International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

The IFRC and 192 National Societies respond to, and work to prevent or lessen the impacts of, all types of crises and disasters. The  priorities are to save lives, reduce suffering and uphold human dignity. The IFRC is investing before an event in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and integrating this across all areas of work. The aim is to ensure that the IFCR is in the right place—effectively using technology and innovation to anticipate risks and disasters, support proactive early action and provide predictive financing. They also aim to efficiently coordinate across regional and global networks to ensure respond to increasing humanitarian demands, and improving locally-led humanitarian action.

The following general operational principles underpin IFRC’s approach to disaster risk management. National Societies and the IFRC Secretariat:

• Recognize the right of all people to both offer and receive humanitarian assistance based on the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.
• Undertake all disaster risk management activities complying with the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and other applicable instruments: the Principles and Rules for Red Cross and Red Crescent Humanitarian Assistance, the Code of Conduct for International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief, as well as relevant quality standards, in particular the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response and work towards the application of the Core Humanitarian Standard.
• Are fully cognizant of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the New Urban Agenda in developing our approaches to disaster risk management.
• Acknowledge that disasters occur in a variety of contexts, such as fragile, protracted and conflict situations and in public health emergencies. We will therefore strengthen our knowledge and skills in analyzing these evolving contexts to inform and guide operations and practices, working with National  Societies and ICRC in accordance with their mandates, and with external partners.
• Recognize that the reduction of disaster risk, disaster response and support for recovery are first and foremost the responsibility of public authorities. National Societies will actively offer assistance to disaster affected people as an auxiliary to, and in a spirit of cooperation and complementarity with the public authorities.
• Commit to continual improvement of our performance to protect the environment and prevent pollution, applying a "do no harm" approach.