The+Red+Crescent

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**What are the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies?**
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through our 187 member National Societies. Together, we act before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. We do so with impartiality as to nationality, race, gender, religious beliefs, class and political opinions.

**History of the Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies**
In 1859 Franco-Sardinian and Austrian troops clash in [| Battle of Solferino] . Swiss businessman Henry Dunant, started to care for the wounded of both sides. This battle leads, to the formation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Then in 1863 Henry Dunant, along with a few others, makes the Red Cross and Red Crescent an International Committee. In 1864 many states sign ten articles forming the 1st Geneva Convention -- protection of international law both to wounded enemy soldiers and those caring for them. Not long after, in 1867, The Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have their first international conference; attended by nine governments and sixteen National Committees.

Goals and Purpose
The Red Crescent has seven goals to achieve. These are:
 * 1) Humanity
 * 2) Impartiality
 * 3) Neutrality
 * 4) Independence
 * 5) Voluntary
 * 6) Unity
 * 7) Universality

Its purpose is protect human life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all people.

What they do
The Red Crescent Societies try and tackle the major humanitarian and development challenges of the present decade. They continue ‘saving lives and changing minds’ by focusing our work in three key areas:
 * 1) disaster response and recovery
 * 2) development
 * 3) promoting social inclusion and peace

One of the many things they have done in work with development is helping those who have been affected by a natural disaster and are now out of home. They take these steps:
 * the distribution of tents or materials and [|tool kits] to repair damaged houses or to build temporary shelters
 * the improvement of living conditions in collective shelters and public buildings.
 * the provision of money to buy materials, hire labour or pay for rents.
 * the provision of local construction specialists to advise on safe building techniques.

Case Study
Al Anbar and Babil in Iraq have been the scene of heavy acts of violence since the beginning of the year, causing mass displacement among vulnerable communities while hundreds of other families were left behind in their hometowns. Despite the rise of violence, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society staff and volunteers continued delivering their relief services to the communities who were most affected, and succeeded in evacuating hundreds of families trapped in their homes. Al Anbar governorate in particular is witnessing dire humanitarian conditions caused by ongoing violence that started at the beginning of 2014 and continues until this day. During the last few weeks, more than 10,000 families were forced to leave their homes and belongings behind in the city of Hit seeking safe shelters in other areas of the governorate, living mainly in public places, schools, and unfinished buildings. When the acts of violence broke out in Al Anbar, the Iraqi Red Crescent volunteers were mobilised and deployed immediately to serve vulnerable families. Since then, the volunteers have provided more than 5,000 families with hot meals, distributed around 3,200 food baskets and 600 blankets, in addition to offering psycho-social support to the affected families. In the city of Fallujah, as well, significantly deteriorating humanitarian conditions have been recorded. However, and despite the siege imposed on the city, Iraqi Red Crescent volunteers managed to deliver medicines and other medical requirements to the main hospital in Fallujah. Similarly, on the outskirts of the governorate of Babil, the city of Jurf Al Sakhar witnessed severe acts of violence which left more than 250 families besieged and in desperate need of assistance. Iraqi Red Crescent volunteers evacuated and transported the families as well as, provided them with shelter, food and essential relief items. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Iraqi Red Crescent Society volunteers were at the forefront since the onset of the renewed violence to address the needs of communities affected, whether in ensuring their access to food and other non-food items, or in evacuating those trapped inside their houses in besieged cities to which other humanitarian organisations could not have access.

How can you help them?
You can contact the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies by: International Federation of __Red Cross__ and Red Crescent Societies P.O. Box 303 CH-1211 Geneva 19 Switzerland
 * Postal address **

Telephone: +41 22 730 42 22 Fax: +41 22 733 03 95

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