May 8, 2013

The Red Cross reflects on a changing humanitarian landscape as it reaches its 150th anniversary

Red Cross volunteers carrying boxes of aid
©IFRC

On World Red Cross Red Crescent Day, the world’s largest humanitarian network celebrates 150 years of humanitarian action and a continued commitment to serve the vulnerable in today’s changing world.

Widely recognised for its neutrality, and with 188 National Societies worldwide, the Red Cross reaches millions of people each year through programmes in disaster management, health and social care.

Since its founding, the nature of crisis and war has continuously evolved, with the number of natural disasters increasing by 400 per cent in the past 40 years and conflicts making humanitarian access difficult in places.

Alexandra Murdoch International, News 0 Humanitarian work, Red Cross Red Crescent Day, Red Cross volunteers, Syria

Apr 15, 2013

How the Red Cross is learning from the city

Man standing amid rubble in Haiti
© Claudia Janke/BRC

Every day, more than 100,000 people move to urban slums in the developing world – the equivalent of one person every second. They live in challenging conditions and face multiple threats to their lives.

On 19 April, the British Red Cross launches its study on humanitarian action in urban areas at an Overseas Development Institute event. More

Sarah Oughton International, News 0 Learning from the City, ODI, Overseas Development Institute, Slums, urban hazards, Urbanisation

Apr 12, 2013

Video: Red Cross aids people displaced by violence in Myanmar

Girl in a pink top carrying a bowl of water on her head

Girl carrying water in camp for displaced people in Rakhine state
© Joe Cropp/IFRC

A new video produced by the Myanmar Red Cross shows volunteers responding to humanitarian needs in Rakhine state following outbreaks of violence in 2012.

Tensions continue to run high between ethnic Rakhine and Muslim communities. Communications which demonstrate the impartiality and neutrality of the Red Cross are vital to ensure good access to affected populations.

Sarah Oughton International, News 1 communications training, conflict, displaced people, Myanmar, Myanmar Red Cross, violence

Mar 24, 2013

World TB Day: Red Cross fights disease of poverty in Kazakhstan

Aigherim standing outside with her husband, sister and baby niece
© Sarah Oughton/BRC

Tuberculosis (TB) threatens thousands of lives in Kazakhstan and every day Red Crescent workers are providing vital support to people facing discrimination.

In the city of Karaganda, the stigma of TB has left Aigherim and her family living in fear of eviction by their landlord.

Although it is a curable disease, TB kills three people every minute (Stop TB). People who lack the resources to live a healthy life are most at risk, which is why it is often called a ‘disease of poverty’.

Sarah Oughton Health, International, News 1 Asia, discrimination, Health services, Kazakhstan Red Crescent, Multi-drug resistant TB, stigma, TB, Tuberculosis, World TB Day

Mar 19, 2013

Red Cross targets hunger and HIV threat in Zimbabwe

Agnes from Matshuzula village has no resources and nothing to grow in her field
© Benoit Matsha-Carpentier/IFRC

As hunger and HIV continue to threaten lives and livelihoods in Zimbabwe, the Red Cross is helping 9,000 families generate their own food and income with agricultural training.

In the past nine months drought, followed by rains, floods and an outbreak of crop-eating caterpillars have hit farming provinces in Zimbabwe hard.

Around 32 per cent of children are chronically malnourished (UNICEF September 2012) and around 1.6 million people are currently in need of help to get enough food to eat on a daily basis. More

Sarah Oughton International, News 0 food, HIV, hunger, livelihoods, malnutrition, sanitation, water, zimbabwe

Feb 11, 2013

West Africa update: supporting people affected by Mali conflict

This week sees the closure of our West Africa Food Crisis Appeal. However, with access to food remaining difficult – and conflict in Mali making humanitarian needs in the region worse – the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement will continue to support people across the region.

71-year-old Thiombiano L’Oudalan, Burkina Faso

The Movement has been working in west Africa for many years, and has been responding to the food crisis there since December 2011. More

Ellie Matthews Appeals, Emergencies, International, News 0 Burkina Faso, Chad, displaced people, food security, internally displaced people, Mali, Mauritania, niger, Senegal, west Africa, West Africa Food Crisis Appeal

Jan 23, 2013

Red Cross helps Britons from Algeria hostage crisis

A British Red Cross psychosocial support team has returned to the UK after helping Britons involved in the Algerian hostage crisis. Team member Sarah Davidson reports back on what happened:

On 17 January 2013, militants overran a gas plant facility in eastern Algeria. The four-day siege and hostage taking resulted in the deaths of 37 foreigners of eight nationalities and one Algerian worker. Three Britons were killed and three others are missing and presumed dead.

Our team of six travelled to North Africa on 18 January to provide emotional support and practical help to British nationals caught in the situation, and their relatives. More

Sarah Oughton International, News 0 Algeria, hostage crisis, Psychosocial support, trauma

Jan 10, 2013

Three years on: a multi-coloured path to the future in Haiti

As the Red Cross helps regenerate a community devastated by the Haiti earthquake on 12 January 2010, it is taking an innovative approach, ensuring the people affected are in the driving seat.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement launched its biggest disaster relief operation ever in a single country.

As the emergency phase shifted into longer-term recovery, the British Red Cross provided support for shelter, livelihoods, health, water and sanitation, helping more than 340,000 people.

Sarah Oughton Appeals, Emergencies, International, News 4 earthquake, Haiti, livelihoods, recovery programme, shelter