Laura Archer, IFRC public health and clinical care expert, spoke to @BBCNews about the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Red Cross volunteers and staff are supporting communities on the front lines. From risk communication and community engagement to surveillance, contact tracing and Safe and Dignified Burials, the @IFRC network is working with national authorities and partners to help stop the spread of the virus.

Different landscapes. Different crises. The same human heart. Across the world, our staff and volunteers and the people they serve are neighbors, friends, colleagues, family members. This is what unites us. This is who we are, united in humanity. #8May

“The ceasefire is not the end of the conflict, it’s a very fragile situation, more than 1 million people displaced, they cannot come back to their houses, the needs are increasing,” said @CCortezIFRC, speaking from #Beirut after visiting southern Lebanon. Across #Lebanon, displacement remains widespread, with many families still unable to return home and facing limited access to basic services. The @RedCrossLebanon, with the support of the @ifrc, continues to deliver essential assistance, including health care, food, and shelter. This support continues despite the IFRC Emergency Appeal being critically underfunded, with urgent international support needed to sustain operations and reach those most affected.

The @IFRC welcomes the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and hopes it brings much-needed respite to civilians who have endured immense suffering and devastation. But the ceasefire alone will not end humanitarian needs, which is why continued support for our appeal remains essential. I salute the courage and dedication of the Lebanese Red Cross @RedCrossLebanon whose teams continue delivering critical assistance tirelessly, despite the unacceptable loss of two staff volunteers killed in the violence while providing life-saving aid. The ceasefire alone will not end the humanitarian needs, which is why continued support for our appeal remains essential. We remain hopeful that this crucial step will pave the way for greater stability and lasting peace across the region.

Honoured to welcome #Pope to Yaoundé today, a powerful moment to champion compassion, humanity, and food security. Food is a fundamental right. It protects dignity, empowers communities, and lays the foundation for lasting #peace. Add your support 👉bit.ly/47h1oXGbit.ly/47h1oXG

The tragic death of our colleague Hassan Badawi earlier this week is a stark reminder that humanitarian workers must be protected. No one should have to risk their life to save another. 💔 @RedCrossLebanon

As humanitarian needs in Iran grow and traditional supply routes remain disrupted, overland aid deliveries are helping essential relief reach affected communities. The @IFRC and Turkish @RedCrescent shipment of trauma kits and relief items via Türkiye is an important step in supporting the Iranian Red Crescent’s response. More via @Reuters 👇 reuters.com/world/middle-eas…

In the face of a sharp escalation of hostilities, the @RedCrossLebanon mobilized an extensive emergency response driven by one priority: caring for people and saving lives. Over 100 ambulances were deployed across affected areas. Emergency medical teams and specialized rescue units worked tirelessly to reach those injured or trapped under rubble, while hundreds of blood units were distributed to save lives. Amid fear and shock, many people also received psychological first aid. As needs continued to rise, the Lebanese Red Cross issued an urgent call for blood donations, appealing to solidarity and humanity at a critical moment. My colleagues from @ifrc in Beirut are providing continuous support and coordination. I am relieved to confirm that none of them were affected by the strikes. I am deeply concerned by today’s events and their impact on civilians. The mission of the Lebanese Red Cross remains firm: to save lives, alleviate suffering, and stand alongside those affected, without distinction, without judgement, and with humanity at the center of every action.

RT @jagan_chapagain: The welcome announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, provides a critical opportunity f…

I am heartbroken and outraged. Today we mourn Abolfazl Dahanavi, a 20-year-old Iranian Red Crescent @Iranian_RCS volunteer killed on 4 April in Isfahan Province while carrying out humanitarian activities. Abolfazl is the fourth Iranian Red Crescent volunteer killed in the line of duty since 28 February. Four lives lost in five weeks, all while trying to help others survive. This is unjustifiable. We have mourned before. We have called for protection before. We are calling again with greater urgency and outrage: the killing of humanitarian personnel must stop. My deepest condolences go to Abolfazl’s family, his loved ones, and his colleagues in the Iranian Red Crescent Society. We stand beside them in grief and in solidarity. 👉bit.ly/4cpU8LR

Recent rains in Cameroon’s Far North have flooded sorghum farms, further impacting communities already affected by food insecurity. The situation continues to deteriorate. Another shock in an already fragile context Support our emergency appeal bit.ly/47h1oXG @IFRCAfrica

We cannot look away when millions are struggling simply to eat. Cameroon is facing a silent hunger crisis with more than 3.3 million people struggling to find enough food. The Cameroon Red Cross @CroixRougeCam, supported by @IFRC and Movement partners, is delivering cash transfers, cereal bank support, agricultural recovery, nutrition activities and community resilience programmes. However, existing resources are insufficient relative to the scale of needs. The IFRC has launched an Emergency Appeal for CHF 9.6 million to support the Cameroon Red Cross in scaling up assistance for the most vulnerable communities. Help us make a difference. 👉bit.ly/4kWZykl

Once again, our network is mourning the loss of a colleague. I am deeply saddened by the killing of Dr. Somayeh Mir Abo Eshagh, a 44-year-old volunteer with the Iranian Red Crescent Society, who lost her life on 27 March while carrying out a Red Crescent mission to provide humanitarian relief assistance and psychosocial support services to those in need. Just one month into the conflict, Dr. Somayeh is the second @Iranian_RCS volunteer killed while saving lives. On behalf of the @IFRC, I send my deepest condolences to her family, loved ones, and all @Iranian_RCS colleagues. The killing of Soumaya, and any attack on humanitarians is unacceptable and must be condemned. We continue to call for the protection of humanitarian teams who risk everything to save lives - this is a moral and legal obligation. Our statement: bit.ly/4tnA6aJ

Real localisation, in my view, is about “local ownership in decision-making”, from designing to planning to delivering. In my recent interview with Geneva Solutions, I unpack the toll that aid cuts are taking on the people and humanitarian ecosystem.

We continue to follow closely the rapid and concerning developments in the Middle East. The @IFRC is working with the affected National Societies to support a timely humanitarian response as needs rise. We have immediately activated our Disaster Response Emergency Fund @IFRC_DREF to support the response in Iran. Across the region, teams from our IFRC network are already on the ground, providing urgent medical care, transporting the wounded, and supporting emergency health services as needs grow. Important to preserve humanitarian space so humanitarian and medical personnel can operate safely and reach people in need.

It was invigorating to sit with James Bays for ‘Talk to Al Jazeera’ last month. Our discussion, being broadcast this week, touches on so many humanitarian crises. From escalating weather-related emergencies to financial cuts that will lead to more deaths at sea, our discussion was broad. youtu.be/VdUt8FJhKxU?si=QWwX… via @YouTube

Under the theme “Local, Everywhere”, the IFRC Global Plan 2026, launched today, focuses on enabling community-led, globally supported action that delivers faster, more trusted, and cost-efficient outcomes.  
Humanitarian needs are growing at an unprecedented pace. Between 2020 and 2024, disasters affected close to 700 million people, caused over 100 million displacements, and killed over 270,000 people. The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has more than doubled, from 192 million in early 2020 to over 433 million by the end of 2024. IFRC 2026 Global Plan Executive Summary (document only page) ifrc.org/document/ifrc-2026-… bit.ly/4iTpU5G

The @IFRC’s Global Plan 2026 is a renewed call to support locally led humanitarian action. A 3.4 billion CHF plan focused on protecting people most at risk. Together, we can ensure no one stands alone in a crisis, and that help and hope reach everyone who needs them. Check our 2026 Global Plan. 👉bit.ly/4iTpU5G

RT @ifrc: Our Secretary General @jagan_chapagain reminds us of what's at stake during the #COP30 discussions.

In the Philippines, following the recent back to back disasters, the @IFRC is providing critical support to Philippine Red Cross @philredcross teams, which continue to play a crucial role in every stage of the life-saving response. In the face of the multiple humanitarian disasters, the @IFRC has launched a revised Emergency Appeal in support of the Philippines Red Cross, scaling up operations to assist 284,904 people across multiple provinces. There is a growing sense of fear, as people are anxious about what might come next. 👉 bit.ly/47CYDAy