President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has commended the long-standing humanitarian service of the Liberian National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) while officially declaring May 1–31, 2026, as World Red Cross Month and May 8, 2026, as World Red Cross Day, to be observed as a Working Holiday across Liberia.
In a proclamation issued this week, President Boakai called for full nationwide participation in all planned activities, directing all government agencies, civic institutions, and voluntary organizations “to fully participate in the programs planned by the Liberian National Red Cross Society to make the occasion meaningful and impactful.”
He further urged all residents of Liberia to observe the month under the global theme “United in Humanity,” which emphasizes “empowering solidarity and compassion in the face of global challenges, and recognizing the humanity of both volunteers and beneficiaries.”
The proclamation underscored that the theme is particularly relevant in the Liberian context, as it “transforms abstract principles into concrete community action, strengthens local resilience, and enables impartial access to vulnerable populations.”
It emphasized that national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies “are unified in their commitment to serving people based solely on need, bringing together diverse groups under a shared goal, and ensuring that humanitarian assistance is delivered locally to all people without discrimination.”
President Boakai used the occasion to recognize the dedication of Red Cross volunteers, praising their decades of service to communities across Liberia.
“For more than 107 years, the devoted volunteers and members of the Liberian National Red Cross Society have responded to challenges across Liberia’s counties and communities with compassion and generosity—delivering humanitarian relief, saving lives, and offering hope,” the proclamation stated.
It further highlighted the critical role of volunteers in emergency response, noting that they are often “the first to arrive and the last to leave during local disasters,” reinforcing the principle that “humanity begins at home, with members of their own family.”
The proclamation also referenced the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which operates in more than 192 countries and is recognized under the Geneva Conventions, which Liberia ratified in 1954.
It noted that the Movement has consistently provided “timely and relevant services to distressed and needy people around the world in times of trouble, sickness, war, natural calamity, and other disasters.”
To mark the month-long observance, the Liberian National Red Cross Society will carry out a series of nationwide activities across all 15 counties.
These include membership recruitment and certification, community giving initiatives, donations to orphanages and elderly homes, support for families in urgent need, environmental clean-up campaigns, stakeholder engagement meetings, and the launch of the “Give a Dollar, Save a Life” campaign.
Other planned activities include community service days, partnership dialogues, fundraising drives, and media engagements aimed at “strengthening local humanitarian actions, building partnerships, mobilizing resources, and enhancing visibility,” according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs release.
The proclamation further emphasized that the Red Cross Movement’s principle of neutrality enables it to operate effectively in complex environments, allowing local branches “to navigate challenging social, religious, or political environments to reach the most vulnerable, upholding the neutrality required to gain community trust.”
President Boakai’s declaration sets the stage for a month-long national observance focused on humanitarian service, community engagement, and renewed commitment to supporting vulnerable populations across Liberia.
