Across the Pacific, small Red Cross societies are often the first responders when cyclones, earthquakes, and health emergencies hit, but they frequently have only a handful of staff and limited resources. New Zealand Red Cross is helping these societies strengthen their disaster readiness, using the National Society Operational Readiness Check.

When Cyclone Ditwah battered Sri Lanka in late November 2025, it unleashed chaos - more than 3,000 landslides and rapid floods swamped 20 out of 25 districts, from tea-covered highlands to lowland rivers. 

As part of our response to the devasting floods and landslides across South and Southeast Asia, our international delegate, Dallas Roy, has once again packed his bags and headed to Sri Lanka to support recovery efforts following one of the country’s worst disasters in recent history.

“Don’t forget” is seemingly such a small request. It comes from New Zealand Red Cross international delegate Ellie van Baaren, currently in the Philippines, where three huge disasters have recently ravaged the densely populated country, affecting countless human lives.  

Over this past year, we’ve continued to support vulnerable people at home and overseas, while making progress to achieve our 10-year strategic plan.