Deaths at sea continue in the Mediterranean

In May 2016 alone, more than 1,080 people were reported missing or drowned as they attempted to make the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea towards Europe, according to the International Organization for Migration. The IFRC, its member National Societies and the ICRC continue to call for governments and institutions to ensure the protection of migrants and for all people to recognize their right to safety and dignity. Meanwhile Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers continued to help thousands of survivors on the sea’s northern and southern shores. In May, for example, Libyan Red Crescent volunteers provided food, blankets and vital health services to more than 200 people rescued near the port city of Zuwarah and they transferred survivors requiring medical attention to nearby hospitals. Libyan Red Crescent teams also retrieved bodies of those who had drowned, ensuring they were transported with respect and dignity before being buried. In one incident in early June, they retrieved 117 bodies. Photo: REUTERS/Ismail Zetouni

Related

What happens when machines can decide who to kill?

It’s the stuff of science fiction: machines that make decisions about who and when to kill. Referred to as “autonomous weapons”, they’re already in use to some degree. But as more sophisticated systems are being developed we wanted to an expert in the field about whether such systems comply with international humanitarian law and what it means for humanity to give machines the power over human life and death.

‘Wildfire diaries’ and radical change in communications

In this episode, we talk with humanitarian communicator Kathy Mueller who produced our first magazine podcast series, The Wildfire Diaries, about massive wildfires in Northern Canada in 2017. We talk about that series, her many international missions, and the big changes in humanitarian communications since she began with the Canadian Red Cross almost 20 years ago.

The power of storytelling

In this episode, we talk about the power of storytelling to inform and inspire. “Storytelling is a fundamental aspect of human communication,” says our guest Prodip, a volunteer and multi-media storyteller for the Bangladesh Red Crescent. “It inspires us to be a hero of our own community.” We also speak with one such community hero, Dalal al-Taji, a longtime volunteer and advocate for inclusion of people with disabilities in emergencies response. “In disasters. persons with disabilities sometimes get forgotten.”

This post is also available in:

Discover more stories

Get stories worth sharing delivered to your inbox

Want to stay up to date?

This might interest you...

Expert Sources: Covid-19 in Syria’s sizzling summer heat

Ahmada Mohamedy Siogope talks about caring for people displaced by war, living in tents and dealing with Covid-19 in northeastern Syria’s sizzling summer heat.

Check it out