The head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has called for an immediate halt to attacks on humanitarian workers, warning that ongoing violence and political deadlock are putting lives and relief efforts at risk.
Speaking during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye, Jagan Chapagain, CEO of the IFRC, raised concern about growing threats to aid workers and the rising difficulty in reaching communities in need. His message came as the Gaza Strip continues to face a complete block on humanitarian aid. Since March 2, Israel has stopped all assistance from entering the region, leaving civilians in urgent need.
Chapagain pointed to the dangers faced by those delivering aid and called for full respect of international humanitarian law. He stressed that violence against relief teams must stop, not just in one region, but across the world.
According to the IFRC chief, the world is currently facing a wave of overlapping emergencies—from natural disasters to armed conflicts—without clear paths to resolution. He noted that political solutions are often absent, allowing crises to linger indefinitely. In many cases, one emergency fades only to be replaced by another, creating a cycle of suffering that is becoming harder to manage.
Chapagain warned that this repeated pattern is unsustainable. He believes the path forward lies in increased diplomatic efforts and global cooperation, rather than reliance on short-term responses. Only through active dialogue and engagement, he said, can the world begin to reduce the burden of recurring humanitarian emergencies and protect those risking their lives to provide aid.