A Lebanese Red Cross volunteer straps on his helmet before going on a mission.

World Humanitarian Day 2026: Protect those who protect humanity

They show up to save lives in conflicts, disasters and health emergencies. It's time the world did more to protect them.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network.

Our secretariat supports local Red Cross and Red Crescent action in more than 191 countries, bringing together more than 18 million volunteers for the good of humanity.

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Ongoing operations

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IFRC is supporting the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) through coordination, operational planning, and a CHF 100,000 DREF allocation following the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, as PMI provides emergency shelter, health services, psychosocial support, clean water, and relief assistance to affected communities.

Ongoing operations

IFRC is supporting the Colombian Red Cross response to the devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake through a CHF 1 million DREF allocation and the launch of a CHF 25 million Emergency Appeal to provide urgent relief and longer-term recovery support for affected communities.

Ongoing operations

IFRC is scaling up its Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo while supporting continued preparedness efforts in Uganda, as the outbreak expands geographically and the Emergency Appeal is revised to meet growing humanitarian needs.

Ongoing operations

IFRC has launched a DREF operation in Nigeria to respond to a major cholera outbreak through community engagement, surveillance, oral rehydration services, and health and hygiene activities.

Ongoing operations

IFRC has launched a DREF operation in Djibouti to support communities affected by severe storms and heavy rainfall through cash assistance, health services, safe water access, and psychosocial support.

Ongoing operations

IFRC is supporting humanitarian action related to the large-scale population movement at the Ceuta border crossing between Morocco and Spain, where tens of thousands of people crossed within 48 hours.

Ongoing operations

IFRC is supporting emergency response efforts in Japan following a major earthquake that caused deaths, displacement, and widespread disruption to essential services.

Ongoing operations

IFRC is scaling up its dengue response in Sri Lanka as cases and deaths continue to rise, expanding community engagement, surveillance, and disease-prevention activities.

Latest news

Why the world cannot normalize the killing of those who help

Why the world cannot normalize the killing of those who help

| Article

Three months into the Ebola outbreak: Overcoming local resistance, Red Cross volunteers stand by their communities by building trust as the virus continues to spread

Three months into the Ebola outbreak: Overcoming local resistance, Red Cross volunteers stand by their communities by building trust as the virus continues to spread

| Article

Colombia earthquake: IFRC launches CHF 25 million appeal as response scales up

Colombia earthquake: IFRC launches CHF 25 million appeal as response scales up

| Press release

Acting before the crisis: The Colombian Red Cross is combining science and anticipation in its response to the El Niño phenomenon

Acting before the crisis: The Colombian Red Cross is combining science and anticipation in its response to the El Niño phenomenon

| Article
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Latest emergencies

Colombian Red Cross volunteers respond in areas affected by the 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia, where search-and-rescue operations and damage assessments remain ongoing.

Colombia: Earthquake 2026

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake has devastated western Colombia, killing at least 176 people, injuring thousands more, and leaving families without homes, clean water, or medical care across 14 departments. Colombian Red Cross teams are on the ground right now — carrying out search and rescue, treating the injured, reuniting separated families, and getting emergency shelter and aid to those whohave lost everything — but the scale of destruction is outpacing what they can do alone.IFRC has launched an emergency appeal to support the response activities of the Colombian Red Cross. Donations are made to the IFRC, which will channel resources to its member National Society and ensure accountability for their use.Donate today to help IFRC and the Colombian Red Cross scale up their response and bring life-saving assistance to those who need it most.

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13/08/2026

PDF | Emergency Appeal

Colombia - Earthquake (MDRCO036)

13/08/2026 | PDF | Emergency Appeal

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25,000,000
CHF Needed to help most vulnerable
Your help is needed
Donate
Venezuela Red Cross teams respond to devastating earthquake.

Venezuela: Earthquake 2026

Two powerful earthquakes have struck Venezuela, severely affecting Gran Caracas and La Guaira, and causing widespread destruction across the capital and surrounding areas. The Venezuelan Red Cross is on the ground, carrying out search and rescue operations, assisting the injured, and assessing urgent and growing needs.IFRC has launched an emergency appeal to support the response activities of the Venezuelan Red Cross. Donations are made to the IFRC, which will channel resources to its member National Society and ensure accountability for their use.Donate today to help IFRC and VRC scale up their response and bring life-saving assistance to those who need it most.

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26/06/2026

PDF | Emergency Appeal

Venezuela-Earthquake (MDRVE015)

26/06/2026 | PDF | Emergency Appeal

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Funding icon
50,000,000
CHF Needed to help most vulnerable
Your help is needed
Donate
A DRC Red Cross volunteer shares an educational leaflet and talks with a community member about Ebola prevention. Supported by the IFRC, volunteers are going door-to-door to combat misinformation and encourage early medical care.

Africa: Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak 2026

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is rapidly escalating, with cases and deaths continuing to rise as the virus spreads across multiple provinces and into neighboring Uganda. Families and communities urgently need access to reliable health information, early detection, safe burials, and lifesaving public health support to prevent further transmission and protect overwhelmed health systems. Donate today to help the DRC and Uganda Red Cross Societies to provide life-saving assistance.Read more: IFRC delivers critical supplies to eastern DRC amid ongoing Ebola outbreak

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22/05/2026

PDF | Emergency Appeal

EVD Regional Appeal (MDRS1007)

22/05/2026 | PDF | Emergency Appeal

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Funding icon
29,500,000
CHF Needed to help most vulnerable
Your help is needed
Donate
First responders from the Iranian Red Crescent dig through rubble looking for survivors.

Iran: Complex Emergency 2026

Since late February 2026, devastating strikes across Iran have killed hundreds, injured thousands, and disrupted essential services for up to 60 million people. The Iranian Red Crescent Society has mobilized thousands of responders to deliver search and rescue, medical aid, and emergency relief across the country — but the scale of need is far beyond what they can meet alone. Donate today to help the Iranian Red Crescent reach 10 million people with life-saving assistance.

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11/04/2026

PDF | Emergency Appeal Revision

Iran - Complex Emergency 2026 (MDRIR018)

11/04/2026 | PDF | Emergency Appeal Revision

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Funding icon
120,000,000
CHF Needed to help most vulnerable
Your help is needed
Donate
Man shows devastating impact of drought on crop fields in Cameroon's Far North.

Cameroon: Food Insecurity 2026

Cameroon is facing a deepening food crisis, with 3.3 million people unable to afford enough food as conflict, climate shocks and rising prices push families toward emergency levels of hunger. Food stocks are depleted, leaving children and pregnant women at growing risk of malnutrition. The Cameroon Red Cross Society is scaling up emergency food, cash, nutrition and livelihood support to reach 330,000 of the most vulnerable people. But urgent funding is needed to expand this response. Your donation can make a difference – donate now to help the Cameroon Red Cross provide life-saving assistance.

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26/02/2026

PDF | Emergency Appeal

Cameroon - Food Insecurity (MDRCM042)

26/02/2026 | PDF | Emergency Appeal

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Funding icon
9,600,000
CHF Needed to help most vulnerable
Your help is needed
Donate
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Our Global Plan for 2026

IFRC Global Plan 2026

The IFRC’s Global Plan 2026addresses the world’s most pressing humanitarian issues and outlines how the IFRC – as a global network of local actors – is evolving to place more resources and expertise closer to its 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The IFRC’s support for local humanitarian action is needed more than ever in a rapidly changing world where increasing numbers of people are placed at risk by climate extremes, disasters, health crises, displacement and other threats to their safety, security and wellbeing. The Global Planoutlines how the IFRC is evolving to ensure National Societies and their 17 million community-based volunteers are able to meet and address these challenges. In 2026, wherever people are at risk, the IFRC will work to empower the locally led humanitarian action that supports communities in crisis and builds the lasting resilience that reduces future needs.The executive summary of the plan is available here.

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