ICRC operations in Africa

The ICRC maintains a strong operational presence in Africa, with activities focused on protecting and assisting people affected by armed conflict or other forms of violence. Working closely with national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies throughout the continent, it promotes greater recognition and wider implementation of international humanitarian law.

Key operations

The ICRC in DR Congo

The humanitarian situation in eastern DR Congo remains fragile. The ICRC helps vulnerable groups adversely affected by conflict and internal violence in the region to survive and become self-sufficient.
The ICRC regional delegation in Côte d'Ivoire

The ICRC delegation in Abidjan covers Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Togo. It helps displaced people, distributes water, sets up clinics, visits places of detention and promotes international humanitarian law.
The ICRC in Libya

The ICRC is visiting detainees, tracing missing persons, working with the Libyan Red Crescent to help people injured or displaced by violence and training Libyan Red Crescent and other volunteers to highlight the dangers of explosive remnants of war. The organization is also working towards an environment conducive to compliance with IHL and universal humanitarian principles, by promoting these rules with the Libyan authorities and providing expertise on their teaching and integration to the Libyan army and security forces.
The ICRC regional delegation for Mali and Niger

In Niger, the ICRC focuses on relieving the effects of food crises in areas affected by violence. In Mali, it helps people affected by the armed conflict and food crisis.
The ICRC in Somalia

In Somalia the ICRC provides emergency aid to people directly affected by armed conflict, and runs extensive first-aid, medical and basic health-care programmes, as well as agriculture and water projects.
The ICRC in Sudan

Since 2003, the ICRC has been helping people affected by conflict in Darfur, Sudan. The ICRC provides water, food, shelter and medical care, and re-establishes contact between people separated by fighting.
The ICRC in South Sudan

The ICRC's South Sudan delegation focuses on the promotion of IHL, support for health care and cooperation with the South Sudan Red Cross.