Patricia Rey

"I'm calling on all states equally to return to a position where they prioritize de-escalation ... and it will be easier for them to do so if they put the fate of civilians, if they put the security and safety of their own people at the center". Mirjana Spoljaric, ICRC President, shared during an interview with @_HadleyGamble for @TheNationalNews.

With sirens on, and hands that don’t hesitate, because lives can’t wait: this is the reality of @RedCrossLebanon volunteers. We continue to stand beside them, supporting their life-saving work and helping meet the urgent needs of communities affected by #conflict.

📍 Iran | We are devastated by the news of the killing of our colleague Alireza Sohbatloo, a relief worker from the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), who died in an airstrike on 31 March while providing critical humanitarian support at a medical clinic in Zanjan. A total of three IRCS colleagues have lost their lives while performing their humanitarian duties this month alone. This is appalling. It is a devastating reminder of the human cost of this conflict and the dangers facing those working tirelessly to help others.

📍 Iran | We express our deepest sorrow over the news of the death of Somayyeh Mir Abo Eshagh, a volunteer of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), who was killed in an airstrike three days ago, in Isfahan province. We mourn this terrible loss, and our thoughts are with her loved ones and the Iranian Red Crescent Society during this difficult time 👇🏽

As conflicts evolve, the erosion of norms and the targeting of essential infrastructure risk making recovery harder and de-escalation more distant. @ICRC President speaks to @TheNationalNews, in a sit-down with @_HadleyGamble.🎙️

📍Northern Israel | Living in fear every day. Alarms, explosions, and uncertainty make even the simplest plans feel impossible. Shira shares from northern Israel. 👇🏽

📍Occupied West Bank | In areas affected by armed conflict, children are losing something they can never recover: their education. Ahmed, a teacher from the Occupied West Bank, shares how the war has transformed his life and the lives of his students. 👇🏽

📍Tehran, Iran | "Home is no longer a safe space. The children are not happy like before: Every sound makes them jump in fear". Golnaz, mother of two, shares 👇🏽

📍Lebanon | Two trucks. One long road south. Time racing against us. ⏳ With damaged infrastructure, hospitals are struggling to keep lifesaving services running. We recently delivered oxygen and essential supplies to three hospitals, where exhausted teams and patients hold on, as every delivery can mean the difference between life and death.

"Frequent population displacements in the South and the southern suburbs of Beirut, in an environment of constant fear and pressure, cannot become the norm.” Nicolas Von Arx, the ICRC’s regional director for the Middle East 👇 today.lorientlejour.com/article/150111…

“Since the escalation of hostilities, the situation across Tehran and the country has dramatically worsened. Hundreds killed, thousands injured, homes destroyed. People live in fear, while humanitarian workers risk their lives." Vincent Cassard, our head of delegation in Iran 👇🏽

“No one benefits from a war without rules. Attacks on vital infrastructure are unacceptable and must stop. My appeal to States is to invest in de-escalation now, before it is too late.” @ICRC President on the hostilities in the Middle East: euronews.com/2026/03/27/exc…

A devastating pattern of warfare is eroding the foundations of civilian life in the Middle East. All states have an obligation to respect and ensure respect for the rules of war even if their adversary does not. Our statement: icrc.org/en/news-releas…

One month of hostilities in the Middle East has upended the lives of millions and sent shockwaves far beyond the region at a scale and speed that threatens to overwhelm the humanitarian response. The way hostilities have been waged has exacerbated the detrimental impact. Without respect for the rules of war, civilians will continue to suffer profound consequences that could outlast the current conflict. At a time of escalating needs and tightening humanitarian budgets, the ICRC and other organizations are being forced to adapt to disrupted supply chains that are undermining their operations. Meanwhile, several countries already burdened by humanitarian crises must now also contend with rising fuel prices and increasing operational costs. Read more 👉🏽 ms.spr.ly/6010Qvpa2

Staying neutral allows us to do our job. It is not indifference: it is a deliberate choice. Our mission comes from the Geneva Conventions, universal laws that preserve a degree of humanity, even in war. Today, 163 years since our founding, neutrality remains as crucial as ever. Learn more 👉🏽 ms.spr.ly/6018QQe7j

What we have seen in recent days in the Middle East risks reaching a point of no return.  War on essential infrastructure is war on civilians. It must stop. Every effort to de-escalate is critical. @ICRC President: icrc.org/en/statement/i…

“We are seeing energy, fuel, water and health-care infrastructure damaged and destroyed. This disturbing trend is not limited to the Middle East or the last three weeks; it has been pervasive in conflicts across regions.”: Mirjana Spoljaric, ICRC President. Read full statement 👉🏼 ms.spr.ly/6016QsilC

📍 Gaza | One year has passed since the killing of 8 medics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society and 7 other first responders. Our thoughts are with their loved ones today. Humanitarian workers must be able to carry out their work in safety.

A strike on oil or gas infrastructure disrupts fuel supply chains on which entire essential service systems depend. For example, water pumping stations lose power, safe water becomes scarce, and this could lead to disease outbreaks. Hospitals lose power and fuel, forcing surgeries to be canceled and life-support systems to fail. The consequences spread silently, causing civilian deaths far from where the attack actually occurred. 🔴 In general, energy infrastructure benefits from a presumption of civilian status. In case of doubt whether a pipeline or refinery contributes to military action, it must be treated as a civilian object, not the other way around.

Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the suffering in #Sudan. A drone attack on Ed Dain hospital is the latest tragic episode of a series of attacks in Darfur & the Kordofans vs. markets, health facilities and even schools, injuring & killing 100s. #IHL must be respected!!!