The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world’s largest humanitarian network, present in nearly every country around the world. It is neutral and impartial, and dedicated to preventing and alleviating human suffering, protecting life and health, and upholding human dignity especially in armed conflicts and emergencies such as health crises and disasters.

The Movement is composed of:

Together, we can act locally, while mobilizing our global resources. 1 in 65 people around the globe receive help from the Red Cross and Red Crescent every single year. This year is no exception.

Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, through its millions of volunteers and staff around the globe, is uniquely placed to respond to the COVID-19 crisis given its local reach in communities. It ensures that people, especially those most vulnerable and at-risk, receive adequate help and information. The Movement is focusing its efforts on slowing the spread of COVID-19 and alleviating suffering caused by the impacts of the pandemic.

Our staff and volunteers are taking on a variety of roles — from medical care and ambulance services to delivering food and offering comfort in people’s darkest hours. From war zones and hospitals to blood drives and individual households, Red Cross and Red Crescent workers wake up every day with one mission: to alleviate human suffering. During this unprecedented pandemic, that is exactly what we are doing.

Find out more about our work supporting communities affected by the impacts of COVID-19 here:

Forward
Forward

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is appealing for a total of 3.1 billion Swiss francs (3.19 billion US dollars) to curb COVID-19’s rapid spread and assist the world’s most vulnerable people amid the pandemic. This coordinated appeal aims to increase life-saving services and support to address both the immediate impacts of the pandemic and its long-lasting social and economic repercussions.

Covid-19 Stories

Our fundamental principles

Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality: these seven Fundamental Principles provide an ethical, operational and institutional framework to the work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. They are at the core of our approach to helping people in need during armed conflict, natural disasters, health crises and other emergencies.

These principles unite the components of the Movement – the 192 National Societies, the ICRC and the IFRC – and are key to its distinct identity. Adherence to these principles ensures the humanitarian nature of the Movement’s work and brings consistency to the broad range of activities we undertake around the world.

Discover more stories

Get stories worth sharing delivered to your inbox

Want to stay up to date?