Volunteers, donors, corporate partners, civil servants, Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement representatives and the public attended the 9th Singapore Humanitarian Conference organised by the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) at Marina Bay Sands on 3 August. 

Themed 'Hands Unite, Hearts Ignite: Action with Compassion', the Singapore Humanitarian Conference underscored the shared commitment to fostering a more compassionate and resilient community.

The event kicked off with a speech by Mr Nicholas Ionides, Vice President, Communications & Corporate Affairs, Marina Bay Sands, the venue sponsor for the 9th Singapore Humanitarian Conference. He highlighted the collective impact of the partnership between Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Red Cross, such as collaborations in blood donation drives and care packages. This year, Marina Bay Sands also organised art jamming sessions with SRC beneficiaries in July, where they painted art canvases displayed in the ballroom at the Humanitarian Conference.

SRC's Efforts to Help the Vulnerable

In her opening remarks, Ms Charis Chan, SRC Assistant Secretary General, Operations, highlighted the pressing issues faced by our vulnerable communities, including those overshadowed by natural and man-made crises. She emphasised the vital role of compassion in driving our humanitarian efforts and highlighted the urgent need for proactive action.

Besides highlighting the SRC’s response to geopolitical conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, Ms Chan also explored the growing impact of climate change. She pointed out how extreme weather conditions have escalated the RCRC’s disaster risk reduction and response efforts, underscoring the need for a forward-thinking approach.

She shared SRC's initiatives to build resilience locally and globally. These efforts include the Singapore Red Cross Academy's support for the RCRC Research Consortium and the Responder for Resilience programme's launch which has equipped over a thousand community responders and first aiders.

Dialogue with Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service

The highlight of the conference was a dialogue with Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service and Mr Benjamin William, Secretary General and CEO of the Singapore Red Cross.

Minister Chan emphasised that every country faces its unique set of challenges. He highlighted some of Singapore’s pressing issues, including fostering social mobility, the ageing population, caring for the vulnerable, and building a national identity among people from different backgrounds and aspirations.

Minister Chan emphasised that organisations should not impose their success metrics and yardsticks on others. Understanding the unique needs and perspectives of those they serve is crucial, instead of making assumptions about what is important. Instead, fulfilment should come from observing meaningful improvements and maintaining a commitment to ongoing support. 

In addressing the role of humanitarian organisation like SRC, Minister Chan highlighted that while many envision these organisations as heroic figures who swoop in during a crisis, their true mission extends beyond immediate responses. Their work involves dedicated behind-the-scenes efforts focused on prevention and capacity-building, much like a fireman who aims to prevent fires rather than simply extinguish them. Minister Chan expressed gratitude to humanitarian organisations for their contribution to building capacity and creating strong networks that rally people together in times of need, building a more resilient society that closes gaps in the community and thrives amid adversity. 

Panel Session by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

In line with the theme 'Hands Unite, Hearts Ignite: Action with Compassion', Dr Mohammad Nabi Burhan, Secretary General of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), and Mr Necephor Mghendi, Head of Delegation for Afghanistan at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Dr Apichart Chinwanno, Assistant Secretary General for External Relations at the Thai Red Cross Society (TRCS), Dr Fatma Meriç Yilmaz, President of the Turkish Red Crescent Society shared their experiences in helping vulnerable communities during the panel discussion. The panel discussion was moderated by Mr Benjamin William, Secretary General and CEO of the Singapore Red Cross. 

Dr Fatma echoed Minister Chan’s perspective on the importance of understanding the needs and perspectives of beneficiaries in capacity-building efforts, "do not serve, enable them”. She underscored that enabling and empowering is more sustainable than providing one-off immediate relief. She also shared the Turkish Red Crescent Society's adaptive responses to addressing evolving needs throughout the relief and recovery phase. 

In sharing about the PhonPhai mobile application, Dr Apichart highlighted how TRCS similarly provides needs-based relief– app users can select the relief items that they would like to receive as well as in-built checks and balances to ensure that relief goes to those who need it the most. Though TRCS has been innovative in its solutions, the humanitarian sector has generally been behind the curve on innovation. 

Dr Nabi highlighted the partnerships the Afghanistan Red Crescent forged with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in supporting their work. 

Mr Necephor summarised that with the work that the three RC societies have highlighted, the IFRC’s role is to mobilise solidarity and facilitate cooperation and coordination, despite the complexity of working (through co-designing and co-creating) with diverse partners. This aligns with the Humanitarian Conference's theme of “hands unite” as humanitarian actors work towards leveraging the power of humanity to get the work done collectively.

Lending a Helping Hand to Migrant Workers

Ms Dipa Swaminathan, Founder of ItsRainingRaincoats, was invited as a plenary speaker at the conference. 

Driven by her desire to make a difference, Ms Dipa founded  ItsRainingRaincoats, a charity dedicated to improving the welfare of migrant workers and fostering their integration into the community, ensuring that they receive the care and respect they deserve. 

She believes that compassion plays a crucial role in uplifting vulnerable communities. By extending our support with kindness, we can enhance their morale and productivity, creating a positive ripple effect across society.

Photos by James Tan and Lai Wei Song, volunteer photographers