Red Cross Red Crescent denounces recent violence against its volunteers and staff
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is deeply concerned about the recent spate of attacks against its
volunteers and staff.
In the last month alone, two volunteers and one staff member were killed in Sudan. Volunteers have been attacked in
Myanmar, and in Guinea teams fighting Ebola are being attacked by community members on average 10 times a month due to
misinformation and stigma. In the Central African Republic and elsewhere, the emblems have not been universally
respected and in some cases have even been targeted. In Syria, 47 volunteers have lost their lives since the beginning
of the conflict.
Risking their lives for the community
Volunteers and staff risk their lives for their communities every day. They do so believing they are under the
protection of the red cross and red crescent emblems, which international law recognizes as visible signs of humanity
and neutrality in wartime and peacetime alike. As humanitarian workers displaying these emblems, they should be spared
from attack and granted safe passage. Unfortunately – unacceptably – this is not always the case.
But ensuring effective protection for volunteers and staff is increasingly difficult. Various factors are placing them
at risk, such as the protracted nature of current crises, the multiplication of armed actors and a widespread lack of
respect for international humanitarian law. Moreover, civil wars often stretch beyond country borders, with ripple
effects that dismantle communities, destroy the social fabric and create volatile environments in which volunteers and
staff strive to carry out their life-saving work.
Respect and protection needed
Humanitarian needs generated by today’s crises are huge. Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff play a key role
within their communities helping to alleviate the human cost of these crises. Without respect and protection from all
parties, they cannot perform that unique and essential role safely. Countless crisis victims and survivors rely on them
for help, and are at risk because these workers are prevented from doing their jobs because of safety concerns.
The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement as a whole – 189 National Societies, the International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross – calls for State and non-State parties,
armed forces and groups, and individuals, communities and thought leaders to support Red Cross and Red Crescent
volunteers and staff as well as other humanitarian workers everywhere. We call on all parties to conflicts to fulfil
their obligations under international humanitarian law and respect Red Crescent and Red Cross aid workers by granting
them safe and unrestricted access to all people in need.
ENDS