The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies calls for more measures to safeguard relief workers in crisis areas and warns of a deterioration in adherence to international law.
Leading Red Cross officials have warned that rising violence and worsening working conditions for humanitarian workers are a result of escalating international conflicts and a deterioration in regard for international law.
“Today, our work is increasingly difficult,” International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies President Kate Forbes stated Wednesday.
“Global conflicts have escalated, endangering civilians and our volunteers, making it even more difficult to deliver humanitarian aid.”
Forbes was addressing delegates from 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies at the IFRC’s general session in Geneva. In total, they have over 16 million volunteers across the globe.
She expressed concern that, just since the start of this year, 30 of the network’s volunteers had been assassinated. Some of them perished in the horrific civil war in Sudan, while many more were victims of Israel’s catastrophic war in Gaza.
“Each loss is a deep one for both the communities we serve and for our global network, weakening our ability to support those in need,” Forbes stated.
She stated that “the surge in violence against humanitarian workers underscores a decline in the adherence to international humanitarian law and poses a direct threat to our mission” .
“Dehumanizing whole populations”
The International Committee of the Red Cross president, Mirjana Spoljaric, concurred, claiming that the movement was “confronted with unprecedented challenges to our principles.”
“As we come together today, intense armed conflicts and political turmoil shape the world we operate in,” she stated to the crowd.
“The relevance of impartial, neutral, and independent humanitarian action — which ensure we can reach those most in need — are being tested at an alarming rate,” she stated.
“This is exactly when our commitment to these principles matters most.”
Next week in Geneva, Spoljaric’s ICRC and the IFRC will co-organize an international conference that will primarily focus on increasing adherence to international law.
The largest humanitarian network in the world, she claimed, was witnessing “the world standing by, allowing for dehumanization of entire populations.”
“This is precisely when we must work together to put humanity at the centre,” she stated.
Forbes announced the creation of “the Red Family Fund” on Wednesday in response to the growing number of fatalities, with the goal of giving money to the families of those who have lost their lives while performing their duties.
“This is a tangible step that demonstrates our commitment to honour those who care for others,” she stated.
