Dear donors,
2023: another year of unprecedented massive humanitarian needs arising from the effects of armed conflict, climate shocks, and rising food and energy prices...
Thanks to your support, we have been able to act together and bring much-needed help to vulnerable people in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
We have watched for more than two months now as countless families, individuals, and
communities have been impacted by this conflict. From the attacks in Israel on October 7th, to the humanitarian situation currently seen in Gaza and the increasing tensions in the West Bank, the amount of human suffering has been immense. In Gaza, the ICRC has more than 100 staff who remain working amid the violence. We have pre-positioned life
saving supplies, and recently through the Rafah crossing, we brought in medical supplies and a new team including surgical and weapon contamination experts. During the ceasefire from November 24th to December 1st, we facilitated the release and transfer of a total of 105 hostages from Gaza and 154 Palestinian detainees from Israeli places of detention to be reunited with their loved ones. Our deep desire is for all hostages to be
released, and that civilians be shielded from the pain and suffering that armed conflict brings.
UKRAINE
The international armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine is causing indescribable loss and suffering for civilians. Since February 2022, millions of people have fled their homes,
thousands have died or been injured, and civilian infrastructures have been heavily damaged and destroyed.
Humanitarian needs are still rising. Millions of people, including some of the most vulnerable like the children, the elderly, sick, and disabled are facing the coldest months of the year with limited electricity, water, and sources of heat after attacks on critical infrastructure. The ICRC has been providing emergency relief in some of the most affected or hard-to-reach areas, to both resident communities and internally displaced persons.
Meanwhile, despite persistent challenges in terms of access, the ICRC has been the only
international organization allowed to visit prisoners of war held by the two parties to the armed conflict. Since February 2022, we have visited a total of over 2,300 prisoners of war on both sides and shared news directly with thousands of families.
Some highlights of our humanitarian activities between January 1st and September 30th, 2023:
• More than 4,384,700 people were enabled access to safe drinking water
• More than 391,500 people received cash assistance to cover their varying needs
• More than 421,700 food and hygiene parcels were provided to more than 493,900
vulnerable people as well as hospitals, education facilities and other social institutions
• More than 2,400 people received first aid training and more than 5,580 first aid kits
were donated
• 162 generators, 59 motor pumps and 14 transformers were provided to support the
restoration of essential services
• More than 63,100 health consultations were provided through the 29 mobile health units of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society supported by the ICRC
In 2024, Ukraine will remain the largest operation of the ICRC to meet the rising needs of
affected populations. We are extremely grateful for the support you generously provided, which has made a real difference in the lives of people impacted by the conflict.
For our work in other regions of the world please visit our website www.icrc.org.
On behalf of the individuals and families you are assisting globally, thank you for helping us continue our life-saving work.
Please see our annual report here: https://www.icrc.org/en/report/icrc-annual-report-2023
