17.12.2024

The Finnish Red Cross in 2024 in pictures

A newborn baby lies with eyes closed, wearing a white hat and a content expression on their face.

Photo: Olav A. Saltbones / Norjan Punainen Risti

In 2024, we again helped people in the midst of crises and accidents and supported those in the most vulnerable positions. See the year of the Red Cross in photographs!

A warm thank you to all volunteers, donors, partners, employees and friends of the Red Cross for this past year ❤️ This is a good time to look back and reflect on what we achieved together.

In the Israel–Gaza conflict, aid work was carried out in extremely difficult conditions. People in Gaza are in dire need of basic supplies, such as food, water, medicines and healthcare.

Satu Kekomäki is holding a newborn baby in the Red Cross field hospital in Gaza.

Aid worker Satu Kekomäki worked in a Red Cross field hospital during the autumn. She sent greetings from there in August. “I’m working here as a paediatrician, supporting the local doctors. On the ward, we treat children suffering from infectious diseases, such as skin infections, hepatitis A or respiratory infections. These diseases spread and become worse due to the poor hygiene and the awful living conditions. A sweet two-year-old girl is also staying on the ward at the moment, waiting for a surgery. She has a bullet wound on her thigh. She was lucky: the bullet did not damage any bones or vital structures.” Photo: Punaisen Ristin kansainvälinen komitea

Anni Walli is standing in front of Oulu Airport in Red Cross work clothes, holding a suitcase.

Our aid worker, Medical Specialist Anni Walli travelled from Oulu to Gaza in April. “I fear for others, not for myself,” she stated in an interview with Yle. The work days of Walli and her local colleagues in the Gaza European hospital were very busy. Photo: Suomen Punainen Risti

A shooting incident occurred at Viertola school in Vantaa on Tuesday 2 April 2024. Finnish Red Cross volunteers offered discussion support in front of the school and in nearby areas. We also offered crisis assistance and emotional support at youth shelters, by phone and online. The Finnish Red Cross preparedness group of psychologists organised support activities at the school for the families and the children who were present during the shooting incident.

Teemu Hiilinen and Vesa Vahermaa are standing and smiling in very snowy weather, wearing Red Cross volunteer vests.

Our volunteers Teemu Hiilinen and Vesa Vahermaa were there to support school pupils when they returned to school. The trained volunteers offered discussion support in front of the school and in nearby areas to people needing it, such as parents bringing their child to school. Photo: Suomen Punainen Risti

We supported family caregivers with their important work. Through friend visitor activities, we reinforced and promoted the health and high quality of life of family caregivers and their families, as well as their ability to cope with everyday life.

A person in a Red Cross vest is hugging an elderly person.

“I go to see Leena once a week, on Thursdays. Sulo, Leena’s partner and her family caregiver, takes this opportunity to go to an exercise group for men organised by the local community college. If Sulo has any other errands to run, I can also come by to help. I’ve known Leena for a long time and we originally grew up in the same area. We never run out things to do or talk about. Being able to help with the hard work of family caregivers makes me feel good, too,” says our friend visitor activities’ volunteer, Asta, from the Ilmajoki branch of the Finnish Red Cross. Photo: Eeva-Liisa Välimäki

Hundreds of thousands of people received help through the Finnish Red Cross’s development co-operation. We are involved in a long-term development co-operation in Africa, Asia and the Middle East with the support of our donors, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the European Union.

A smiling girl named Islam, standing with the help of a walker, waves at a wheelchair.

Seven-year-old Islam waved a goodbye to the wheelchair. Islam has had cerebral palsy since birth. The child received rehabilitation from the physical therapy group of Syrian Arab Red Crescent and is now able to move around with a walker. Islam feels that it is now easier to play with other children. We have supported the physiotherapy teams of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to be able to offer as diverse help as necessary for anyone who needs it. Photo: Syyrian Punainen Puolikuu

A smiling Hawanatu is holding her daughter Mariama.

“When I became pregnant, I dropped out of school due to lack of money,” said Hawanatu, 15, from Sierra Leone. Her daughter, Mariama, is now 1.5 years old. Hawanatu received a small loan from the Red Cross, allowing her to return to school. Photo: Aino Väänänen / Suomen Punainen Risti

We distributed food to tens of thousands of people in Finland. The need for food aid has increased due to the rising cost of living, such as the increasing prices of housing, energy and food. The cuts to social security during the past year are also reflected in the need for food aid.

Two smiling food aid volunteers are distributing food, wearing protective caps and Red Cross volunteer vests.

Volunteers distributed surplus food from schools as food aid in Turku. Photo: Miika Norro / Suomen Punainen Risti 

We helped over 130 people in Finland who lost their homes in a fire. When a fire destroys a home, people often need help acquiring essential items. We also provide psychosocial support to accident victims and their loved ones.

Four Red Cross volunteers are helping to furnish an apartment.

Volunteers of food aid, friend visitor activities and emotional support alike from the Meri-Lappi Red Cross branch offered help to people who lost their homes in the Kemi fire. In the photo, the volunteers are helping to furnish the new apartment of a person who lost their home in a fire. Photo: Leila Eräpuro / Suomen Punainen Risti

Our on-duty volunteers were involved in hundreds of events all across Finland. They offered the event audience many kinds of support, such as first aid and information about health and safety.

Three Red Cross volunteers are chatting outside in the summer weather.

Photo: Joonas Brandt / Suomen Punainen Risti

Around 40 first aid training sessions across Finland were organised for people who use substances. About 350 people took part in the training sessions held in places such as common meeting areas and housing units of substance users. The need for customised first aid training has continued to grow at the same pace with the increase in substance-related deaths.

A first aid instructor is kneeling beside the "casualty," who is lying on the floor in the recovery position.

Eija Lamminmäki shows how to put an unconscious or a sleeping intoxicated person into the recovery position. Photo: Jenni Soltin / Suomen Punainen Risti

On Hunger Day, we again collected donations for the Disaster Relief Fund to help people in need both in Finland and abroad. In autumn, help was needed Myanmar, Yemen, Ethiopia and Gaza, among many other places. In Finland, the funds in the Disaster Relief Fund are used an average of three times a week to help people who have faced a sudden crisis or accident.

A smiling Hunger Day fundraiser is handing the collection box to a donor in Helsinki.

Sirje Lavonen-Vire made a donation by phone to the number written on Charles Mwansa’s collection box. Photo: Joonas Brandt / Suomen Punainen Risti

The thousands of trained volunteer friends from the Red Cross friend visitor activities brought joy to the everyday lives of lonely people.

Hymyilevä Maija Tammisto, taustalla kaksi muuta Punaisen Ristin vapaaehtoista.

Sixth-grader Maija Tammisto leads a Red Cross Friend Club at her school in Pori. Younger pupils have nicknamed Maija ‘Teddybear’ and she often gets hugs during her school days. At the club, the pupils play games, do crafts and learn friendship skills together. “We have gotten to see how, for example, someone who is alone at school has become bolder in a small group and has been able to find at least one safe friend,” Maija says. Photo: Jussi Partanen / Suomen Punainen Risti

Meeri Sahlman and Tiina Kaakkolahti are hugging and smiling.

“Our friendship feels truly wonderful. Tiina is a Friend with a capital letter!” Meeri Sahlman, 76 years old, and 56-year-old Tiina Kaakkolahti found each other through the Finnish Red Cross’s friend visitor activities. Photo: Leena Koskela / Suomen Punainen Risti

We supported the Ukrainian Red Cross, which takes healthcare and social services to where they are most needed; distributes heating, electricity, humanitarian goods, food and first aid; and arranges evacuations to safer locations. The Red Cross also distributes cash aid in Ukraine, allowing people to acquire what they need.

Vahram Vardanyan and Heidi Saarinen are standing and smiling in an urban setting.

Our aid workers Vahram Vardanyan and Heidi Saarinen sent their greetings from Ukraine. “The support from the Finnish Red Cross maintains the mobile health clinics that take services to remote areas that no longer have healthcare services due to the conflict.” Photo: Heidi Saarinen / Suomen Punainen Risti

We distributed 18,000 food vouchers to low income families with children with the help of the Good Holiday Spirit collection. This was the 28th time we had arranged the collection together with the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare.

A young girl is looking at the camera with a happy expression. She is sitting at the table with her mother, baking gingerbread cookies.

Photo: Ville Salminen / Suomen Punainen Risti

...And this was only a small glimpse into the work of the Red Cross! Learn more about our operations on our website. You can find more photographs, stories about the help we give and current information by following our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or X.

Helping will continue next year. Join us as a volunteer or member or help by donating. Thank you!