Roseau, Dominica- In celebration of World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2026, the President of the Dominica Red Cross Society, Reginald Winston, issued the following statement under the global theme, “United in Humanity”:

All across the world, fellow human beings marginalize and attack other human beings, even those of us working voluntarily for the good of all. These actions further divide our communities and make our work more dangerous.

Our theme, “United in Humanity,” for this year’s World Red Cross Red Crescent Day should not be just a tagline; it is a firm conviction cut from the fundamental principles of our movement. It is a poignant reminder to the world that our volunteers aren’t just service providers, but they are neighbors, friends, family members, and that the people we help aren’t mere victims or statistics, but are our fellow human beings. By being united in humanity, we bridge the gap between those who help and those who need it, between us and them.

During the last floods which occurred in Dominica, the Dominica Red Cross, through its volunteers, used the opportunity to reclaim the narrative of our shared humanity and to reemphasize and manifest the proximity that makes our movement unique.

Allow me to quote, if I may, from one of the beneficiaries in the Kalinago Territory:

“There are moments in life,” she says, “when the weight of the world presses down so heavily that a person begins to wonder whether anyone even knows that they exist. But my entire family wish to extend our deepest, most heartfelt gratitude to the entire Dominica Red Cross. One particular volunteer made kindness even more extraordinary. She remembered me in a moment that I felt so invisible to the world and was a balm to my spirit that no words can fully capture. We, the less privileged, or poor, or displaced, who are unable to help ourselves, who sit quietly and wait, are still there.”

She adds, “May the Red Cross continue to be a beacon of hope for every community in Dominica, especially those of us who live in the places hardest to reach.”

What more can I, as President of the Dominica Red Cross, add to these sterling words but to encourage our volunteers to continue to show real courage and humanity in our work, demonstrate our care for the individual, and reemphasize by our actions the fundamental principles of this noble movement that we all have the privilege to share in service to our fellow human beings.

A happy Red Cross Day to all.