Julio Martínez, a psychologist and volunteer with the Cuban Red Cross, smiles as he sits in the center of a circle with children during one of the psychosocial support sessions he led in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

Local volunteers and new energy sources power the Cuban Red Cross’s response to Hurricane Melissa

Two active operations, a reinforced strategy, and 39,000 active volunteers across the island. This is how the Cuban Red Cross and the IFRC are tackling recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa, with fuel and energy shortages impacting every aspect of

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 17 million volunteers for the good of humanity.

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Latest news

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2026: United in Humanity. Volunteers at the heart of communities in Cameroon, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe.

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2026: United in Humanity. Volunteers at the heart of communities in Cameroon, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe.

| Article

Joint statement from ICRC President and IFRC President to mark World Red Cross Red Crescent Day

Joint statement from ICRC President and IFRC President to mark World Red Cross Red Crescent Day

| Article

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2026: United in Humanity. No Matter Where, No Matter When

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2026: United in Humanity. No Matter Where, No Matter When

| Article

Humanitarian work should never be a death sentence - yet for many it increasingly is

Humanitarian work should never be a death sentence - yet for many it increasingly is

| Press release
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Latest emergencies

Lebanese Red Cross volunteers prepare humanitarian aid in the city of Aley. They store food parcels, mattresses and others goods in local warehouses so they can be distributed to displaced people.

Lebanon: Complex Emergency

Following an escalation of hostilities in early 2026, the IFRC has revised its emergency appeal to reach 1.2 million people across Lebanon with life-saving services including emergency medical care, food, shelter, and clean water. The Lebanese Red Cross is on the ground around the clock — running ambulances, search and rescue teams, and relief distributions — but needs are growing faster than current resources allow. Donate now to help the Lebanese Red Cross scale up its life-saving response.

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16/03/2026

PDF | Emergency Appeal Revision

Lebanon - Complex Emergency (MDRLB017)

16/03/2026 | PDF | Emergency Appeal Revision

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100,000,000
CHF Needed to help most vulnerable
Your help is needed
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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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120,000,000
CHF Needed to help most vulnerable
Your help is needed
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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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9,600,000
CHF Needed to help most vulnerable
Your help is needed
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Malagasy Red Cross volunteers stand alongside communities across Madagascar, helping residents reinforce their homes before the storm. During and after the cyclone, they guided families to shelters, distributed dignity kits, provided reassurance, and supported authorities with assistance coordination and casualty registration.

Madagascar: Cyclones 2026

Back-to-back cyclones have torn through Madagascar in just ten days, killing dozens of people and affecting more than 450,000, with entire neighbourhoods in Toamasina devastated and communities cut off from food, clean water and health care. Homes, schools, health facilities and livelihoods have been destroyed, and rising floodwaters are increasing the risk of disease outbreaks as thousands of families are left without shelter or basic services. The Malagasy Red Cross Society, with support from the IFRC, is delivering life-saving relief including emergency shelter, clean water, health services and early recovery assistance, but urgent funds are needed to reach 45,000 of the most vulnerable people and scale up before conditions worsen.

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13/02/2026

PDF | Emergency Appeal

Madagascar – Cyclones (MDRMG027)

13/02/2026 | PDF | Emergency Appeal

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7,500,000
CHF Needed to help most vulnerable
Your help is needed
Donate
A Mozambique Red Cross volunteer provides critical supplies to a woman impacted by heavy flooding.

Mozambique: Floods 2026

Since late December 2025, relentless rains and overflowing rivers have caused devastating floods across Mozambique. The floods have affected more than 650,000 people and destroyed homes, livelihoods, crops, water systems and critical infrastructure in seven provinces. With more rainfall forecast and the cyclone season underway, families displaced by the floods face rising risks of disease, hunger and prolonged loss of dignity, while national and local responders are overstretched. The Mozambique Red Cross, with support from the IFRC, is evacuating at-risk communities, delivering emergency relief, providing health and WASH support, and scaling up early recovery assistance. But the Mozambique Red Cross urgently needs more resources to continue reaching the most vulnerable with life-saving support.

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30/01/2026

PDF | Emergency Appeal

Mozambique - Floods (MDRMZ027)

30/01/2026 | PDF | Emergency Appeal

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Funding icon
7,000,000
CHF Needed to help most vulnerable
Your help is needed
Donate
View more Emergencies

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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