Humanitarian Interventions of the International Red Cross in Africa

The ICRC works tirelessly to provide humanitarian assistance and protect people affected by conflict and violence in Africa.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a neutral, impartial and independent organization and helps people around the world affected by armed conflict and other violence, doing everything it can to protect their lives and dignity and to relieve their suffering, often alongside its Red Cross and Red Crescent partners.

Africa is the world’s second most populous continent after Asia. In their quest for economic and social development the African countries have taken various initiatives and made substantial progress over the years, although these efforts have been hampered by political instability, natural disasters and violence in many regions.

Every year the activities of the ICRC in Africa represent half of its engagement around the globe. Among ICRC’s largest operations worldwide are the ones in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia and Chad, etc. Despite the difficult security situation and a poor infrastructure in many regions, the ICRC has been able to help millions of people since it first started operating in Africa in 1935.

During the past four decades, millions of people throughout the continent have been obliged to abandon their homes due to conflict and other forms of violence. ICRC works to prevent population displacement, to ensure that those families, who are displaced, have the resources to cope with the displacement, and to assist internally displaced people who decide to return home in restoring their livelihoods. ICRC also assists the host communities. They often share all their available resources with the displaced and are therefore as much in need.

In addition, in many African countries, people do not have access to the most basic health care. ICRC’s aim is to ensure that victims of conflict and other situations of violence have access to essential health care. Its health related activities range from deploying surgical and medical teams, supplying medicines and medical equipment to the training of medical staff.

Besides, tens of thousands of people are detained across the continent due to armed conflict and internal disturbances. ICRC delegates visit people held in detention facilities in order to monitor their treatment and living conditions, and encourage the authorities to make any necessary improvements, in line with internationally recognized standards.

In countries affected by conflict and other forms of violence or natural disasters, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the ICRC work together to mitigate the suffering by mounting joint humanitarian operations. In many contexts such as Somalia, DRC, and Sudan, National Societies have been key partners in delivering relief goods, carrying out medical activities, restoring family links and promoting international humanitarian law.

For example, in coordination with the ICRC, Nigerian Red Cross Society volunteers and staff got involved in search and rescue operations, medical evacuations and giving first aid, as well as reuniting families separated by recent floodwaters and the safe and dignified management of dead bodies. Also, the ICRC supported the Niger Red Cross in its coordinated response with the authorities in charge of flood response at local, regional and national levels. In a recent flooding event in Chad, the ICRC supported the Chad Red Cross with an initial 500 kits of essential household items to meet the immediate needs of some people affected by the torrential rains.

In another instance, the Cameroon Red Cross, with support of the ICRC, local authorities and other organizations, distributed 1,500 jerry cans, 9,000 aqua tabs, and begun an awareness-raising campaigns on hygiene practices after experiencing floods. In addition to its usual primary health care support to health facilities, the ICRC positioned cholera treatment kits given the scope for the floodwaters to bring outbreaks of waterborne disease.

The need for assistance and protection often continues after the end of active hostilities, natural disasters, or climate shocks. In such cases, the ICRC maintains its presence and adapts its activities to the evolving needs. It tries to implement assistance strategies that can constitute the basis for the future, such as cash-for work programs, training of medical personnel in public hospitals and building or repairing wells.

References
https://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/west-africa-red-cross-teams-increase-humanitarian-assistance-after-floods
https://www.icrc.org/sites/default/files/external/doc/en/assets/files/other/africa-newsletter-09-eng.pdf
https://www.icrc.org/sites/default/files/document_new/file_list/appeals2024_overview_forweb.pdf