Humanitarian crises in Africa continue to wreak havoc, leaving entire families in distress and vulnerable populations without resources or hope. The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, recently took advantage of the UN General Assembly to plead the cause of these destitute people and to raise awareness among African leaders of the need for urgent humanitarian action.
One of the main challenges facing the ICRC is financing humanitarian operations. Over the past five years, funding has been divided eightfold, while armed conflicts have tripled over the past twenty years. This reduction in funding poses serious problems, as it limits the ability of humanitarian organizations to respond to the growing needs of affected populations.
In some countries, such as Libya, the consequences of conflicts are devastating. Hundreds of families have been decimated, and the bodies are often unrecognizable. The ICRC sent a team to the field and stepped up its efforts to provide medical assistance and food aid to those affected.
In the Sahel, the ICRC faces another major challenge with the gradual withdrawal of Minusma peacekeepers in Mali. The ICRC has a long-standing presence in the region and plays a crucial role in providing humanitarian assistance in areas inaccessible to other actors. He hopes donors will continue to support his efforts in the region as humanitarian needs increase due to climate change and growing poverty.
Sudan also faces a major humanitarian crisis, with the largest number of internally displaced people in the world. The ICRC maintained its presence in the country, despite difficulties in accessing affected populations. He calls on the parties to the conflict to reach a ceasefire in order to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Tigray in Ethiopia also remains a major concern for the ICRC, which continues to appeal for aid and funding to support its programs in the region. The organization is also present in other regions of Ethiopia, such as Amhara and Oromia, where it provides humanitarian assistance.
Unfortunately, despite the urgency and importance of these humanitarian crises in Africa, donations for humanitarian operations have declined, particularly during the UN General Assembly. Growing armed conflicts require more and more funding, and it is crucial that donors recognize the importance of supporting humanitarian organizations in their efforts.
Faced with these challenges, the ICRC will continue to lobby world leaders and donors for adequate funding to meet the needs of Africa’s most vulnerable populations.. Humanitarian aid is essential to bring hope and life-saving assistance to those affected by these crises. It is therefore essential that governments and donors support these efforts to address the humanitarian challenges in Africa.