The United Nation’s (UN) World Refugee Day, June 20, is marking a 75th anniversary. World Refugee Day marks the importance of refugees’ struggle. Statelessness is without a place to call home. But the refugees are not without backup.
The UN Secretary General said, “We call for stronger support for all those forced to flee, as well as the countries and communities hosting them.”
The UN recognizes that there are more refugees today second to no other era.
“At the end of 2021, the total number of people worldwide who were forced to flee their homes due to conflicts, violence, fear of persecution and human rights violations was 89.3 million. This is more than double the 42.7 million people who remained forcibly displaced a decade ago and the most since World War II.”
In fact, currently there are 118 million displaced people.
The American Red Cross helps reunite lost individuals to their families. The Restoring Family Links program receives requests, conducts research and reintroduces family members. The separation of family members happens because of war, drought and famine. People flee in those desperate circumstances.
Local Southeastern Pennsylvania Red Cross volunteers like Robert Pollock and Margot Hillman reunite families through research and perseverance. Their work was featured on our website in mid-December. Click here to read the story.
American Red Cross volunteer Judith Weeks stands outside of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society.
With increase of extreme disasters worldwide and areas in conflict, American Red Cross volunteers often think about Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers worldwide and how they respond to these situations. This is the story of the resilience of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society.
I recently traveled to Ethiopia where I had the best cup of coffee and met Lucy, the prehistoric hominid! But there is much more we should know about Ethiopia. This country, located at the “Horn of Africa,” is torn by conflict and is suffering from disasters caused by climate change. I was invited to visit the Ethiopian Red Cross Society and learn how they respond to these disasters.
“We Live for Humanity”is the motto of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society with the aim to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity.
Celebrating 90 years of humanitarian service, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society was formed in 1935 during the colonial period following the second Italian invasion. Volunteers brought humanitarian aid to wounded soldiers and affected civilians.
Today, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) is a major humanitarian organization. It is known for its commitment to serving vulnerable populations amidst challenges from conflict and climate change. There are 23.5 million people in Ethiopia in need of humanitarian assistance. Along with its Red Cross Partners the ERCS brings shelter, food, hygiene, medical care, and reunification of family members to Ethiopians suffering from conflict and drought. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRS), permanently present in Ethiopia for 40 years, provides financial aid and humanitarian assistance.
With over 48,000 volunteers, the ERCS maintains 14 region branches with a presence in 43 Zonal branches.
Mesfin Dereje, Head, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Communication Service and Abeje G/Medhin, Head of Information and Communications Technology from the Ethiopian Red Cross Society welcomed me.
Mesfin explained “we are facing a lot of challenges.” There is lack of stability and a security issue created by conflict in the region. The Tigray War (2020-2022), a civil conflict in northern Ethiopia, led to a massive humanitarian crisis with atrocities and massacres. Approximately 600,000 people died and millions were displaced from their homes. Today, there is ongoing conflict and famine. The ERCS and ICRS are assisting displaced people providing shelter, food, water, essential household items, cash, psychosocial care and family reunification.
Mesfin continued “distant parts of Ethiopia are suffering because of drought and famine from climate change.” It has been reported that 7.1 million Ethiopians in the southern and southeast regions are waking up hungry. The ERCS provides access to clean water and investment in food security. For example, a farmer was provided with beehives for income, and a cow was purchased for another family, enabling income and better food access.
Ethiopian Red Cross Ambulances provide emergency medical services transporting patients and delivering first aid in normal and disaster affected areas. Volunteer drivers often travel through dangerous areas affected by landslides and floods. Mesfin explained “We lost 200 ambulances from the Tigray conflict. We are collaborating with our partners and donors to replace the ambulances.” ERCS now has 560 ambulances, each equipped with a GPS tracking system.
American Red Cross volunteer Judith Weeks stands with an Ethiopian Red Cross Society Ambulance.
Mesfin took me to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) where Abeje gave a slideshow about the new Disaster Management System.
Abeje just completed leadership training and explained “we are learning how we are going to transform the Ethiopian Red Cross Society.” This new data-driven system will identify those who most need humanitarian aid, ensure that aid is distributed efficiently and where it is needed most. For each incident, data is collected by volunteers and partners and sent to the Emergency Operations Center. Data is analyzed by humanitarian aid given to each woreda, zone and district and by whom (Partner, ERCS, ICRS). Statistics for planning are developed to identify where and what humanitarian aid has been given in real time or over a two-year or longer period.
After my visit with Mesfin and Abeje, I became acutely aware of the extent of Ethiopia’s humanitarian crisis. The Ethiopian Red Cross Volunteers who are serving in situations where people are suffering through conflict and drought go into harsh conditions willingly and endure hardship.
We as Red Cross Disaster Services Volunteers all have one commonality. It makes us feel good to give a hug, offer a meal, find a missing family member, give a safe place to sleep, and much more.
To learn more about Ethiopian Red Cross Society Volunteers, please take 5 minutes and watch the video below.
Ethiopia providing lifesaving assistance to people affected by crisis. Watch it on You-Tube.
June 11, 2018. Tucson, Arizona. The American Red Cross Restoring Family Links (RFL) program helps reconnect family members separated internationally by disasters, war, conflict, migration, and other crises. The services are free and confidential. Pictured, Raphael learned through friends that his son was living in a camp in Rwanda. Desperate to get in touch with him, Raphael opened a search with the Red Cross through the RFL program. After months of waiting, Raphael finally received a message from his son: “To you, my father, I am greeting you! Photo by Michelle Frankfurter/American Red Cross
Most of us can’t stand to be out of touch with the people we love for very long. We have cell phones that instantly connect us and the instant gratification of texting, emailing or even calling.
But what if something catastrophic got in the way of that contact? What if decades went by since you saw your mother, or your brother, or your child and every day was spent wondering where they are and what happened to them?
Lost contact mysteries lead to detective work
For the volunteers who work in an American Red Cross international program called Restoring Family Links (RFL), those mysteries of lost contact become the cases that compel them to put on their detective hat and get to work.
Robert Pollock and Margot Hillman volunteer as RFL caseworkers who strive to reunite lost loves and bring families back together. If the happy ending of a reunion is not possible, then Robert and Margot try to find answers and provide the comfort of closure.
Who can use restoring family links?
To be a candidate for the RFL program, the client, or “inquirer” as they are referred to, has been separated by conflict, disaster, migration or humanitarian crisis.
“We’re talking about people who have gone through (usually) really horrible things and been separated from their family by circumstances. Not because they got mad at each other, not because they had a fight, but because there was a war where they lived and they fled in different directions,” Margot said.
A wife tries to find her missing husband
Right now, Robert has an active case where he is trying to find out what happened to a Ukrainian woman’s husband, who disappeared while fighting in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Finding out what happened to him is not easy. Robert uses computer tools like Google Translate to read the documents provided to him by the woman because they are written in Ukranian. Language is not the only challenge when someone goes missing because of armed conflict.
“There’s kind of a no man’s land like in World War 1. The two sides have been stalled. They just keep shelling each other. When people get killed they may not even be able to retrieve the body because it’s that no man’s land,” Robert said.
Two dedicated volunteers: Years of Red Cross service
Robert Pollock (left) and Margot Hillman (right) are American Red Cross International Services volunteers with the Restoring Family Links program. Robert’s photo by Alana Mauger / American Red Cross. Margot’s photo was submitted.
Robert started volunteering for the Red Cross in 2006. He used to respond to disasters like home fires before becoming an expert in Restoring Family Links. He taught Margot to be one too. She calls him her “mentor” before she became a mentor too.
Margot worked for the Red Cross for 35 years before retiring and has given more than four decades in service to the organization. Her professional career focused on Information Technology (IT).
She started volunteering for the Red Cross in 2003 when she became an International Services instructor. She described her role as “mostly focused on teaching and promoting international humanitarian law.”
Margot was drawn to be a caseworker in the RFL program because she loved the international aspect of the work and had a desire to bring families back together.
“It’s a little bit of world healing that I can do from here,” she said.
From EMT to becoming a Red Cross volunteer
Before he volunteered for the Red Cross, Robert volunteered as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). He sees a connection between being an EMT and what he does now.
“It’s meeting people where their need is.” he said. “In many cases these people have a fairly desperate need to try to reconnect and it’s very rewarding when you can do that. It’s just a great feeling.”
Lost brother: Why reach out now?
Margot described a case where a man lost contact with his brother in Switzerland about 30 years ago and decided to try and find him. There are different reasons why people lose touch and then suddenly decide to reach out.
“Sometimes it’s because they realize ‘I’m aging, I’m not going to be here forever’ and they’re aging too. Sometimes it’s that they’ve gotten ill, maybe with a terminal disease and think, ‘well, I’m going to give it one more try’ and sometimes there’s enough water under the bridge,” Margot said.
How to get help finding a lost loved one
To approach the Red Cross about finding a lost family member with a connection to a country outside the United States, there are a few ways to get help:
You can call your local chapter office. In Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA), call Robert at (267) 760-4800.
Call the free international helpline (844) 782-9441.
Once Robert or Margot get a case, they contact the inquirer and interview them. The case then gets sent to the Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington D.C. and once all details and documents are confirmed the case is sent to the Red Cross in whatever region or country is involved.
Many times the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) plays a role.
“We always hope for success and we encourage the client to be very patient. It often takes a long time. It could be weeks, months, and in some cases years,” Robert said.
The ‘perfect case’ leads to new family
Consider the case of Mark Chew, which took two years. Mark reunited with his Vietnamese family, 47 years after he was adopted from a Catholic orphanage by an American family. Robert calls it the “perfect case” because “he actually did go back to the country and meet his siblings and spend time with them. It had all the aspects that you want.”
How you can volunteer
Robert and Margot want to get the word out about the RFL international program. They want you to know the service is free, confidential and impartial. If you are interested in becoming a RFL volunteer, go to redcross.org/volunteer to learn more.
What if the next generation of leaders had the tools to shape a more humane world—starting right now? That’s exactly what the American Red Cross International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Youth Action Campaign is all about. And the 2025–26 program is already gearing up to empower students across the country to raise awareness about the rules of war and the importance of neutrality in times of conflict.
In Southeastern Pennsylvania, this work is championed by Jamie Boris, Regional Program Manager for Services to the Armed Forces and International Services. Jamie brings a strong background in nonprofit and humanitarian work, as well as family ties to the U.S. military. Her passion for global service and community empowerment fuels her leadership of this inspiring program that connects young people to issues that matter on a worldwide scale.
What is the Youth Action Campaign (YAC)?
The YAC is designed for high school and college students who are curious about international humanitarian issues. Many already imagine careers in humanitarian law, international service, or foreign affairs—but whether or not that’s their career path, they walk away with knowledge and perspective they wouldn’t normally gain in a classroom.
As a fairly new program in our region, the International Services team recruits students from high school Red Cross clubs or by request from interested students. They are organized into in-person or virtual teams and are trained by certified IHL Youth Action Campaign Coordinators on the principles of humanitarian law, the rules of armed conflict, and the Red Cross commitment to neutrality.
Once trained, the students become International Humanitarian Law Advocates by creating peer-to-peer campaigns to raise awareness in their communities. They are granted creative freedom to develop programs and materials with the goal of engaging and educating members within their peer groups and the larger community.
Each year, there’s a theme that ties their creativity together. This year’s theme is “Journalism in Armed Conflict.”
Slide from an IHL lesson module on this year’s theme, Journalism and Armed Conflict.”
Why this Knowledge Matters
In a world where conflicts fill our newsfeeds daily, it can be easy to feel helpless. But YAC is working to flip the narrative—it gives young people the chance to lead conversations that matter. They’re not just learning about humanitarian law; they’re shaping how their peers think about war, peace, and human dignity.
And their work doesn’t stay local. Campaigns can be submitted nationally, with some students even invited to showcase their efforts in Washington, D.C.
As Jamie told me, participation and interest are growing every year—and she can’t wait to see the creativity that this new cohort brings to such an urgent and timely theme.
Free Learning Resources for Everyone
The IHL Youth Action Campaign isn’t just for students. The American Red Cross offers free resources for anyone who wants to learn more:
Get Involved with YAC or follow the work of this year’s teams: Details for students, educators, and community members.
A Call to Action
Whether you’re a student, a teacher, a parent, or simply someone who believes in a more humane world, this program deserves your attention. It’s about sparking curiosity, empowering young voices, and reminding us all that neutrality and humanity are not abstract ideas—they’re daily choices we make as a global community.
So here’s the invitation: learn more, share what you discover, and support the next generation of humanitarians. Their voices matter. Their ideas matter. And with the Youth Action Campaign, they just might change the way the world understands conflict.
Public domain graphic – World Refugee Day, June 20
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20th and shines a light on the rights, needs, and dreams of those forced to flee their home country. It’s a day that celebrates the strength and courage of people escaping conflict or persecution.
World Refugee Day emphasizes the importance of solidarity with refugees. Solidarity with people forced to flee means finding solutions to their plight by seeking an end to conflicts, so they can return home safely. It also means ensuring they have opportunities to thrive in the communities that have welcomed them and providing countries with the resources they need to include and support refugees.
The purpose of World Refugee Day is to increase public awareness of the needs, goals, and rights of refugees. This may be done in ways that gives people the opportunity to know, appreciate, and learn about the diversity of the refugee communities of the country through events such as theater, dance, films, and music in combinations with organizations and voluntary organizations, local authorities, and schools to organize events in aid of this purpose.
The American Red Cross is known to have contributed millions to the global Red Cross network to help alleviate suffering, as the number of displaced people is at a record high, with nearly 123 million people forced to flee. Funding cuts compounded by growing anti-refugee sentiment are putting millions of lives at even greater risk. Thus, the support that the American Red Cross provides is critical, allowing teams on the ground to provide lifesaving aid such as food, shelter, water, medical care, and mental health support. Thus, when an international crisis occurs, as with the conflict in Ukraine, this support helps to aid the millions displaced within Ukraine and throughout neighboring countries.
Visit our website to learn more about the American Red Cross involvement internationally in the Ukraine and other areas of the world visit the following site and also consider being a volunteer in aiding the Red Cross with its ongoing mission “prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.”
IFRC graphic – Extreme heat is deadly. Extreme heat kills people every year. Protect yourself from the heat.
As climate change intensifies, so does the threat of extreme heat, a silent, deadly force that claims more lives annually than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined. That’s why Heat Action Day (June 2) is so important.
This global initiative raises awareness and encourages everyone to take lifesaving actions before and during heat waves. This year’s spotlight is on recognizing and responding to heat stroke, a medical emergency that can cause brain damage, organ failure, or death if untreated.
Know the signs of heat stroke
Body temp over 103°F (39.4°C)
Red, hot, dry, or damp skin
Rapid, strong pulse
Loss of consciousness
Headache, dizziness, confusion
What to do: Call 911 immediately; move the person to a cooler place, and use cool cloths or a bath to bring down body temperature. Do not give them anything to drink.
Red Cross-Red Crescent Climate Centre graphic – How to recognize the signs of heat stroke: high body temperature; red, hot and dry skin; may show signs of confusion; rapid strong pulse; throbbing headache; may lose consciousness. Call for emergency help, and take action to cool the person down until help arrives.
Get prepared – There’s an app for that:
Download the Red Cross First Aid app to learn how to handle heat emergencies and other health crises right from your phone.
Red Cross graphic – We’re part of the world’s largest humanitarian network.
This World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, we celebrate the unwavering commitment of millions of volunteers and staff worldwide while also raising awareness of the seven Fundamental Principles that guide our work. No matter where, no matter when, the volunteers and staff of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are always there.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent network is the largest humanitarian network in the world, making up three parts of the global Red Cross network. They all have one central purpose: to help those who suffer, without discrimination, whether during conflict, in response to natural or man-made disasters, or due to conditions of chronic poverty.
The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), founded in 1919, is the coalition of individual Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies that coordinates peacetime humanitarian relief efforts worldwide.
The IFRC works to alleviate suffering through activities such as organizing and coordinating international disaster relief operations, providing assistance to refugees outside conflict areas, promoting national disaster preparedness programs, and helping national societies to improve the services they deliver to vulnerable people in their local communities.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), founded in 1863, protects and assists victims of armed conflict while promoting understanding and respect for international humanitarian law.
As an independent, neutral organization, the ICRC has a permanent mandate under international law to visit prisoners of war and civilian detainees to monitor their treatment and conditions, educating military personnel and armed groups about their obligations under international humanitarian law, exchanging messages between members of families separated by armed conflict, helping discover the fate of missing family members, providing medical assistance for war-wounded, displaced people, and others, as well as providing emergency relief such as water, sanitation, food, and shelter.
As the Global Red Cross Red Crescent Network, these organizations are the individual societies of nearly every independent country, chartered by their respective governments, tasking themselves to relieving human suffering around the world and within their borders.
Join our mission! Visit our website to learn more.
UN Water graphic – Glaciers are melting faster than ever. 22 March World Water Day, 2025 Glacier Preservation.
Today is World Water Day 2025. We face a serious problem: our glaciers are melting fast, and it important to maintain these immense ice formations. Glaciers are important for our planet’s health and for providing water to many people. But now, because of the climate crisis, they’re melting faster than ever before.
Why Glaciers Matter
Glaciers are vital for:
Providing drinking water: As glaciers melt slowly, they release water that many people use for drinking and everyday use.
Supporting agriculture: Farmers rely on glacier water to grow crops, especially in dry areas or during hot seasons.
Powering clean energy: The water from melting glaciers is used to generate hydroelectric power, which is a clean source of energy.
Keeping ecosystems healthy: Many plants and animals depend on the water and cool temperatures that glaciers provide.
The Red Cross and Climate Disasters
The American Red Cross is seeing firsthand how the climate crisis affects people. They’re responding to more:
Powerful hurricanes: These storms are getting stronger and causing more damage to coastal communities.
Longer heatwaves: Hot spells are lasting longer and becoming more dangerous, especially for vulnerable people.
Bigger wildfires: Fires are burning larger areas and lasting longer, threatening more homes and lives.
These disasters hit some groups of people harder:
Low-income families: People with less money often live in areas more at risk and have fewer resources to recover.
Minority communities: These groups are often more exposed to climate risks and have less access to help.
People with disabilities: Those with physical or mental challenges may face more difficulties during emergencies.
In the last 10 years, over 8.5 million people in the U.S. had to leave their homes due to climate disasters. This shows how big the problem is becoming.
What We Can Do
To help save glaciers, we can:
Reduce greenhouse gases: This means using less energy from fossil fuels and switching to clean energy sources like solar and wind.
Improve water management: We need to use water more wisely and find ways to store and distribute it fairly.
Support groups like the Red Cross: The Red Cross needs help to respond to more frequent disasters.
Spread awareness: The more people understand about glaciers and climate change, the more we can do to help.
Saving glaciers is about our future. Action is necessary to protect our water supplies, prevent more disasters, and keep communities safe. Glaciers are a key source of fresh water for many regions. By slowing climate change, we can reduce the number and severity of weather-related emergencies. Preserving glaciers helps maintain stable living conditions for millions of people.
International Women’s Day graphic – Happy International Women’s Day. #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction
International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025, which will be observed on March 8, will be celebrated under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” This year’s theme highlighted the need for equal rights, power, and opportunities for women and girls around the world. The focus is on empowering young women and adolescent girls, positioning them as critical catalysts in driving change. As we celebrate this day, we also acknowledge the pivotal moment of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This document serves as the foundation for advancing the rights and opportunities for women and girls worldwide.
The Bejing Declaration, adopted in 1995, set a progressive agenda for gender equality; this advances women’s legal protection, access to services, and the dismantling of harmful stereotypes. The progress enabled by this declaration has charged the path for change as we have seen over the past three decades, like the growth of legislation on domestic violence, an increase in global action plans for women, and a greater recognition of adolescent girls’ rights. Unfortunately, the work is far from complete, and IWD serves as a celebration of all the progress made thus far and a call to action to close the gap even further.
For individuals who are looking to contribute to the movement of gender equality, here are some ways YOU can make a DIFFERENCE:
Engage in Digital Advocacy: Share stories and messages related to gender equality and women’s empowerment across various social media platforms using the hashtag #ForAllWomenAndGirls.
Follow the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to stay informed about the global gender equality discussions from March 10 to 21, 2025.
Support Local Initiatives: Engage with and support local efforts that empower women and girls.
Advocate to Leaders: Encourage leaders in government, media, businesses, and other entities to take steps to advance the movement for women’s rights and equality.
By taking the above actions, you will join a large, global community that is striving for justice, equality, and empowerment for all women and girls. Together, we can make a difference and create a world where no one is left behind.
UN graphic – Call on those in power to ACT FOR HUMANITY. World Humanitarian Day. #ActForHumanity
Out of tragedy, emerged a day that will be forever honored throughout history. On August 19th, 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 people, including the chief humanitarian in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly formalized the day as World Humanitarian Day (WHD).
Each year, WHD focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers.
This year’s theme “Act For Humanity,” takes on profound significance as we honor the unwavering dedication of humanitarian workers everywhere.
The American Red Cross knows the true meaning of this year’s theme very well, as 90% of the Red Cross workforce are volunteers! On average, they respond to more than 60,000 disasters every year. Also, in doing their best to keep expenses low, an average of 90 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in delivering care and comfort to those in need. To learn about becoming a volunteer, visit our website.
We see firsthand how families and communities are suffering and depending on us for help — with our volunteers continuously on the ground, setting up shelters, arranging for hot meals and offering comfort for people forced from their homes.
Standing true to its mission, to prevent and alleviate human suffering, the American Red Cross calls upon its Fundamental Principles – humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality-to address the on going humanitarian need affecting communities all around the world.
