On May 8, The American Red Cross of the Susquehanna Valley joins more than 700 American Red Cross chapters throughout the United States and 185 other Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies around the world in celebrating World Red Cross Red Crescent Day.

 

World Red Cross Red Crescent Day is celebrated throughout the world each year, in honor of Henry Dunant, who founded the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement nearly 150 years ago. The theme of this year’s observance is “Sister Societies Working Together,” which pays tribute to Dunant’s vision and highlights the many ways in which Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the globe partner to protect the lives and dignity of people everywhere. 

 

The work of the International Red Cross includes response to disasters such as Earthquakes, Floods and tropical storms, Humanitarian aid curing conflict, which can create large-scale humanitarian needs for shelter, clean water, food, medical care and psychosocial support; disease prevention, including measles, malaria and HIV/AIDS. In addition, last year, the American Red Cross’s restoring Family Links program helped exchange messages and conduct related tracing between more than 9,400 people separated by crisis in countries, such as Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, Iraq and the former Yugoslavia as well as on behalf of Holocaust survivors.

 

 

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. It directs and coordinates the international relief activities conducted by the Movement in situations of conflict. It also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.

Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.