency of the situation,” says Alaa, who also oversees a program called Restoring Family Links that helps migrants reconnect with family members. Other services include emergency medical assistance, shelter, water, hygiene and sanitation services, relief items, food, psychosocial support, and transportation.Since their establishment, mobile HSPs have been deployed on more than eight occasions in Lebanon; this includes responses in Beirut, Tripoli and at the Syrian border.The most recent shipwreck incident occurred in December 2023, off the coast of the northern city of Tripoli, with Lebanese authorities rescuing 51 people, all of whom received emergency medical assistance from a Lebanese Red Cross mobile HSP.The critical factor: trustBut to deliver its life-saving assistance, the Lebanese Red Cross HSPs often rely on people’s trust, which is an essential component that allows the Red Cross Red Crescent movement to operate in local contexts around the world.“The trust that the Lebanese Red Cross has built with people in Lebanon over the years is very evident and is shown by survivors, who often say that they feel relieved when they see our emblem,” Alaa adds.The Lebanese Red Cross’ migration program, including HSPs, has been supported by the Middle East & North Africa Migration Network, a regional network that consists of 15 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, led by the IFRC regional office in collaboration with the ICRC and Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies from other regions.“The MENA Migration network was established to strengthen and share expertise and experiences to work with and for migrants, including refugees, their families, and host communities,” says Yasmin Hakim, Migration and Displacement Officer at the IFRC Middle East and North Africa Regional Office.“This year, the network plans to equip National Societies with the skills and leading training initiatives for their staff and volunteers on migration and HSPs to enhance their readiness and preparedness to assist migrants and displaced people.”--Click here to learn more about Migration and Displacement. For an overview of IFRC’s migration programs,click here.

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Press release

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day: 8 May is a chance to celebrate and commemorate

This Wednesday, 8 May, is World Red Cross Red Crescent Day. Sixteen million volunteers and staff across our network will reflect on 12 months of activity with a mix of appreciation, admiration and sadness.The year since 8 May 2023 has seen incredible efforts across all 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The five short stories below give a flavour of what volunteers have done.But the last 12 months have also been ones of profound sadness. Our network has lost 30 people who died on duty since last 8 May. Since the beginning of the Israel/Palestine conflict, 22 people have been killed (18 from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, 4 from Magen David Adom in Israel). That’s the highest total from a single ‘cause’ since IFRC record-keeping began. The other 8 deaths were of volunteers in Libya, Sudan, Ethiopia and Iran. The IFRC put together a short tribute video in mid-April honouring those killed up to then. This year, the theme for World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is ‘Keeping Humanity Alive’. We’re using it to call for greater protection for humanitarian workers and to highlight the positive work those in our network do.The IFRC X account will host, here, a special live ‘Spaces’ audio programme at 9.30am CET, featuring a panel of Red Cross and Red Crescent staff from around the world.For interviews with any of the volunteers highlighted below, or members of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent leadership team about work over the last 12 months, please contact us.For interview requests, send an email to [email protected], by phone:Andrew Thomas +41 763676587Mrinalini Santhanam +41 763815006Tommaso Della Longa +41797084367Red Cross/Red Crescent Network – stories of four volunteers.Syria – Muhammad GhazawiyaMuhammad Ghazawiya, a volunteer with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, was part of the response team addressing the fires in the Latakia countryside in 2023. During their operations, the team came across a house of an elderly couple, their children, and grandchildren. There were 15 people in it in total. As the fire neared the house, Ghazawiya and his team moved fast to evacuate the family. Despite initial reluctance from the father of the family, they successfully persuaded him to leave, ensuring the safe evacuation of all family members without any injuries. The overall response efforts spanned a week, involving the evacuation of families from hazardous areas, support for firefighters, and the distribution of water and food to affected individuals.Japan - Makoto MoriokaMakoto Morioka, a staff member of the Ishikawa Chapter of the Japanese Red Cross, fled his home alongside neighbours when they were hit by the Noto Peninsula earthquake on 1 January 2024. Arriving at the pre-designated evacuation centre with his family, he found it had been damaged and was not safe to stay in. He immediately led a relocation, loading supplies into a cart and heading for a school on higher ground. Thanks to the disaster simulation drills he had done at the Red Cross disaster preparedness seminar, he was able to act without hesitation, giving his community a safe place to shelter until buildings in his town were safe to return to.Mexico - Lupita DuránOver the last year, Lupita Durán, a volunteer with the Mexican Red Cross has been driving ‘the Racer’, a motorised humanitarian service point. With it, she travels through the desert of Nogales, Sonora, on the US-Mexico border, looking for migrants in need of first aid. Every afternoon, she also leaves water along their migration route, one that runs parallel to the wall that separates the two countries. There is video footage of Lupita, free to download from here.Türkiye - Hafize Naz ErgüneyIn the aftermath of 2023’s earthquake, Hafize decided she needed to help. Going to the ’tent city’ in the main park of the town of Kilavuzlu, she was surprised to bump into two of her best friends, Tuana and Rümeysa. Unbeknown to her, they had made the same decision. The three friends helped prepare, package and provide food, particularly for the elderly. Together, says Haifze, they became like a family, one sharing an immense sense of achievement. ”There is strength in unity” says Hafize ”we gave meaning to that.”Zambia: Emmanuel ChilufyaEmmanuel began volunteering with the Zambia Red Cross when he was just 12 years old and has now, at 23, accumulated over a decade of experience. As a medical student and the chairperson of national youth programs at the Zambia Red Cross, he isleading efforts in the response to the cholera outbreak in Zambia. His roles are varied and crucial, including reconnecting patients with their families, educating recovered patients on health, and distributing chlorine. Emmanuel believes deeply in the power of community and service. “The Red Cross and Red Crescent has no boundaries—it's universal, available everywhere, for everyone.”

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Article

A message for World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day

On 8 May, we commemorate World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, and celebrate local to global humanitarian action. It is a day when we honour the legacy of Henry Dunant, the pioneering volunteer who founded the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement more than 160 years ago. Above all, today is a day that we pay tribute to the millions of volunteers and staff working alongside people in need of protection, assistance, healthcare, social aid and solidarity.Amid armed conflicts and violence,disasters, climate-related crises, epidemics, food insecurityandmass displacements in some of the world’s most vulnerable situations, our commitment to helping others remains strong. In these challenging times, the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems we wear are powerful symbols promising protection to people in need. Their universal recognition is crucial to help protect volunteers and staff worldwide as they carry out their life-saving work. Upholding neutral and impartial humanitarian action is paramount and allows our teams to access the most remote, at-risk communities in crisis.With so many global challenges competing for attention and resources, we are committed to shining a light on and addressing the forgotten crises around the world.In a time of polarization and the dehumanization of various groups, including migrants, neighbouring communities, and even first aid workers, our Movement reinforces the basic principle of humanity, especially in the places where it is most essential to keeping Humanity alive.Respect for international humanitarian law not only preserves the humanity of people affected by crises, it preserves our own humanity – both today and in the future. Upholding international humanitarian law reflects the Movement’s core values and is essential for ensuring the well-being and dignity of all people in need.Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff are often the first to respond to to a crisis or disaster. From the most remote corners of the globe and the most challenging contexts, our volunteers and staff are pillars of hope. Every day, they keep humanity alive, providing comfort to people in desperate need – sometimes paying the highest price in the process. This WorldRed Cross and Red Crescent Day, we honour their service, bravery and sacrifice.Beyond borders and amidst our diverse backgrounds, the unity of our Movement lies in our shared commitment to humanitarian action. Our work is rooted in the principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. Even in the darkest moments, every act of kindness is a beacon of hope, promising a brighter tomorrow.On this day, we fondly remember our colleagues who have died while supporting our humanitarian mission and extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones. We also have immense gratitude to all Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff for their unwavering dedication. Let us continue to work together to keep Humanity alive.Kate ForbesIFRC PresidentMercedes BabéStanding Commission ChairMirjana SpoljaricICRC President

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Article

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day: How humanitarian principles help keep humanity alive during times of division in Myanmar

Dr. Chaw Khin was only in fifth grade when she took part in first aid training sponsored by the Myanmar Red Cross Society, laying the foundation for a lifelong dedication to the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.Later, during her university years, she began actively engaging in Red Cross activities within her community.Now, aged 66, Dr. Chaw serves as the chair of the Magway Region Red Cross Supervisory Committee. Her transparent approach and emphasis on the Fundamental Principles haspaved the way for effective response in a time of uncertainty and recurring crises.In February 2021, the political and humanitarian landscape drastically changed in Myanmar. Already dealing with the continued impact of COVID-19 and harsh economic conditions, the Magway Region was then affected by clashes between various factions, leading to the displacement of thousands of people.Undeterred, Dr. Chaw navigated the complex environment, conducting dissemination sessions on humanitarianprinciples in order to build trust with people affectedby these crises, as well as all other groups, organizations and agencies involved.A critical foundation, says Dr. Chaw, has been the principle of Independence, which means the Red Cross only focuses on its mandate to help people in need and is not part of any particular group’s agenda.“It’s important to continuously promote and emphasize the independence of the Myanmar Red Cross in all and any form of engagement with all partners, whether formal or informal,” Dr. Chaw says.This is particularly important when various sectors of the community do not trust each other. “Advocacy to local authorities and community has led to increased acceptance in most of the Magway region, but some areas still experience hatred between different sides in the conflict,” she says.That distrust and division is one reason thatACAPS, an organization that seeks to help humanitarians make informed decisions, has categorizedMyanmar as one of five countries globally in “extremely severe constraints" in terms of humanitarian access.Those difficulties also affectthe Myanmar Red Cross, and this is why Dr. Chaw’s transparent and persistent negotiations and dialoguewith numerous groups and communitiesare so important.Supporting the volunteersAsMyanmar Red Cross volunteers are part of the communities they serve, this unrest and upheaval affected them too. Many were displaced from their townships.Dr. Khin made it a priority to keep in touch with her volunteers and ensure they were given as much support as possible.The maintenance of volunteer registration cards, a process she diligently oversaw as a leader, ensured continued support for the volunteers, even in new and challenging circumstances.From pandemic to stormsThe true impact of Dr. Chaw 's leadership unfolded during relief distributions to vulnerable communities. During the pandemic, she served as chair of the COVID-19 Response Committee in Magway Region. In that role, she helped establish strong community relationships and gained the trust of local authorities.In May 2023, Cyclone Mocha – tied with 2019’s Cyclone Fani as the strongest ever recorded in the north Indian Ocean - wreaked havoc in the western and northwestern parts of Myanmar, bringing new misery to struggling communities.During all these challenges, Dr. Chaw played a crucial role in ensuring equitable community access to health, water, sanitation, and education services.Humbled by her experiences, she is full of praise for the Myanmar Red Cross Society and thevolunteers of the Magway Red Cross branch, for everything they do to keep humanity alive.By Swe Zin Myo WinPhotos: Khaing Wai Aung and Htun Kyaw, Myanmar Red Cross Society

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Article

Keeping humanity alive by helping communities stay safe from infectious diseases

In the outskirts of Bongor, a town on the western border of Chad, volunteers from the local Red Cross and the French Red Cross are hard at work.In a residential area teeming with children and animals — and under daily scorching heat — the volunteers are organising activities with the community aimed at helping prevent and control the spread of infectious disease.The community here lacks the infrastructure needed to deliver safe water or discharge their wastewater. And because public fountains used for gathering water are not maintained rigorously, the risk of infection here is high.Lack of sanitation systems means that other risky practices, such as open defecation, pose significant hygienic and epidemiological risks.For this reason, the volunteers are raising public awareness about ways people can protect themselves from infection, such as proper cleaning and sanitation of water sources as well as practices to avoid.“The activities raised real awareness among community members,” says Catherine, a 26-year-old volunteer for the Chad Red Cross and local resident. “We notice in particular that the vaccination centre is much busier.”A pharmacy technician, Catherine has been volunteering with the Chad Red Cross for more than a year. She is responsible for raising awareness of the dangers of open defecation.Red Cross volunteers and community members are mobilised three times a week to clean areas most at risk and raise awareness of good practices.“The project will continue to live on its own on the principle of the community transmitting [this information] to the community,” Catherine adds.Catherine is passionate about her work to build knowledge and resilience in her community, and stop diseases from spreading. “The objective,” she explains, “is to fight measles, yellow fever, poliomyelitis, Guinea worm and COVID-19”.The Red Cross volunteers use community disease surveillance methods to keep people safe – recording health-related data about specific issues or incidence of illness affecting the community, and encouraging people to report suspected cases.For Marie-Claire, a state-certified nurse and resident of Bongor who manages a women-led health centre in the city, the Red Cross efforts are effective because they have built trust with people in the community."The Red Cross serves as a trusted intermediary between residents and the health centre,” she says. “The Red Crossconducts disease surveillance and sends pregnant women or those suspected of illnesses for consultations [with the health centre]."The volunteers’ disease-prevention work in various neighbourhoods of Bongor is supported by the Programmatic Partnership between the IFRC network and the European Union. The partnership provides strategic, flexible, long-term and predictable funding, so that National Societies can act before a crisis or health emergency occurs. It is being implemented in 24 countries around the world.

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World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day

The theme of this year’s World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day — Keeping Humanity Alive — is a call to celebrate those who give their time, and sometimes their lives, to ease the suffering of others and protect their inherent human dignity. In a time of unprecedented crises and loss, it’s also a poignant reminder of the daily dangers faced by humanitarian workers and our collective obligation to ensure their life-saving work is fully respected and protected.