Authors: Ako Eyo Oku, Dr. Olanrenrewaju O. Yusuf
Abstract: This study examined the roles of Red Cross volunteers in humanitarian response in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study was motivated by the increasing frequency and complexity of humanitarian emergencies, including flooding, public health emergencies, displacement, and other forms of vulnerability, and the important role played by volunteer-based humanitarian organisations in responding to these challenges. Specifically, the study investigated the work carried out by the Red Cross in Oyo State, identified the roles performed by Red Cross volunteers, examined their effectiveness in humanitarian response, and identified the challenges confronting them in the discharge of their responsibilities. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey design. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to respondents drawn from Red Cross volunteers and other relevant stakeholders in Oyo State. A total of 212 valid responses were used for the analysis. Descriptive statistics, including frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores, were used to analyse the research questions, while Pearson Product-Moment and multiple regression analysis were employed to test the hypotheses using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that the Red Cross undertakes several humanitarian activities in Oyo State, including first aid and emergency response, flood and disaster preparedness and relief, health education and sensitisation, blood donation campaigns, relief distribution, and psychosocial support. A high proportion of respondents (93.4%) were aware of Red Cross humanitarian activities, while 73.1% reported that such activities occurred frequently or very frequently in their communities. The study also found that Red Cross volunteers perform diverse humanitarian roles, particularly first aid provision, disaster preparedness and response, psychosocial support, community health education, blood donation mobilisation, and collaboration with government agencies and non-governmental organisations. Similarly, 74.5% considered the training received by volunteers to be adequate, while a substantial proportion indicated that volunteers responded to emergencies in a timely manner and in accordance with humanitarian principles. However, the study identified inadequate funding, logistical constraints, volunteer burnout, and personal safety risks as major challenges affecting volunteer effectiveness. Inferential analysis established a significant positive relationship between Red Cross activities and humanitarian service delivery (r = .512, p < 0.05), volunteer roles and humanitarian interventions (r = .476, p < 0.05), and volunteer effectiveness and humanitarian activities (r = .539, p < 0.05). Multiple regression further showed that volunteer challenges significantly affected effectiveness (F = 21.84, R² = .385, p < 0.05), with inadequate funding emerging as the strongest predictor. The study concludes that Red Cross volunteers constitute an important component of humanitarian response in Oyo State and that their effectiveness is strongly associated with the organisation's activities, the diversity and quality of volunteer roles, and the availability of adequate operational support. The study recommends continuous volunteer training and capacity development, improved funding and logistical support, stronger volunteer welfare programmes, enhanced safety measures, and improved coordination between the Red Cross, government agencies, NGOs, and other humanitarian actors. These measures would strengthen the capacity of Red Cross volunteers to provide timely, effective, and sus,tainable humanitarian services in Oyo State.
