4 Nov 2024, Dhaka: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) jointly organized the 34th International Conference (statutory meetings) in Geneva from October 29 to 31, 2024, where they highly praised Bangladesh’s initiatives in climate change and disaster response. The International Conference focused on concrete humanitarian solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges. A four-member delegation from Bangladesh, led by Major General (Rtd.) Md. Rafiqul Islam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and a member of the IFRC governing board, participated in the IFRC General Assembly, the 2024 Council of Delegates, and the 34th International Conference in Geneva from October 22 to 31. Other members of the delegation included BDRCS Secretary General Dr. Kabir M. Ashraf Alam, Deputy Secretary General Sultan Ahmed, and the Director of International Relations.
The Council of Delegates serves as a strategic platform for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, fostering unity and coordination to address global humanitarian issues. The 34th International Conference facilitates dialogue with state representatives on critical humanitarian matters and promotes a collective commitment to principled humanitarian action. The Bangladesh delegation at the Council of Delegates and the International Conference included government representatives and was led by H.E. Mr. Tareq Md Arifiul Islam, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva.
During the 34th International Conference, H.E. Mr. Tareq Md Arifiul Islam delivered a message to global Red Cross and Red Crescent leaders. He highlighted that Bangladesh has provided essential humanitarian assistance to over 1.2 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals for the past seven years, despite significant socio-economic challenges and resource constraints. He urged all member states, humanitarian actors, development partners, and relevant stakeholders to intensify their efforts and financial contributions to alleviate the suffering of the displaced Rohingyas until their safe return to Rakhine State, Myanmar. The Bangladesh delegation joined representatives from 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). This year, five important resolutions were adopted, underscoring a strong commitment to addressing humanitarian crises requiring immediate action. The Bangladesh delegation played an active role in finalizing key resolutions focused on enhancing protection measures for humanitarian workers and civilians, strengthening disaster risk governance, and strengthening anticipatory action and disaster response and resilience.
The key resolutions adopted were:
- Building a culture of compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL): This renews the commitment of States to uphold IHL, aiming to reduce human suffering by reinforcing its application.
- Protecting civilians and other vulnerable groups from the human cost of information and communications technologies (ICT) during armed conflict: This newly adopted resolution sends a powerful message that all States and national societies are committed to safeguarding civilian populations from malicious ICT activities.
- Strengthening disaster risk governance through comprehensive legal and regulatory frameworks: This will ensure the ongoing global strengthening of disaster laws and policies in the context of an increasingly hazardous world, with a particular focus on low to middle income countries, and the IFRC’s new Disaster Risk Governance Guidelines playing a key role.
- Enabling local leadership, capacity and delivery in principled humanitarian action and strengthening resilience: This resolution will focus on localisation within the Movement, aiming to enhance support for our National Societies and local actors around the globe in delivering effective, community-driven humanitarian responses across disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, pandemic preparedness, and crisis recovery, and
- Protecting people from the humanitarian impacts of extreme climate and weather events: In light of escalating climate-related disasters and their compounding effects on humanitarian challenges, this resolution provides the framework for collaboration between State Parties and the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement to expand anticipatory action, ensuring better disaster preparation and humanitarian response.
During the Council of Delegates, Major General (Rtd.) Md. Rafiqul Islam emphasized Bangladesh’s challenges in disaster preparedness and response, particularly considering mounting climate change threats and the support needed for over one million forcibly displaced population from Myanmar. He noted that the impacts of climate change are increasingly apparent in the region, highlighting the necessity of collective responsibility in aiding affected populations. He stressed the importance of sharing best practices and innovative, nature-based solutions.
In addition to the General Assembly, Council of Delegates, and International Conference, the BDRCS delegation held several bilateral meetings with key leaders, including the IFRC President Ms. Kate Forbes, Secretary General Mr. Jagan Chapagain, and Under-Secretary General Mr. Xavier Castellanos Mosquera, as well as the Presidents and Secretaries General of the American, British, Swedish, Danish, Qatari, and Norwegian Red Cross societies. In these meetings, the IFRC and donors commended the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society’s initiatives in disaster preparedness and response, particularly its humanitarian operations for the Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar. They reaffirmed their commitment to continued funding for BDRCS’s humanitarian efforts.