World First Aid Day 2026: On the move, but not alone

Country: World Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Every year, people leave home and set out on journeys with no guarantee of safety, crossing deserts, crossing seas, walking for days through jungle. Wherever they’re headed, danger can follow them the whole way, and first aid can mean the difference between life and death. That’s the focus of this year’s World First Aid Day: First Aid in Migration Contexts. It shines a light on the estimated 304 million people who, by mid-2024, were living as international migrants worldwide — 3. 7% of the world’s population. The IFRC uses a broad definition of migrants on purpose, to capture the full scope of humanitarian need: anyone on the move, no matter why they left home or their legal status. This includes asylum seekers, refugees, people displaced by conflict or disaster, undocumented workers, and people who migrate voluntarily for other reasons. How dangerous is the journey? Disasters, health crises, poverty, inequality, marginalisation, violence, and conflict all force people to move — usually not for one reason, but a mix of many. The numbers show just how dangerous migration can be. Nearly 9, 000 people die or go missing every year while migrating around the world. The Central Mediterranean crossing is among the deadliest routes: more than 29, 000 people have been reported dead or missing at sea since 2014. Many of the world’s most dangerous migration routes cut through remote or hostile terrain, exposing people to extreme weather, a lack of resources, dangerous wildlife, and violence, including assault, sexual abuse, trafficking, and extortion. Along the way, even a small injury or setback can turn into something life-threatening, and where someone is in their journey changes what kind of danger they face: When on the move, people face a higher risk of dehydration, hypothermia, malnutrition, or exhaustion. In camps or shelters, they may face overcrowding and limited sanitation. In destination countries, they may face unsafe working conditions and psychological stress linked to exclusion or uncertainty. Women and girls face extra risks tied to gender-based violence, exploitation, and discrimination — one in three women worldwide experiences physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, and the risk is even higher for migrant women. Many face serious harm: sequestration, forced labour, kidnapping, and sexual violence, especially on irregular routes or when relying on unregulated intermediaries. First aid can bridge the gap People on the move face real barriers to getting help: language, cultural misunderstanding, gender dynamics, strong family structures, fear of authorities, and difficult ethical situations within healthcare systems. Even when support exists, they don’t always ask for it: a lack of information, money worries, fear tied to an irregular immigration status, or those same language and cultural barriers can get in the way. First aid in migration contexts means understanding all of this. This is why Humanitarian Service Points (HSPs) matter so much. Run by Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, these are safe, neutral, and conveniently located spaces, more than 600 of them around the world, where people on the move can get essential services and reliable support, no matter their status, cutting through many of those barriers in the process. They offer both assistance and protection, in long-term programmes and emergencies alike. For people who cross the Central Mediterranean, some of those HSPs are waiting for them right on the coastlines of Spain, Italy, and Greece, among many other countries, offering health care, safe shelter, food, and help reconnecting families. Mental health is a core part of that support. Recognising distress, listening actively, and referring people to specialised care matters just as much as treating a physical injury — and it’s often at HSPs that this kind of care first becomes possible. Across all of its migration activities, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement reached 17. 9 million people worldwide in 2024, treating minor injuries and illnesses, providing psychological first aid, and connecting survivors of gender-based violence with health services and support. Some National Societies also offer first aid training built for people on the move, adapted to different ages, languages, and situations. Hearing from the people who help From the Dominican Republic to Sudan to Turkey, this work takes many forms. Here’s how three volunteers and staff members describe it. Luis Paul Acevedo Rodriguez, Red Cross of the Dominican Republic: “First aid in migration contexts prioritises emotional stability and crisis mitigation, focusing on both psychological first aid and physical injuries. We follow the three core action principles of psychological first aid: ‘look, listen and link’ with migrants, serving everyone equally regardless of their origin, culture, belief, or destination. Many arrive dehydrated, injured, stressed, and exhausted — and because we treat them with respect and dignity, it’s that same dignity that keeps our volunteers motivated to keep doing this work.” Luis Paul Acevedo Rodriguez In Sudan, that same commitment looks like a single first aid point, open every day. Bushra Mohammed Mustafa Al-Imam, Sudanese Red Crescent volunteer: “For the displaced people who arrive at Khor Taqat Displacement Centre, our first aid point is often the first place they turn to. We treat wounds, provide care, and refer anyone who needs more advanced treatment.” Bushra Mohammed Mustafa Al-Imam In Turkey, the work starts even earlier, well before anyone needs a first aid point at all. Beyzan Nur Zengin, First Aid Specialist, Turkish Red Crescent: “Since 2015, the Turkish Red Crescent has provided a wide range of services and assistance to migrants, organising first aid awareness sessions and training in refugee camps, community centres, and schools for migrant children. To help people overcome language barriers, we’ve prepared first aid guides in different languages and developed first aid kits based on their needs. No matter who you are or where you are, first aid is for everyone, everywhere.”

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