The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, says that levels of suffering in Syria and Iraq have reached unprecedented levels. "Hundreds of thousands killed; millions on the move; families torn apart," states Maurer. "Even as Ramadan comes to an end, many, many ordinary people are living in abject fear and terrifying uncertainty. A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding."
As the battle for Fallujah intensifies, thousands of people have fled the central Iraqi city in the past two weeks. The city, the largest in Anbar Province, has been under siege since early 2014. According to the United Nations at least 50,000 people are still trapped in the heart of the city.
Five years since the Libyan revolution which ousted Colonel Gadhafi from power, bullets are still flying. The situation is getting worse as fighting intensifies, pushing people out of their homes.
Today (June 1) the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delivered medicines, baby milk, vaccines and nutritional items for children to the besieged town of Daraya with the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
An aid convoy carrying much needed humanitarian assistance for over 120,000 people is on route to the besieged town of Al Rastan near Homs.
On the eve of International Mine Awareness Day (4 April 2016), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is highlighting the threat to civilians from anti-personnel mines and unexploded ordnance in Iraq -one of a number of countries where new mines are being laid.
Al Houleh has been under siege since 2012 and the scene of heavy fighting for months. People are in a desperate situation in this and other besieged areas trying to survive on very little.
On the eve of a possible cessation of hostilities in Syria the International Committee of the Red Cross is appealing to all those with influence to work to end the conflict.
Last night (3 February), as darkness fell, the ICRC and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) crossed the checkpoints and the buffer zone to enter the besieged town of Moaadamiyeh to give aid to tens of thousands of people in desperate need.
The ICRC is on its way again with the Syria Red Crescent and the UN to Madaya, Foua, Kefraya with more desperately needed aid.