International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Nowadays, lots of people around the world are forced to leave their beloved home owing to frequent conflicts and they are suffering from the hunger and pain.And the effects of climate change including the global warming inflict tremendous losses to the humansIn responding to the above concerns, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, aimed at international and regional cooperation and solidarity to save the lives of the people and stabilize their living, is now further being consolidated.The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement was originated from the war.In 1859, there was a severe battle between France-Italy allied forces and Austrian army in Solferino, located at northern part of Italy.After the battle, more than 40,000 soldiers died or lied down wounded there. Henry Dunant, a Swiss man, who was passing this battlefield at that moment, decided to help those wounded soldiers who did not get any medical assistance, but severely bleeding and dying and appealed the adjacent villagers for giving the voluntary medical service to those wounded.Three years later after he came back home, he wrote a book “A Memory of Solferino”, where he proposed the countries around world for forming a relief society. -3-Henry Dunant and four Swiss figures in response to his proposal grouped “the Committee of the Five” on February 9, 1863 to deliberate the proposal, resulting in forming “the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded” on February 17in the same year, the very first international humanitarian relief society.This relief society was renamed ‘‘the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the international conference held in Geneva in 1876.The ICRC, under the recognition that there had to be a simple, visible and distinct sign for the medical personnel, units and transports instituted the Red Cross emblem with white background as the internationally-recognized emblem.The Islamic countries use the Red Crescent emblem with white background instead of Red Cross.After the First World War, the Red Cross faced the task of fulfilling a variety of humanitarian missions for tackling accidents, natural disasters and others for protecting and promoting the health and welfare of the people not only in times of war but also in peace. And there also arose the need of forming a new international organization that could coordinate in a unified way the Red Cross Societies established in different countries.To this effect, “the International League of Red Cross Societies” was formed on May 5, 1919 which was renamed the present title, “the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies” in 1991.The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement bears the humanitarian character whose mission is to prevent and alleviate the human suffering and makes no discrimination as to nationality, ethnicity and political opinions.This movement is guided by its Fundamental Principles, which are Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality.Its purpose is to protect the life and health of people and to stabilize the lives of the affected from the war, armed conflicts and natural disasters. It also promotes the international and interregional cooperation and solidarity.The Red Cross Society of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK RCS) was founded on October 18, 1946.The DPRK RCS, the active supporter of the state health work in peace time, carries out the public health and hygienic work to promote the health and welfare of the people and prevent from all sorts of diseases.And it helps those hit by sudden calamity on the basis of humanitarian spirit regardless of peace and war times and strengthens the ties with other RC/RC societies of different countries for the sake of world peace and friendship-solidarity with the progressive people.The DPRK RCS has joined the IFRC on May 11, 1956.It presently strives to save the lives of the people from the disaster and crises and strengthen its resilience by putting top priority to disaster reduction and mitigation.In addition, it attaches importance to preventing the diseases, disseminating the first aid knowledge and health promotion and enhancing the eco-environment and environmental sanitation.The DPRK RCS, in collaboration with the IFRC, the ICRC, Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, is further enhancing its activities.
