John Roche

IFRC Head of Maputo Country Cluster Delegation for Mozambique and Angola.

[Mercy Laker @MercyLaker]

Pleased to announce @NenaStoiljkovic as one of the featured speakers.
With just 3 days to go, anticipation is building for an important evening of dialogue & collaboration focused on strengthening climate resilience across Africa.
#GlobalClimateResilience #InvestingInResilience

[Jagan Chapagain @jagan_chapagain]

We are scaling up our Ebola response across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and neighbouring countries, with a CHF 29M regional emergency appeal.

Already, the @IFRC and in-country partners are mobilising at scale to reinforce the response of the DRC Red Cross. Across the region, we are working closely with National Societies to strengthen both response and preparedness.

This outbreak is unfolding in fragile settings where speed, trust and community engagement are critical.  

We must act now. I call on the international community to stand in solidarity and support this lifesaving effort. https://t.co/tOtLsuzkx1

[IFRC @ifrc]

Behind every Ebola outbreak are communities facing fear, loss, misinformation, and isolation.

From difficult access to healthcare and safe burial practices, to disrupted livelihoods and rising protection risks, outbreaks affect far more than physical health.

That’s why community engagement, trust, and local leadership are at the heart of every effective response.

Communities must be part of the solution from day one. ❤️

[IFRC Africa @IFRCAfrica]

We are deeply saddened by the heartbreaking loss of three @croix_rouge_rdc volunteers in Ituri Province.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to their families, loved ones, and fellow volunteers during this time of grief.

The IFRC, together with the DRC Red Cross and the ICRC, remains committed to supporting affected communities and strengthening the Ebola response.

Our statement 👇🏾

[IFRC Africa @IFRCAfrica]

“Without community trust and buy-in, progress is impossible.”

IFRC’s Bronwyn Nichols, Senior Officer for Public Health in Emergencies, spoke to @AJENews  on the importance of community engagement in the Ebola response.

She highlighted efforts in contact tracing, cross-border coordination, and safe dignified burials.

The IFRC continues to support @croix_rouge_rdc  in responding to the Ebola outbreak and assisting affected communities.

[Jagan Chapagain @jagan_chapagain]

Deeply saddened by the loss of three dedicated volunteers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo Red Cross in Ituri Province, who are believed to have contracted the Ebola virus on duty, while carrying out dead body management activities on 27 March as part of a humanitarian mission unrelated to Ebola.

At the time of the intervention, the community was not aware of the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, and the outbreak had not yet been identified. They are among the first known victims of the outbreak.

On behalf of the @IFRC, I extend my heartfelt condolences to their families, loved ones, fellow volunteers and colleagues. We stand in solidarity with the DRC Red Cross during this painful time.

The IFRC, together with the DRC Red Cross and the ICRC, remains committed to supporting affected communities and strengthening the Ebola response.

Our statement. 👇

[John Roche @ja_roche]

In Xinavane, @Red_Cross_Moz teams, with IFRC support, are issuing food vouchers to support families affected by the early 2026 floods. Through this relief, more than 580 households will be able to exchange the vouchers for essential food items.

[Jagan Chapagain @jagan_chapagain]

United In Humanity. No matter where. No matter when.

On today's World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, on behalf of the @IFRC, I would like to honour the millions of volunteers and staff who show up every day for people in crisis, standing on the frontlines of emergencies that affect them too.

In an increasingly complex and polarized world, in a world marked by division and dehumanization, humanity is our common ground. It is what turns compassion into action.

Today, we also remember and pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in service of others.

For more than 160 years, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has stood alongside communities before, during and after crises, locally and globally.

Let us all remain #UnitedInHumanity.

[John Roche @ja_roche]

Following the recent floods in #Angola, cholera cases are rising in #Benguela.
At the request of local authorities, @cruzvermelha_AO volunteers are raising awareness in markets, sharing prevention messages to help communities stay safe.
#AngolaFloods #Benguela #CholeraPrevention

[John Roche @ja_roche]

On the ground this week in Gaza province, the hardest hit by the floods in #Mozambique.As communities begin to recover, needs remain significant. @Red_Cross_Moz & @IFRC teams continue to support families as efforts shift from response to recovery.

[Jagan Chapagain @jagan_chapagain]

Sudan cannot be forgotten.

Today marks three years since the conflict escalated in Sudan.

Three years on, humanitarian needs remain immense and continue to evolve. Since day one, with the support of the @IFRC, the Sudanese Red Crescent Society has been on the ground, with local volunteers responding in extremely difficult conditions.

For many families, the choice is unimaginable: remain displaced with limited support, or return to communities where little remains. As needs shift, the IFRC and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society continue to adapt their response.

Here’s what the IFRC is focusing its response on. 👇

[John Roche @ja_roche]

In Gaza Province, @Red_Cross_Moz volunteers with @IFRCAfrica support are helping improve water and sanitation conditions for flood-affected families.

From setting up emergency latrines to expanding access to water points in accommodation centres. Practical support that matters.

[Jagan Chapagain @jagan_chapagain]

Local action is the backbone of humanitarian response.

The newly launched IFRC-DREF Strategic Ambition 2026–2030 reaffirms our commitment to @IFRC_DREF mandate: supporting fast, predictable, transparent and accountable locally led responses to small- and medium-sized disasters. At the heart of this ambition is a clear goal: to grow IFRC-DREF into a CHF 200 million replenishable, revolving pooled fund by 2030, aiming to reach 50 million people.

As funding shrinks and crises grow more complex, National Societies remain the first and last line of defense for communities in need. Their role has never been more critical.

Learn more. 👉 https://t.co/JWeKJZfPdu

[IFRC Africa @IFRCAfrica]

Flooding in Angola is impacting thousands of people.

In Benguela province, homes have been damaged, families displaced, and access to essential services disrupted.

Red Cross volunteers are on the ground, supporting evacuation efforts and assisting affected communities as needs continue to grow.

#AngolaFloods #Benguela #CruzVermelhaAngola

[IFRC @ifrc]

The @IFRC mourns with deep sorrow the killing of Abolfazl Dahanavi, who was only 20 years old.

Abolfazl is the fourth Iranian Red Crescent @Iranian_RCS volunteer killed in the line of duty since the conflict began on 28 February 2026.

This is unjustifiable. Humanitarian workers must be protected.

Our statement: https://t.co/QjkzjGjLgM

[IFRC @ifrc]

In Camp Zero, families sleep on mats or bare ground. Food and clean water are scarce, and daily life is a constant struggle.

The @SSRCS, with support from @IFRC, is installing latrines and delivering clean water daily, helping reduce health risks.

But with fragile shelters, and rising flood risks, more support is urgently needed.

[Jagan Chapagain @jagan_chapagain]

Today, I join our partners at @WHO in celebrating World Health Day.

Health starts in communities. At the @IFRC, our network of 191 National Societies is "local, everywhere", rooted in the communities they serve. What unites our work is that we always tailor health services to local contexts and needs. And because our millions of volunteers are part of the communities they serve, our health work is always community-led.

World Health Day is also a stark reminder that in the midst of conflict, access to healthcare is not just a necessity, it is a matter of life and death. When doctors are killed and clinics are bombed, the "immune system" of a community is dismantled.

Investing in community health is not just a moral choice; it is a strategic one. We must empower the people on the front lines to lead the way, ensuring that community resilience is the foundation upon which we build a world that is truly secure.

[John Roche @ja_roche]

Today (April 7), we celebrate Mozambican Women’s Day 🇲🇿
Women volunteers from @Red_Cross_Moz play a vital role in supporting communities across the country. Thank you for your commitment and impact.
Feliz Dia da Mulher Moçambicana ❤️@ifrcafrica

[Jagan Chapagain @jagan_chapagain]

Once again, our network is mourning the loss of a colleague.

I am deeply saddened by the killing of Dr. Somayeh Mir Abo Eshagh, a 44-year-old volunteer with the Iranian Red Crescent Society, who lost her life on 27 March while carrying out a Red Crescent mission to provide humanitarian relief assistance and psychosocial support services to those in need. Just one month into the conflict, Dr. Somayeh is the second @Iranian_RCS volunteer killed while saving lives.

On behalf of the @IFRC, I send my deepest condolences to her family, loved ones, and all @Iranian_RCS colleagues.

The killing of Soumaya, and any attack on humanitarians is unacceptable and must be condemned. We continue to call for the protection of humanitarian teams who risk everything to save lives - this is a moral and legal obligation.

Our statement: https://t.co/iK4drve901

[Jagan Chapagain @jagan_chapagain]

Disasters are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more devastating for communities around the world.

The decision by the United Nations General Assembly to move toward a legally binding instrument on the protection of persons in the event of disasters is a critical opportunity to strengthen global cooperation, improve disaster risk governance, and better protect those most at risk.

The case studies we are sharing today illustrate what this could mean in practice. They highlight progress, challenges, and lessons learned in disaster risk governance, and show how governments, supported by their National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, can be better equipped to protect communities in an increasingly hazardous world.

For over two decades, disaster risk governance has been a key @IFRC priority. We strongly support the development of this instrument and stand ready, with our member National Societies, to work alongside governments to help build safer, more resilient communities. 👉https://t.co/QDW9TTFom1