What we do

The ICRC responds quickly and efficiently to help people affected by armed conflict. We also respond to disasters in conflict zones, because the effects of a disaster are compounded if a country is already at war. Emergencies are unpredictable, so our rapid deployment capability is hugely important.

Access to education
Access to education
Education gives children and young people the skills to make reasoned choices in life, to build their resilience and to develop coping mechanisms.
Addressing sexual violence
Addressing sexual violence
Sexual violence is prevalent in many modern conflicts. The ICRC is stepping up its efforts to prevent this crime and help the victims.
Building respect for the law
Building respect for the law
As part of our mission to protect and assist the victims of war and other violence, the ICRC seeks to ensure respect for their rights.
Climate change and conflict
Climate change and conflict
Climate change and conflict push people out of their homes, disrupts food production and supplies, amplifies diseases and weakens health-care services.
Cooperating with National Societies
Cooperating with National Societies
The ICRC works closely with the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Federation to ensure a concerted, efficient and rapid response to conflict or violence.
Coronavirus: COVID-19 pandemic
Coronavirus: COVID-19 pandemic
Coronavirus: COVID-19 pandemic – What does the coronavirus pandemic mean for people?
Economic security
Economic security
The ICRC's Economic Security Unit seeks to establish if people affected by different kinds of crisis and conflict can cover their essential needs sustainably.
Enabling people with disabilities & physical rehabilitation
Enabling people with disabilities & physical rehabilitation
The ICRC helps people with disabilities play a full part in society.
Food security
Food security
Global food security crisis could have unimaginable human cost. Nowhere are the consequences felt more than in the countries already facing humanitarian crises.
Forensic science
Forensic science
When people die during war, disaster or migration, their bodies must be handled respectfully and with dignity.
Health
Health
The ICRC ensures that people affected by conflict can get basic health care that meets universally recognized standards.
Helping detainees
Helping detainees
The ICRC aims to secure humane treatment and conditions of detention for all detainees, regardless of the reasons for their arrest and detention.
Humanitarian diplomacy
Humanitarian diplomacy
The ICRC uses contacts to promote IHL, explain its position on humanitarian issues, facilitate operations and raise awareness of the needs of people affected by conflict and violence.
Migrants, refugees, asylum seekers
Migrants, refugees, asylum seekers
The ICRC seeks to ensure that all migrants receive the protection that they are entitled to under international and domestic law.
Mine action
Mine action
The ICRC endeavours to mitigate the impact of weapon contamination on the population through a flexible, multidisciplinary approach.
Operational Research
Operational Research
ICRC established a Centre for Operational Research and Experience to enhance our efforts to foster a culture of ethically-generated, evidence-based research, and to promote the uptake of research findings in our operations.
Protection of the deceased through forensic action
Protection of the deceased through forensic action
The ICRC works in situations of conflict and violence to help ensure the dead are protected and to uphold the right of bereaved families to know what happened to their loved ones.
Restoring family links
Restoring family links
The ICRC's Restoring Family Links programme aims to locate people, exchange messages, reunite families and clarify the fate of missing persons.
Virtual Reality & Innovation
Virtual Reality & Innovation
Using new and accelerating technologies, the ICRC continues to develop virtual environments as one of the many tools used to teach, motivate and maintain universal respect for IHL.
War in cities
War in cities
Urban warfare endangers the lives of civilians and the infrastructure they depend on, while its humanitarian consequences persist years after the fighting ends.
Water and habitat
Water and habitat
The ICRC provides water in conflict zones and creates or maintains a sustainable living environment — to reduce death and suffering due to damage to infrastructure or disruption to water supplies.
Working with the corporate sector
Working with the corporate sector
Working with the private sector enables us to promote humanitarian principles with companies operating in war-prone areas and to help the victims of war.