Amidst escalating crises, Middle East humanitarian leaders meet to chart new course

18 Apr 2018 |

Baghdad, 18 April 2018 – Red Cross and Red Crescent leaders from across the Middle East and North Africa gather today in Baghdad to discuss the region’s escalating humanitarian crises. More than 140 attendees, including representatives from 16 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, will attend the conference to explore a range of issues, including the shrinking of neutral and impartial humanitarian space, and the rising vulnerabilities of millions of migrants. “The Iraqi Red Crescent Society is pleased to welcome our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners to plan our collective strategy for the next decade,” said Dr Yassin, the President of the Iraqi Red Crescent. “Only together, standing by our humanitarian principles, and advocating for protected humanitarian space, can we alleviate the suffering of millions of vulnerable people in our region.” The Middle East and North Africa region is home to the world’s most pronounced humanitarian crises. The conflict in Syria, now in its seventh year, has left 13 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. In Iraq itself, 15 years of conflict and economic stagnation have left more than 8.5 million people relying on humanitarian relief. In Yemen, more than 80 per cent of the population is in need of aid today – 3.4 million people more than one year ago – after conflict devastated the health system and other essential infrastructure. Only 45 per cent...

Egypt: Celebrating ten years of safer, healthier children

22 Jan 2018 |

The Egyptian Red Crescent Society’s health and safety programme, which teaches children and young people how to create a culture of hygiene, health promotion and risk reduction, is celebrating ten successful years.

Syrian Arab Red Crescent completes evacuation of 29 civilians in critical need of emergency medical care from Eastern Ghouta

29 Dec 2017 |

Damascus/Beirut/Geneva, 29 December 2017—Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers and staff from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have successfully transferred 29 people with serious health conditions from eastern Ghouta near Damascus. The patients and their families were transferred to hospitals in Damascus where they will be treated for their illnesses. There were 17 children among those transferred during the three-day operation, along with six women and six men. All are suffering various life-threatening conditions that require advanced hospital care and treatment. “We’ve been planning for this operation and waiting to be given safe access,” said Mr Khaled Hboubati, the President of Syrian Arab Red Crescent. “Now, our volunteers were able to transfer people with life-threatening chronic diseases and serious injuries to get medical help. We want to thank all parties involved, especially our Red Cross Red Crescent partners, ICRC and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).” In late December, IFRC President, Francesco Rocca, visited Syria and met with senior government officials. Mr Rocca stressed the need to increase regular, safe and secure access of Red Crescent volunteers to communities in need across Syria and to facilitate the transfer of people with serious health conditions to hospitals where they can receive medical attention. “I hope this evacuation will be followed by many more deliveries of relief items and medical assistance to people in...

IFRC President renews call for Syrian Arab Red Crescent access to besieged areas and scale-up of humanitarian relief in Syria

20 Dec 2017 |

Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) volunteers and staff are the lifeline to millions, covering the last and the most difficult mile to reach the most vulnerable.

New guide to urban resilience launched

5 Dec 2017 |

The Red Cross and Red Crescent has published an innovative new guide covering the humanitarian challenges of our increasingly urbanised world.

Institution: Middle East and North Africa