Too many Red Cross and Red Crescent jackets have become shrouds. In Brussels today, I joined leaders from across the humanitarian sector, including colleagues from many National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the @ICRC, for a high-level panel discussion at the International Conference on the Protection of Humanitarian Aid Workers, hosted by the European Commission @EU_ECHO and the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU @Ireland2026eu. I shared a simple message: humanitarian workers need more than our gratitude. They need protection. Respect the law. Invest in trust. Ensure accountability. So far this year, 22 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff have been killed while helping others. Most were local responders serving their own communities and carrying the greatest risks. Let’s turn commitments into action. We owe that to all those who have lost their lives while helping others.

I am about to head to Brussels for the International Conference on the Protection of Humanitarian Aid Workers with a painful reminder of why this gathering matters. On 13 October, three members of the Ukrainian Red Cross @RedCrossUkraine were injured in an attack in Sloviansk, Donetsk region. They suffered wounds and burns, and their office was heavily damaged. My thoughts are with them, their families and their colleagues, and I wish them a full and swift recovery. They were serving their communities. They should never have been harmed. In Brussels, our message will be clear: humanitarian personnel and facilities must be respected and protected, everywhere and at all times. The conference must translate concern into concrete commitments, stronger protection and meaningful accountability.