US humanitarian and businesswoman Kate Forbes has been elected president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, becoming only the second woman to hold the position, Report informs referring to AFP.

"Kate Forbes's election as president of the IFRC is a historic moment," the organization said in a statement.

"This milestone underscores the IFRC's continued commitment to diversity and gender equality in its leadership," it added.

IFRC, which has chapters in 191 countries and counts around 16 million volunteers, said that Forbes's presidency "marks a pivotal shift towards addressing the complexities of the modern world".

"A key area of focus under her leadership will be tackling the urgent issues of climate change and migration," it said, adding that community empowerment and youth engagement were also at the forefront of her agenda.

"Communities around the world are witnessing the impacts of climate change, geopolitical tensions and health emergencies," Forbes said in the statement.

"Now is the time to lean into our fundamental principles to deliver on our mission and make communities stronger."