Australian Red Cross response and impact

As part of the movement, Australian Red Cross has provided funding and humanitarian specialists to support operations in Gaza and the region and is assisting people affected by the conflict in Australia through our Restoring Family Links programs and emergency relief support.

Funding

Australian Red Cross has raised funding in support of ICRC and IFRC operations on the ground. This includes:

• AUD 3 million from DFAT to IFRC's Emergency Appeal (EA)
• Over AUD 1 million in corporate and major donor funding provided to the ICRC Israel and OPT operations and the IFRC EA.
• Over AUD 1 million of public donations from the Australian Red Cross Middle East Crisis Appeal provided to the ICRC Israel and OPT operations and the IFRC EA.

In 2024, Australian Red Cross also received Australian Government funding to assist people from Israel and OPT who arrived on temporary visas and were experiencing financial hardship. All funds have been distributed from this grant, supporting approximately 1704 recipients.

Australian Red Cross continues to engage in confidential dialogue with the Australian Government on the needs of those impacted by the conflict in Australia.

In Australia, our Restoring Family Links (RFL) Service stands ready to assist if anyone has lost contact with loved ones in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Lebanon or the region. They can be contacted on 1800 875 199 9am-5pm (AEDT) or at tracing@redcross.org.au.

Delegates

Australian Red Cross has deployed 20 humanitarian specialists 25 times, predominantly to the ICRC field hospital in Rafah. They include nurses, surgeons, emergency doctors, an engineer and a water and sanitation specialist. They are all providing lifesaving assistance alongside local colleagues. The organisation has also deployed a delegate to the IFRC regional office in Amman to help support its work on Protection, Gender and Inclusion.

Auxiliary role

Australian Red Cross has a unique auxiliary relationship with the Australian Government that is recognised in international law and found in the 1941 Royal Charter of Australian Red Cross. This means that Australian Red Cross, as part of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, has a specific mandate to support the public authorities in their humanitarian work.

Our neutrality, impartiality, and independence ensure that we can operate effectively across the country, including in sensitive and challenging environments.

During the conflict, Australian Red Cross leveraged its auxiliary role to engage in confidential humanitarian dialogue with the Australian Government about the humanitarian impact of the situation and key IHL issues of concern. Australian Red Cross has supported the repatriation of Australian citizens and family members on request by the Australian Government.

We have also promoted the importance of IHL and humanitarian principles by sharing ICRC and IFRC messages via social media.