Canadian Red Cross stresses need to protect humanitarian workers after record number of deaths

The Canadian Red Cross is marking World Red Cross Red Crescent Day with a call for action to protect humanitarian workers around the world. The Red Cross Red Crescent mourns the deaths of ten of its colleagues so far this year, which comes after the deadliest year on record for humanitarians with 379 humanitarians killed worldwide in 2024. This includes 32 volunteers and staff from the Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies. The Canadian Red Cross stresses that the deaths of our humanitarian colleagues were not inevitable and that humanitarian workers are not a target.

As a member of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, the Canadian Red Cross has a responsibility to disseminate International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and work with our Movement partners and respective governments to ensure respect for IHL. The most recent deaths of our colleagues at the Palestine Red Crescent Society in March represents one of the deadliest days on record for a National Society and its volunteers.

The erosion of IHL poses a grave threat to humanitarian workers and sets a terrifying precedent for our sector. Harming humanitarians significantly impacts civilians, as the inability to safely reach people in need leads to much worse humanitarian outcomes.

“Over the past three years, the Canadian Red Cross has witnessed an increasing number of humanitarian workers killed while fulfilling their mission to provide humanitarian aid to people around the world,” said Conrad Sauvé, president and CEO, Canadian Red Cross. “Humanitarian workers must be protected and respected while conducting the vital work of assisting people in need around the world.”

While International Humanitarian Law allows room for interpretation, there are fundamentals which are not disputed including:

• Those providing humanitarian and/or medical assistance to people impacted by armed conflict are not targets.
• Ambulances, vehicles, and buildings where humanitarian and/or medical assistance is being provided are not targets.
• Those wearing protective emblems are not targets.
• It is only when a person directly participates in hostilities that a person becomes a target.
• Providing medical assistance to either side of a conflict does not amount to direct participation in hostilities. 

Taken together, these are the cornerstones of IHL that were negotiated and agreed to by governments around the world. Erosion of these fundamentals is unacceptable.

The Canadian Red Cross is committed to advocating in support of our Movement colleagues and working to influence decision makers in their responsibilities to respect and promote compliance with IHL. More information on IHL and the Canadian Red Cross can be found on our website.

The Red Cross will remember and mourn our humanitarian colleagues who have lost their lives, and honour those who continue to risk their lives to provide aid and support to those in need.

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About the Canadian Red Cross

Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies – the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to helping people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need, and supporting them in strengthening their resilience.

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