¶ … International Federation of the Red Cross, located in Geneva, Switzerland. Specifically, it will contain a brief description of the International Red Cross, and what do they do.
The International Red Cross
The International Federation of the Red Cross was established in 1919 after the end of World War I, and the first organization was housed in Paris. The group is a blending of three organizations, the International Red Cross, the Red Crescent Movement, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which oversees all the other entities. This makes it the largest humanitarian organization in the world. The Red Cross serves in almost every country around the world, and the Red Crescent serves in most Muslim countries. The group's headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland, and their mission is "to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity" (IRC). To accomplish this mission, the organization's "work focuses on four core areas: promoting humanitarian values, disaster response, disaster preparedness, and health and community care" (IRC). The main office in Geneva is where the Secretariat of the group works, and they direct the missions and relief efforts of the many field offices around the world.
In the United States, the Red Cross is a well-known relief organization, and an extremely vital and active part of the international organization. The Red Cross is always there in times of disaster with a hot meal, a bed, and aid for the future. They recently participated in the evacuation and temporary housing of thousands of victims of the wildfires in Southern California. Thousands of these organizations make up the International Red Cross around the world. The work and purpose of the Red Cross and Red Crescent embody seven fundamental principles, which are humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality (IRC). The organization serves a vital purpose for people in crisis around the world, and continues to grow as the need for its services seems to continually grow, too.
Works Cited
Author not Available. "Mission and Role." International Federation of the Red Cross. 2003. 20 Nov. 2003. http://www.ifrc.org/who/
Forsythe, David P. Humanitarian Politics: The International Committee of the Red Cross. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1977.
Hutchinson, John F. Champions of Charity: War and the Rise of the Red Cross. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1996.
Major Natural Catastrophes, 1950-2001." Population and Development Review 28.1 (2002): 171+.
Red Cross." The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. 2000.
