IFRC and ICRC leaders warned that humanitarian and medical workers are increasingly being harmed in conflicts and urged all parties to protect aid personnel under international humanitarian law.
March 2026- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and International Committee of the Red Cross have warned that escalating hostilities across the Middle East are placing humanitarian and medical workers at growing risk.
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In a joint statement issued in Geneva on 13 March 2026, IFRC President Kate Forbes and ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said aid workers are increasingly being caught in the line of fire while carrying out life-saving missions. In recent incidents, a Lebanese Red Cross paramedic died from injuries sustained while assisting civilians, while staff and volunteers from the Iranian Red Crescent Society were also reported among casualties during hostilities.
Despite the dangers, Red Cross and Red Crescent personnel, along with Magen David Adom teams, continue to provide humanitarian support across the region. The organisations stressed that humanitarian and medical workers are protected under international humanitarian law and called on states and parties to conflicts to take immediate steps to ensure their safety.
