Multimedia Newsroom

When war hits home: ICRC's devastating new augmented reality app

ENG
Video Player is loading.
Advertisement
Current Time 0:00
Duration -:-
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -:-
1x
  • Chapters
  • descriptions off, selected
  • captions off, selected
    x
    ZOOM HELP
    Drag zoomed area using your mouse.
    100%

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today unveiled “Enter the room,” an augmented reality experience for iOS app users.

    In a narrative told through the eyes of a child, the free app provides a visceral, first-person experience of war at a family’s doorstep. Entering through a portal on the screen of their device, users see the brutal impact of years of fighting in accelerated time as the virtual room transforms from a home of light and life to a dwelling of suffering and sadness. Some 65 million people are fleeing conflict today, 75 percent of whom live in cities, where today’s battles are increasingly being waged.

    “Conflict has devastating impacts on communities, and especially on children. We hope the story told through this immersive app will give people new insights into the realities of war,” said Peter Maurer, President of the ICRC. “It is a vivid reminder of how urban warfare destroys children’s bedrooms, their homes, and -- tragically -- their lives.”

    “While Pokemon Go and Snapchat have already introduced the world to augmented reality, this is the first time AR has been used to tell the story of the impact of urban conflict,” said Charlotte Lindsey-Curtet, Director of Communications and Information Management at the ICRC. “With augmented reality, we can create immersive experiences that showcase the humanitarian situation in a new and deeply moving way.”

    “Enter the room” was designed by the digital innovation agency Nedd using Apple ARKit technology. The app is free to download from the App Store and available on iPhone 6s and above.

    Download the app

    Video: explains the app

    For more information please contact:

    Ariel Rubin, arrubin@icrc.org +41 79 205 47 31

    Christoph Hanger, changer@icrc.org +41 79 574 06 36. 

    B-Roll
    Video 2: Explainer
    Duration : 52s
    Size : 395.6 MB

    Documents
    AV816N_NewsRelease
    Size: 58.2 KB

    Multimedia Newsroom
    Images & footage available to download at no charge.
    They may not be sold or transferred to a third party or used for commercial purpose.
    Caution: our footage can be distressing.

    Privacy Policy | Copyright
    ICRC ©2025 - All right reserved