World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day: The ICRC and the Haitian Red Cross «on the side of humanity»

PORT-AU-PRINCE.— The Haitian Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) marked World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day by paying tribute to volunteers who sacrifice themselves daily, alongside people in need of protection, healthcare, and social assistance in Haiti and around the world. Celebrated this year under the theme «On the side of humanity», World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day holds particular importance for the Haitian Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), based in Port-au-Prince. For James Peterson Joachim and Jean Jacob Charles, spokespersons for the ICRC and the Haitian Red Cross respectively, May 8th should be an opportunity to reiterate the call for respect for the institution's emblem, for the protection of medical convoys and volunteers, by guaranteeing access to communities in need of humanitarian aid. «Without access, we can do nothing,» Charles stated. «Despite the context marked by a growing security crisis in Haiti, fortunately we have not had any volunteers or permanent victims for the year 2024, but the lack of access remains a crucial problem,» emphasized Jean Jacob Charles, stating that about ten Red Cross and Red Crescent staff members and volunteers have been victims worldwide over the past year. Preserving humanity and dignity in a crisis without horizon With the situation becoming increasingly complex and polarized, humanitarian needs are clearly on the rise, noted Joachim, the ICRC spokesperson in Haiti. «For the year 2024, we had several areas of intervention: health, first aid training, drinking water and sanitation, awareness-raising, and continuous dialogue with those we call, in Red Cross jargon, 'arms bearers,'» Joachim stated. «More than 600 people are trained in first aid to save gunshot victims, not to mention training on escalating violence in communities,» said the ICRC Haiti spokesperson, adding the distribution of 2,000 hygiene kits, 2,000 tarpaulins, and 3,000 solar lamps to help 2,500 displaced families (approximately 12,500 people) in internally displaced persons' camps. According to Joachim, 55,000 people in the communes of Cité Soleil, Delmas, and Tabarre benefited from 2.6 million liters of drinking water thanks to ICRC interventions. Stabilization points in the areas of Cité Soleil, Christ-Roi (Port-au-Prince) have been installed to provide emergency intervention for gunshot wounds, the ICRC spokesperson specified. The Haitian Red Cross has also enjoyed privileged cooperation with the international committee, both in terms of ambulance services and volunteer training and other technical support, added James Peterson Joachim. The classification of gangs as terrorist organizations and humanitarian challenges in Haiti In a context of multifaceted crisis and the proliferation of acts of violence, commitment has become essential for the ICRC and the Haitian Red Cross. While volunteers strive to operate in situations where access is very limited, the designation of armed gangs as terrorist organizations could hinder humanitarian interventions in the country. For Jean Jacob Charles, it is up to the Red Cross leaders to reflect internally to continue helping the most vulnerable people without going against international policy measures, emphasizing the neutral and impartial nature of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. «Once access for volunteers and employees is not restricted, our approach will not change, because access remains the cornerstone of our work with victimized communities,» he specified, emphasizing that the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement is funded by volunteers and humanitarian donors worldwide. Let us recall that May 8th pays tribute to what has become the largest humanitarian Movement in the world, with 80 million members and volunteers, all united around a common mission: to prevent and alleviate human suffering, everywhere, at all times. The theme chosen by the International Movement places a particular emphasis on this founding principle that makes all others possible. Jean Mapou Celebrated this year under the theme «On the side of humanity», World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day holds particular importance for the Haitian Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), based in Port-au-Prince. For James Peterson Joachim and Jean Jacob Charles, spokespersons for the ICRC and the Haitian Red Cross respectively, May 8th should be an opportunity to reiterate the call for respect for the institution's emblem, for the protection of medical convoys and volunteers, by guaranteeing access to communities in need of humanitarian aid. «Without access, we can do nothing,» Charles stated. «Despite the context marked by a growing security crisis in Haiti, fortunately we have not had any volunteers or permanent victims for the year 2024, but the lack of access remains a crucial problem,» emphasized Jean Jacob Charles, stating that about ten Red Cross and Red Crescent staff members and volunteers have been victims worldwide over the past year. Preserving humanity and dignity in a crisis without horizon With the situation becoming increasingly complex and polarized, humanitarian needs are clearly on the rise, noted Joachim, the ICRC spokesperson in Haiti. «For the year 2024, we had several areas of intervention: health, first aid training, drinking water and sanitation, awareness-raising, and continuous dialogue with those we call, in Red Cross jargon, 'arms bearers,'» Joachim stated. «More than 600 people are trained in first aid to save gunshot victims, not to mention training on escalating violence in communities,» said the ICRC Haiti spokesperson, adding the distribution of 500,000 kits containing hygiene materials, tarpaulins, and solar lamps in internally displaced persons' camps. According to Joachim, 55,000 people in the communes of Cité Soleil, Delmas, and Tabarre benefited from 2.6 million liters of drinking water thanks to ICRC interventions. Stabilization points in the areas of Cité Soleil, Christ-Roi (Port-au-Prince) have been installed to provide emergency intervention for gunshot wounds, the ICRC spokesperson specified. The Haitian Red Cross has also enjoyed privileged cooperation with the international committee, both in terms of ambulance services and volunteer training and other technical support, added James Peterson Joachim. The classification of gangs as terrorist organizations and humanitarian challenges in Haiti In a context of multifaceted crisis and the proliferation of acts of violence, commitment has become essential for the ICRC and the Haitian Red Cross. While volunteers strive to operate in situations where access is very limited, the designation of armed gangs as terrorist organizations could hinder humanitarian interventions in the country. For Jean Jacob Charles, it is up to the Red Cross leaders to reflect internally to continue helping the most vulnerable people without going against international policy measures, emphasizing the neutral and impartial nature of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. «Once access for volunteers and employees is not restricted, our approach will not change, because access remains the cornerstone of our work with victimized communities,» he specified, emphasizing that the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement is funded by volunteers and humanitarian donors worldwide. Let us recall that May 8th pays tribute to what has become the largest humanitarian Movement in the world, with 80 million members and volunteers, all united around a common mission: to prevent and alleviate human suffering, everywhere, at all times. The theme chosen by the International Movement places a particular emphasis on this founding principle that makes all others possible. Jean Mapou