In 2023, you brought hope to people who needed it the most
Thanks to your support, we worked in more than 100 countries, saving lives on all sides of conflict, assisting and protecting the most vulnerable, often in places where others have no access to.
How you helped in 2023
People at the heart of our operations
In the midst of warfare, we assist people in need by supplying food, shelter and health care to help them survive the horrors of war. When the last shot has been fired, we are there to support those whose lives have been changed forever. Here are some of their stories.
Esther’s story
Esther’s life took a tragic turn when her village was attacked amid ongoing armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Her and her children fled, hiding in the forest for four days, surviving only on a bit of flour. Eventually, they reached the eastern village of Luofu, in North Kivu, where Esther’s uncle took them in.
Determined to rebuild, Esther joined the ICRC’s fishing program. She learned to raise fish and received a small grant, equipment, and 200 juvenile fish. With a pond near her new home, she now breeds, cooks, and sells the fish, creating a fresh start for her family.
Haroon's story
While his father was away, 16-year-old Haroon took the family’s cattle to graze in Logar, eastern Afghanistan, where he stepped on a mine, losing his hand and both legs. He was treated at the ICRC’s physical rehabilitation center in Kabul, where he learned to walk again with prosthetics.
“They treated me so well,” he says. “They gave me a bicycle, a wheelchair, the facilities I needed. When there’s a problem with my artificial leg, they fix it. I’m very happy – I can walk on my own now.” Haroon dreams of going to school and university to become a doctor.
Help for those deprived of their liberty
In mid-April 2023, more than 950 detainees who had been held in relation to the conflict in Yemen were flown home with the help of the ICRC. Hundreds of families, torn apart by war, experienced emotional reunions. In the days and weeks leading up to the transfer, ICRC delegates visited each detainee to confirm that they wished to return home and to guarantee their safety. Our teams also evaluated the detainees’ health and ensured they had basic necessities.
Our global impact
Together, we are humanity in action.
The stories of survival, recovery and growth highlighted here represent just a fraction of what was achieved in 2023. These stories - and many more like them – were only possible thanks to supporters and partners like you.
We thank you.
