Michael Greub, who was born on 19 January 1972 in the town of Allschwil, canton Basel-Country, Switzerland, was the eldest of four children. He grew up free-spirited and full of curiosity. As a child, he spent his days exploring the gardens of his Basel neighbourhood with his sisters and friends, playing, sometimes arguing, but above all having fun and celebrating birthdays. These carefree years were filled with laughter and discovery, and Michael flourished.

Annual trips with his family across Europe were a big feature of his childhood. Michael was fascinated by the cultural riches of the countries he visited, such as churches, castles, and Celtic and Etruscan megalithic sites. During these family adventures, he loved to scramble over rocks, observing animals, collecting objects, singing and running free. Michael was always the daring one, such as the time when he wanted to ride a mule he came across. It took the entire family to convince him otherwise.

From a very young age, Michael was drawn to water, and he would spend hours fishing in lakes and the sea, often with improvised fishing tackle that he had found. To start with, his gear was rudimentary: an old lure, a rusty hook and a tangled length of fishing line, all scavenged at the water’s edge. It was only after several years of patient trial and error that he finally caught his first fish. All this time spent fishing helped him to develop not only a sound technique but also a sense of fortitude and a deep awareness of nature which would remain hallmarks of his personality.

Michael was educated at the Rudolf Steiner School in Basel from 1979 to 1991 where he stood out for his strong sense of fairness and justice. Always ready to defend his friends, he was deeply troubled by injustice. With one of his close friends, Thomas Herzog, Michael became actively involved in a theatre troupe, which not only gave him a platform for expressing his creativity but also to raise awareness about social issues. Eager to start work after finishing school, Michael decided to pursue his passion for photography. Thanks to his limitless energy, he completed his photography training in just two years, a feat that illustrated his fierce determination to succeed.

From 1996 Michael worked as a freelance photographer for the Basler Zeitung and on various photo projects in Switzerland and abroad. His camera was a means for him to capture authentic human stories, often centred on people living in difficult situations. He photographed homeless people in Paris, documented the Troubles in Belfast, visited Tory islanders in Ireland, joined fishermen in the Lofoten Islands, and photographed the Palio horse race in Siena. Every image bore witness to his ability to see beauty and dignity in all aspects of life.

In 1999 Michael embarked on a two-year project in Israel and the occupied territories, mainly in Gaza. In addition to taking photos, he learnt Arabic so that he could better understand and communicate with the people he met. The pictures he took of Gaza revealed a profound empathy and solidarity with those living in conflict situations. To improve his linguistic skills, Michael studied Arabic at Basel University (2005–2006) and spent time in Sana’a, Yemen (2006).

His experiences in Israel and the occupied territories opened the door to a position with the Swiss foreign affairs ministry where he worked as a member of the international observer mission in Hebron in November 2001. He then joined the ceasefire monitoring mission in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains (2003), followed by two election observer missions in Afghanistan (2004) and the West Bank and Gaza (2005). These missions served to strengthen Michael’s desire to make a difference in life and brought him closer what he really wanted: to work for the International Committee of the Red Cross. Indeed, as one colleague later recalled, “It was his lifelong dream to work with the ICRC.”

That dream came to pass in January 2007, when he joined the ICRC as an Arabic interpreter accompanying detention visits. His first assignment saw him posted to Iraq where his kindness, humility and openness to others made an immediate impression on colleagues, as did his determination to constantly learn and improve.

After a brief assignment in Washington, DC, and the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, Michael headed to Gaza in May 2008 as a protection delegate. He was there during the Israeli military operation “Cast Lead” – a time of high tension and insecurity. During what was a testing period for the ICRC subdelegation, Michael became known for his courage, composure and leadership, earning the respect of Palestinian and international colleagues alike. They later called him the “hero of Zaytun” after he evacuated and saved the lives of 100 civilians trapped in a neighbourhood of Gaza City on 12 January 2009.

After Gaza, Michael completed assignments in Iraq and Yemen, where he cemented his reputation as a capable and committed member of staff. In November 2011 he became head of office in Zalingay, a town in the Darfur region of Sudan. Here, his excellent knowledge of Arabic language and culture enabled him to build relationships with local authorities and communities, helping the ICRC to operate in a region marked by conflict and mistrust.

Michael had many other talents in addition to being the consummate professional. He was an accomplished cook, known for conjuring up delicious meals that underlined his ability to bring people together and create special moments even in the toughest of circumstances. In Zalingay, he even planted a small vegetable garden, growing carrots, radishes and basil in the dry, unforgiving soil – resilience in all its glory. Michael also liked to dance, notably the tango and salsa, which not only allowed him to connect with people without words, but also to ease away stress and solitude. One colleague recalled: “He insisted on making me dance the tango; I was far from convinced, but he succeeded in making me believe I could do it, giving me the confidence I needed. Now, when I hear the tango, I always think of him.” Wherever he was, Michael’s camera was never far away, always ready to capture life as he found it and the faces of the people he met. Less well known is the fact that Michael was an energetic and combative footballer, always the team player.

In 2013 Michael travelled to Kirkuk, Iraq, as deputy head of subdelegation. The following year in March, he took over as head of subdelegation in Misrata, Libya, at a time of great instability in the country. On 4 June 2014, Michael and two ICRC colleagues attended a meeting with the Libyan Red Crescent in the coastal city of Sirte. As they left, armed men opened fire on their vehicle. His colleagues survived the attack unharmed, but Michael was fatally wounded and died at the scene. He was 42.

Michael was a deeply devoted humanitarian who found his true calling with the ICRC. Throughout his life, he never ceased to view the world through a lens of humanity, always guided by a profound respect for the dignity of everyone. His loss left a huge void, but his legacy lives on through those he touched and inspired. Michael remains forever in our hearts, fondly remembered for his courage, generosity and compassion. His life and his work stand testament to what it truly means to serve others.