SPECIAL APPEAL 2025 On the frontlines of climate change and armed conflicts

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) currently operates in 46 of the 50 countries most vulnerable to climate change and least equipped to adapt. Nearly half of the world’s 122 million displaced people live in countries facing both conflict and severe climate hazards. In regions like the Sahel and Horn of Africa, recurrent droughts, floods, and violence are driving instability and humanitarian need. In response, the ICRC and its partners integrate climate risk analysis and conflict sensitivity into operations, while upholding international humanitarian law (IHL) and supporting local actors through resilience-building programs and climate-smart interventions.

Our work on the ground illustrates how we adapt our assistance to the unique intersection of crisis and climate. In Ethiopia, our largest solar-powered water system in Africa now serves over 77,000 people in Lalibela, mitigating conflict-driven power shortages and ensuring a stable water supply. In Myanmar, where climate shocks threaten food security, we promote climate-smart agriculture by distributing salt-tolerant rice and sustainable farming inputs. In conflict zones prone to climate hazards, we restore critical services—deploying mobile water units, delivering essential medicines, and rehabilitating infrastructure—to protect health and dignity.

As a partner within Red Cross Movement, we recognize that addressing the climate crisis requires coordinated, cross-sector action. That’s why we co-launched the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations, aligning our operational and advocacy efforts around climate resilience, environmental safeguards, and principled humanitarian action. From advocating for respect of IHL to partnering with global institutions on climate finance access, the ICRC strives to ensure that the most vulnerable communities are not left behind in global climate responses.
To learn more about how we’re driving systemic change to address the impacts of climate change on communities in crisis-affected regions, please visit www.icrc.org.
Thank you for standing with us.