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Lebanon has been facing an evolving and complex humanitarian crisis for several years, generating widespread and growing needs for humanitarian assistance. The people of Lebanon are the ones bearing the brunt of the impact of a series of devastating crises: a complex economic and financial crisis, which has been exacerbated by COVID-19 and the explosion that rocked the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020.

Monsoon rainfall in Pakistan is causing catastrophic landslides and flash flooding across the country. The record-breaking rains are nearly three times higher than the past 30-year average and have impacted an estimated 33 million people – for scale, the population of Canada is just over 38.6 million. 

Canadian Red Cross Emergency Management volunteer Ha Vu’s interest in philanthropy led her to become a Red Cross Walmart ambassador. During the month-long campaign to raise funds for disaster preparedness, training, and responses in Canada, Ha does regular check-ins at her designated Walmart store - where she thanks Associates for their support.

In East Africa, tens of millions of people are in dire need of food as a series of disasters from climate change, conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, a locust invasion, and longstanding vulnerabilities have converged into a humanitarian crisis. Time is running out to avert starvation. Unless urgent action is taken, the continued drought in East Africa could come to resemble the one in 2011, which killed about 260,000 people in Somalia.

When looking at a map of Northern Saskatchewan, you’ll notice the roads are few and far between. It’s easy to wonder, how do people get help promptly during times of need? The answer is through the dedicated volunteers locally placed throughout the community who spring into action when duty calls.

In Summer 2021, I completed my first co-op term with the Canadian Red Cross, as an Emergency Care Worker in the Langford COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic. This summer work term proved to be one of the best work experiences I’ve ever had – and the Red Cross is to thank for that!

In times of humanitarian crisis, finding accurate details and facts can be challenging in a sea of information. Both misinformation and disinformation can put our Red Cross staff, volunteers, and the people we seek to help at risk. Here’s how the Red Cross is helping on the ground in Ukraine and surrounding region.

It has now been almost two months since I packed my bags and headed to Europe to support the Red Cross response to the conflict in Ukraine. I can’t help but think of the millions of people who have also had to leave their homes, under very different circumstances, unsure of what they will eventually return to. The word “millions” doesn’t do these people justice. They aren’t just some anonymous number.