ICRC in Africa

ICRC as one of the supporters of human rights provides and advocates for innovative and sustainable solutions to address the humanitarian consequences of armed violence, migration and other emergencies in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe and to support ICRC objectives in Africa.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a neutral, independent organization ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for people affected by armed conflict and other violence. It is part of the world’s largest humanitarian network, working to prevent and alleviate suffering wherever it may be found. The committee responds to provide humanitarian protection and assistance to those suffering the devastating effects of armed conflict while also responding to disasters in conflict zones, because the consequences of a disaster are compounded if a country is already at war.

Africa is an evident example of nations grappling with a growing crisis driven by the adverse effects of climate change, which has exposed vulnerable populations and communities to a range of severe hazards, including floods, cyclones, prolonged droughts and uncontrollable fires. These climate-related challenges have resulted in significant human displacement, posing a pressing concern for the nation.

ICRC as one of the supporters of human rights provides and advocates for innovative and sustainable solutions to address the humanitarian consequences of armed violence, migration and other emergencies in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe and to support ICRC objectives in Africa.

The committee seeks to enhance the awareness and understanding of regional and national authorities on the realities and concerns of affected people. These ambitions are achieved by leveraging regional expertise in international humanitarian law, resource mobilization and a strengthened response to the needs of the missing, separated and dead and their families.

The ICRC supports National Red Cross Societies in reinforcing their capacities in the region, with a view to improving preparedness to provide a timely response to humanitarian needs arising from emergencies related to situations of violence. The South African Red Cross Society is one of entities supported by ICRC, which has earned the trust of the communities it works with, enabling its continued access to and ability to reach vulnerable groups.

In 2021 and 2022, the National Society simultaneously responded at scale to the COVID-19 pandemic, urban violence and devastating floods and landslides. In 2022, the South African Red Cross Society reached 117,000 people through its long-term services and development programs, and more than 284,000 people through its disaster response and early recovery programs.

The Society aims to foster an unprecedented scale-up in locally led climate-smart disaster risk reduction and adaptation efforts to prevent and reduce climate-related disaster impacts and build community-level climate resilience, seeking to support 500 million people in 100 of the most climate-vulnerable countries and focusing on the least supported and marginalized communities.

These interwoven challenges underscore the intricacy of Africa’s current socio-political landscape. Effective responses will necessitate not only a unified domestic approach but also international collaboration and support to address these pressing issues and foster stability, security and prosperity for all Africans.

To facilitate achieving this goal, ICRC provides tailored capacity-building to National Societies, pioneering humanitarian-centered smart solutions and utilizing humanitarian diplomacy to build support for humanitarian action and values among policymakers, decision makers and practitioners.

References
www.icrc.org/en/we-are-international-committee-red-cross-icrc
adore.ifrc.org/Download.aspx?FileId=839482
www.icrc.org/en/where-we-work/south-africa
www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2021/02/10/ethiopie-80-du-tigre-est-inaccessible-pour-l-aide-humanitaire-selon-la-croix-rouge-locale_6069488_3212.html