What can the Red Cross Red Crescent in the Indian Ocean learn from responding to cyclones, floods, and even armed conflict? This question is at the heart of the Regional Cyclone Review and Preparedness Workshop taking place in Réunion Island from 9 to 13 June 2026.
Organized by the Plateforme d’Intervention Régionale de l’Océan Indien (PIROI) with the support of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the workshop brings together Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and key partners from across the region to review the 2025–2026 cyclone season, exchange lessons learned, and strengthen preparedness for future emergencies.
Participants include representatives from the National Societies of Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius,Tanzania, Mozambique, and Tanzania, alongside experts from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Regional Office, Météo-France, and the French Red Cross’ 3 Oceans Project.
Representing the Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) are Secretary General Marie-May Esparon and the Disaster Manager, regina Prosper, who are contributing to discussions on disaster preparedness, response coordination, volunteer management, and community resilience.
A significant addition to this year’s workshop is the participation of the Ukrainian Red Cross. While the workshop traditionally focuses on natural disasters and climate-related emergencies, the inclusion of the Ukrainian Red Cross provides a unique opportunity for participants to learn from a National Society responding to one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world today.
Through presentations and exchanges, participants are gaining valuable insights into emergency response coordination, humanitarian assistance, volunteer mobilization, psychosocial support, and maintaining operations during prolonged crises. These lessons highlight the importance of preparedness, adaptability, and strong community networks in responding to emergencies of all kinds.
Throughout the week, participants will review the successes and challenges of the 2025–2026 cyclone season and identify opportunities to strengthen regional cooperation. Discussions are focused on enhancing early warning systems, improving coordination mechanisms, strengthening logistics and response capacities, and ensuring communities are better prepared to face future disasters.
For the Red Cross Society of Seychelles, participation in the workshop is an important opportunity to share experiences, learn from regional and international partners, and contribute to collective efforts aimed at building safer and more resilient communities.
As climate-related disasters continue to increase in frequency and intensity, collaboration and knowledge-sharing remain essential. The workshop serves as a reminder that while countries may face different challenges, the humanitarian principles that guide preparedness and response remain the same: protecting lives, reducing suffering, and supporting communities when they need it most.
