Halfway through a staff-on-loan assignment in East Africa, American Red Cross worker Patrick Cheah is helping coordinate complex humanitarian operations across borders and witnessing firsthand how shared principles unify response efforts in times of crisis.

Based in Nairobi, Cheah is serving as a roving operations manager for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Nairobi cluster, supporting response efforts in Somalia and Kenya. The role has placed him at the center of large-scale, multi-country operations responding to worsening humanitarian conditions.

Along the way, Patrick is also gaining exposure to many of the IFRC response systems and processes behind the scenes, and is making valuable connections with key IFRC delegates, and with Somali Red Crescent Society and Kenya Red Cross Society staff at local and regional levels.

Somalia is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with over 2.5 million people in Puntland and Somaliland struggling to survive amid extreme drought, collapsing health systems, and severe food and water shortages. Families have lost their livelihoods, children are at risk of malnutrition and disease, and women and girls face heightened protection risks as community coping mechanisms collapse. The Somali Red Crescent Society is on the ground providing lifesaving water, food, health services, and cash assistance.

In Kenya, millions across arid and semi-arid counties are facing worsening hunger. More than 2 million people are projected to face crises-level food insecurity through 2026. Drought, water scarcity, disease outbreaks, and funding cuts have left families without enough food, clean water, or access to health care. The Kenya Red Cross is scaling up emergency food, water, and health assistance while helping communities build long-term resilience to future shocks.

Across borders, cultures, and crises, our shared humanity is the thread that unites us, Patrick notes, and because of this, he has found it easy to get into a rhythm with local Red Cross teams tackling this important work together. No matter where, no matter when, the volunteers and staff of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement are there, united in humanity and working to preserve human dignity in the face of crisis.

“It's been very easy to work with the team because once you understand the shared Red Cross seven fundamental principles, you see that in play in all engagements,” said Patrick. “All of our interactions encompass all these principles, and it stresses collaboration and teamwork. Working in Somalia while being based in Kenya is a strong example of that collaboration and cooperation from the Somali Red Crescent Society. So, our work definitely spans borders and it’s about remembering that we are one family, knowing that they [the Somali Red Crescent Society] possess firsthand information, and we are requesting information from them to support them. It’s a symbiotic relationship of ‘I want this to support our resource mobilization, the National Society has it, and they provide it, thus enabling everyone to achieve their goals.’”

Prior to joining the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Patrick spent over 20 years in international development, mostly working in communities across sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in the US. In his current American Red Cross role at home, Patrick is the senior response program manager on the International Services team, where he works closely with American Red Cross response leads across Asia Pacific, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe, supporting the operations and systems his fellow leads use to interact with their respective regional teams, as well as through multilateral engagement with the IFRC and bilateral engagement with National Societies as the Movement collectively responds to disasters around the globe.

Another important element of his role involves deployments, like his support during the Canada Wildfires in 2025 and his current assignment in East Africa.

“I think one of the key things that has really stuck out to me so far is that the IFRC launched the Way of Working - Renewal 3.0,” said Patrick. “During our discussions, the Head of Delegation asked a key question, ‘What is the role of the IFRC as we engage with National Societies? What is our relevance?’ I think that stuck in my head because we are a collective of all of the National Societies – we work on behalf of the National Societies, as the IFRC Secretariat, engaging governments where some National Societies are unable to engage, unlocking resources where opportunities exist and amplifying the voice of the National Societies when and where necessary.”

The “Way of Working” is the IFRC network's approach to aligning international support around the leadership and priorities of National Societies, transforming how we plan, resource, deliver, and learn together for greater collective impact. The American Red Cross contributes by sharing expertise and tools that reinforce collaboration and help ensure aid reaches communities effectively.

“This bigger picture perspective really redefined my purpose of coming here – yes, I came as the operations manager for a specific emergency appeal, but I am part of a bigger team,” he said. “That team needs to show its worth and strengthen its relationship with each National Society, which makes up the core of who we are as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Movement as a whole. And I think this perspective reinforces my meaning and purpose. It grounded me and refocused my energy for being in this role.”

On World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, we honor the Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff who show up every day for people around the globe. In times of crisis, humanity is what brings us together.

“Working across cultures, working across personalities, working across just regions as a whole, peoples’ ways of working are quite different,” said Patrick. “And I think understanding that, you know, there's a different way of working, but there are many similarities – there’s a Red Cross and Red Crescent DNA in all of our work. And I think that has shined and it continues to be seen here in my role as I interact with colleagues.”

We celebrate the Red Crossers who turn compassion into action, helping, healing and standing beside communities when it matters most. They are neighbors, friends, colleagues, family members. They are the people who show up in moments of fear, loss and uncertainty to remind others they are not alone. Today, we celebrate the power of being United in Humanity.

NATIONAL DONORS EXTEND HOPE AND COMFORT TO COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD The generosity of Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) and Disaster Responder members empowers the American Red Cross to extend hope and comfort to communities around the world. This commitment includes vital funding from members who also support International Services, strengthening coordination with the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to prepare for and respond to emergencies wherever and whenever they occur. This support helps enable the Red Cross to provide lifesaving relief to people affected by crises both at home and across the globe while simultaneously working with local Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to foster a culture of preparedness that lessens vulnerability to disasters and carries the promise of reducing both disaster costs and human suffering. Supporters include Ameriprise Financial, Aon, Baxter Foundation, Caterpillar Foundation, GE Aerospace Foundation, General Motors, The Kraft Heinz Company Foundation, McDonald’s Corporation, Merck, Mondelēz International Foundation, The Pfizer Foundation, Qualcomm, RGA Foundation, Salesforce, Stanley Black & Decker, Stryker, Tennant Company, Wesco, Yum! Brands and Zoetis Foundation.