Burkina Faso

As donors and international organizations discuss how best to support local organizations, many are coming up with their own ideas on how to ensure self-financing of local humanitarian relief.

A bigger piece of the pie

Donors pledge to increase direct funding of local and national organizations.

The fight against Zika

With plenty of front-line experience fighting the mosquito that spreads chikungunya and dengue, National Societies in Latin America gear up against another mosquito-borne disease.

Something’s Cooking in Navojoa

‘Healthy Lifestyles’ initiative — a recipe catching on in communities in Mexico and beyond.

Yellow fever outbreak could spread, IFRC warns

Yellow fever outbreak could spread, IFRC warnsA deadly yellow fever outbreak in Angola has now spread to China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Kenya. The IFRC warned in May that fears are growing that the disease will continue to spread internationally unless immediate action is taken. “Limited vaccine supplies, poor sanitation, inadequate [...]

ICRC: sparing the civilians of Fallujah

ICRC: sparing the civilians of FallujahFierce fighting around the Iraqi city of Fallujah in May raised serious concerns about the well-being and safety of civilians still trapped in and around the city. The situation was particularly problematic for the tens of thousands of men, women, children and elderly people who remain stuck inside Fallujah, the [...]

El Niño sweeps southern Africa

El Niño sweeps southern AfricaAs El Niño-related drought conditions swept across southern Africa, some 49 million people will likely be struggling to get adequate food by the end of the year, according to the IFRC. Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland and Zimbabwe all declared states of emergency, as have seven of South Africa’s nine provinces. Mozambique declared [...]

‘I used to sit alone’

‘I used to sit alone’When the unrest that shook Burundi in April 2015 spread to their home province of Kirundo, Gérard and his 14-year-old brother feared for their lives. “We left home in the middle of the night and followed other people who were leaving for Rwanda,” said Gérard. The two brothers made it to [...]

Focus: The first ones

Organizations discuss strategies and long-term plans to support local volunteers and aid workers who sometimes make life-and-death decisions in seconds.

In for the long haul

Donors and relief organizations agree that people affected by natural disaster or trapped in protracted conflict need more stable, long-term support.