The Nigerian Red Cross Society and its international partners have raised concerns over increasing humanitarian challenges in Nigeria, warning that shrinking global funding is putting pressure on efforts to support victims of conflict, displacement and disasters across the country.
The concern was raised during the 163rd World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day celebration held to honour volunteers and humanitarian workers providing relief services in vulnerable communities.
National President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Oluyemisi Adetayo Adeaga, said unity, compassion and stronger cooperation among humanitarian organisations are necessary to sustain support for people affected by crises.
“We should be united in humanity. We should be united for humanity. And we should be humane in our actions, because that is what brings unity to humanity,” he said.
Adeaga stressed that humanitarian response requires collective effort, noting that no single organisation can address the growing needs alone.
“Humanitarian services cannot be done alone by one single organization or individual. It has to be collaborative, because different actors bring different strengths, resources, and expertise to achieve meaningful impact,” he added.
He also praised volunteers for their sacrifices in delivering assistance to vulnerable persons regardless of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
“Our volunteers are selfless; they go out voluntarily, without pay, and ensure that we bring hope and relief to the needy wherever they are found,” he stated.
Head of Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Doris El Doueihy, said humanitarian agencies are facing increasing demands at a time when international support is declining globally.
“Humanitarian needs are huge. Today more than ever, we all know that humanitarian funds are shrinking around the world,” she stated.
According to her, humanitarian interventions currently cover emergency relief, food support, shelter, water supply and psychosocial services for displaced persons and conflict-affected communities.
“Our response goes from emergency response, food, non-food, water, shelters, all the way to psychosocial support… anything related to people living the consequences of the conflict, we do a complete and adaptive response to that,” El Doueihy said.
Also speaking, Head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Nigeria, Awan Mohammad, disclosed that the organisation is responding to emergencies in 33 states across Nigeria.
“We are responding in all natural and man-made disasters… from northern states to all other states, 33 states, we are responding in displacements, health, shelter, WASH, food items, non-food items, food insecurity, livelihood,” he said.
He added that the celebration was dedicated to recognising the sacrifices and contributions of volunteers and staff across the world.
“We acknowledge around the world their efforts and their contributions, which have been done here and around the world,” Mohammad stated.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, FCT Branch, Rhoda Samande, highlighted the organisation’s grassroots interventions through first aid training, community sensitisation and support for internally displaced persons.
“We go out there to train even the grassroots people on how to carry out first aid in their localities and how to also disseminate the training we hold for them,” she said.
Samande added that the organisation continues to monitor trained communities to ensure the knowledge is replicated effectively.
“We do follow up, we do monitor them and we go back there to see if they are replicating what we have taught them. It has really been very successful and we are very happy with the impact we are seeing,” she added.
The World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is celebrated annually in honour of Henry Dunant, founder of the global humanitarian movement.