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ICRC Opens Registration for the Geneva Virtual HELP Course in June

Geneva, March 10th 2021 – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) opened registration for the HELP Course (Health Emergencies in Large Populations) which will be held from 14th to 25th of June in a fully online format.

Due to the continuing global pandemic, it will be the third online version of the well-known humanitarian course, facilitated this time from Geneva by the ICRC, following in the footsteps of the Honolulu and Baltimore courses. Their courses have shown that the HELP format is transferrable to an online format, maintaining the rigour and participatory atmosphere that signifies the HELP course.

Online applications are now being accepted for the virtual course in June, which will be held in English. All details about the registration process, eligibility and other practical information about the course can be found on the ICRC website HERE.

To date, the HELP course has trained over 5,000 health professionals and aid workers coming from such diverse backgrounds as humanitarian agencies, Governmental Ministries, Military and Institutes of Higher Learning.

HELP is a 2-week course on humanitarian assistance during disasters, armed conflicts and other complex crises. Created in 1986 by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Geneva, the course seeks to develop the knowledge, skills and approach, based on scientific evidence, best practices and professional ethics, that humanitarian workers will need to make effective decisions, ensure their conduct is never less than humane and adapt their activities as needed.

The course is relevant to a broad range of professionals including medical personnel, engineers, operational managers, logisticians, lawyers, policymakers and leaders of humanitarian organizations.

The course is held every year in different locations worldwide and in three different languages (English, French and Spanish), in collaboration with partnering organizations, universities or institutes.