Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), also known as sheep and goat plague, is a highly contagious viral disease affecting small animals such as sheep and goats. PPR can be fatal and outbreaks, if undetected, can have devastating consequences for people's livelihoods, particularly in pastoral communities.

In Kamasasa village, Sierra Leone, trained Sierra Leone Red Cross Society volunteers quickly detected a PPR outbreak and supported local animal health authorities to respond quickly - minimizing the damage on the community.

Volunteers had been trained how to recognize, report, and respond to disease outbreaks through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme, funded by USAID. Learn more about the programme: https://www.ifrc.org/our-work/health-and-care/emergency-health/epidemic-and-pandemic-preparedness

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When 7-year-old Djoubeda from Maya-Oulo village, Cameroon, fell sick with measles, quick action from Cameroon Red Cross volunteer, Ramatou, made sure Djoubeda was treated quickly and a measles outbreak was prevented.

Ramatou had been trained in epidemic control and community-based surveillance through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme, funded by USAID--giving her the skills and tools to recognize, report and help respond to disease outbreaks in her community.

Learn more about the programme: https://www.ifrc.org/our-work/health-and-care/emergency-health/epidemic-and-pandemic-preparedness

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Epidemics and pandemics are some of the biggest threats to a safe and healthy world. But with effective preparedness and response measures, we can reduce their impacts and even stop them in their tracks.

Through the Programmatic Partnership with the European Union, 24 local Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have been working to keep communities healthy and safe from epidemics and pandemics with technical assistance, advocacy support and coordination from IFRC and European National Societies. They do so by equipping communities with knowledge and tools to stop the spread of diseases and by setting up systems so they can report outbreaks quickly, enabling a rapid response from authorities. National Societies have also significantly developed their own epidemic preparedness and response capacity.

Among countless successes, this new report features seven powerful stories of how National Societies have improved epidemic preparedness and response around the world through the Programmatic Partnership: https://www.ifrc.org/document/epidemic-preparedness-and-response-success-stories-programmatic-partnership

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🚰 Meet Afia Boadiwaa: The start of our journey to transform urban water access in Ghana

In this opening to our Ghana Urban WASH project (2021), hear directly from Afia Boadiwaa in Mampong, Ashanti Region, as she shares her daily struggles to access clean water for drinking and cooking. Purchasing water from private vendors is expensive, and like many in Ghana's urban communities she pays more for water than those connected to the public system.

This video was filmed during the formative phase of our project, where we:
✅ Formed a unique partnership between Ghana Red Cross and Ghana Water Company Limited
✅ Conducted comprehensive research across 695 households to understand water access barriers
✅ Designed targeted behavioral change campaigns based on community motivations and perspectives
✅ Developed a voucher subsidy system for the most vulnerable families

To learn more, read the detailed case study (https://watsanmissionassistant.org/ghanaurbanwater/) or listen to this podcast from the Voices for Resilience series by Netherlands Red Cross (https://youtu.be/btiA2udg2JM?feature=shared). Colleagues from Netherlands Red Cross, Ghana Red Cross and Ghana Water Corporation tells us the path taken to set up a partnership that aims at increasing water supply of low-income communities in Ghana.

Together, we're working toward a Ghana where no one is "hungry for water."

Video produced in 2021.

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Voices for Resilience (Podcast Series of the Netherlands Red Cross, E04)

In this podcast, colleagues from Netherlands Red Cross, Ghana Red Cross and Ghana Water Corporation tells us the path taken to set up a partnership that aims at increasing water supply of low-income communities in Ghana.

Through their testimonies you can learn how the Red Cross and Red Crescent network can help water utilities around the world to deliver more effective water supply to urban poor through a unique partnership, combining the technical knowledge of utilities and the power of community engagement from Red Cross to drive behaviour change and transform less advantaged people into responsible water customers.

This episode describes through a practical example how role of the Red Cross Red Crescent network can be essential in securing water access to poor communities in the urban environment.

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Voices for Resilience (Podcast Series of the Netherlands Red Cross, E03)

In this podcast, colleagues from Netherlands Red Cross tells us about their experience supporting partner Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies working on water and climate change.

Unpredictable rainfall patterns to shrinking ice sheets, rising sea levels, floods and droughts – most impacts of climate change come down to water.

Through their testimonies from Ethiopia, Haiti, Ghana and Mozambique, we can learn how Netherlands Red Cross supports the Red Cross Red Crescent network to address water-related hazards (such as floods and droughts) in rural and urban areas around the world.

All the stories and examples in this podcast share something in common: climate action requires enhancing practical, locally driven action to better anticipate disasters and preparing communities to better manage their water systems so they can stand extreme climatic shocks.

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Learn more about Venezuelan Red Cross's community water solution in Cumanacoa following the July 2024 floods. When contaminated water threatened public health, the Venezuelan Red Cross mobilized and installed household filtration systems with 250-liter tanks and Sawyer filters, empowering families to purify their own water and stay healthy.

Video produced by Venezuela Red Cross (2024).

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Learn more about Venezuelan Red Cross's emergency water purification plant which was deployed in Monte municipality, Sucre state in July 2024. After severe flooding destroyed water supply pipelines, this vital system produced 30,000 liters of safe drinking water daily, supporting 1,500 families when they needed it most.

Video produced by Venezuelan Red Cross (2024).

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This video shows what the Lebanese Red Cross, supported by the Austrian Red Cross, are doing to promote hygiene and prevent disease among refugee populations in Lebanon on World Handwashing Day 2024.

In a country hosting the highest number of refugees per capita worldwide, the Lebanese Red Cross conducts essential hygiene promotion activities in informal tented settlements with the distribution of monthly hygiene kits. Community committees are trained to maintain water and sanitation facilities, ensuring sustainable access to clean water and proper hygiene practices.

Approximately 300,000 refugees live in these settlements in dire conditions, facing significant health risks without proper water and sanitation access. The Lebanese Red Cross implements both "hard WASH" infrastructure improvements and "soft WASH" hygiene promotion activities, including special events that educate children on the importance of cleanliness and environmental care within their communities.

Video produced by Lebanese Red Cross and Austrian Red Cross. September 2024.

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This video highlights the critical water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) support provided to Syrian refugees living in informal tent settlements across Lebanon. Since 2011, 1.5 million Syrian refugees have fled to Lebanon, many living without proper sanitation facilities.

The Lebanese Red Cross, supported by Austrian Red Cross, supports vital WASH services including water tanks connected to latrines, and flood prevention and drainage solutions. In addition, hygiene promotion sessions and distribution of non-food items (NFIs) such as jerry cans, ceramic water filters, solar lanterns and hygiene kits help preserve dignity and prevent disease in these vulnerable communities.

679 Syrian refugee households have been reached, these efforts safeguard families' well-being and offer hope for a brighter future despite challenging circumstances.

Video produced by Lebanese Red Cross and Austrian Red Cross. September 2024.

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World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day (Arabic) - On the side of humanity

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On the side of humanity - World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2025

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Du côté de l'humanité - Journée Mondiale de la Croix-Rouge et du Croisssant-Rouge 2025

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Del lado de la humanidad - Dia Mundial de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja 2025

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The needs of women and girls are often overlooked in crises, when the focus might lie on other, quick actions. However, unsafe hygiene practices can lead to health risks, lack of water and sanitation in schools can lead to dropouts among menstruating girls.

In order to tackle these issues and improve girls‘ self-confidence and dignity, the menstrual hygiene management component has become an integral part of the Austrian and Lebanese Red Cross water and sanitation projects.

A project funded by the Austrian Development Agency provided monthly menstrual hygiene kits for 6 months, rehabilitated WASH facilities, and educational sessions to over 2,000 girls in Lebanon's public schools. This initiative breaks taboos around menstruation while ensuring girls can attend school with dignity and confidence during their periods.

The program includes rehabilitated facilities with proper water access and hygiene promotion sessions led by local Red Cross volunteers, creating safe spaces for girls to learn and ask questions about menstrual health. Past projects have shown significant improvements in school attendance, self-confidence, and overall well-being among participating students.

Video produced by Lebanese Red Cross and Austrian Red Cross. September 2024.

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