Sixty-two brave men and women; staff and volunteers of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent have lost their lives saving the lives of others and bringing relief to the suffering since the conflict broke out in Syria in 2011. And they were not the only ones. All over the world, being an aid worker has become increasingly dangerous. At the same time, there are now more people than ever in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Wars, conflicts, extreme poverty, and impending famine is sending an unprecedented number of people onto the path of migration. Often the journeys are riddled with danger, and too many die or are hurt in the attempt to reach safety and a viable future. The hosting regions and countries often struggle to mobilize the resources needed to accommodate the refugees and migrants. Along the routes, in the refugee camps and hosting communities Red Cross Red Crescent staff and volunteers are ready to help and support.
In the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, psychosocial support is a natural component of humanitarian aid. And with emerging challenges, providers of psychosocial support request more knowledge, specialized interventions and better foundations for the activities. Psychosocial support interventions must be evidence-informed, flexible and adaptable.
