The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest humanitarian network. It is impartial and neutral and it provides protection and assistance to people affected by disasters and conflicts. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has nearly 100 million members, volunteers and supporters and is made up of three components:
•   The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
•   The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
•   187 Member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
As partners, the different members of the movement support communities in becoming stronger and safer through a variety of development projects and humanitarian activities. The movement also works in cooperation with governments, donors and other aid organisations to assist vulnerable people around the world.
The Irish Red Cross is a part of the IFRC, which is the world's largest humanitarian organisation, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It was founded in 1919, in Paris in the aftermath of World War I and today has 187 Red Cross and Red Crescent member societies (the Red Crescent is used instead of the cross in many Islamic countries). The IFRC's work focuses on four core areas; promoting humanitarian values, disaster response, disaster preparedness and health and community care.
The IFRC has seven fundamental principles which underline all its' charitable work across the globe. Proclaimed in Vienna in 1965, the seven fundamental principles are:
•   Humanity
•   Impartiality
•   Neutrality
•   Independence
•   Voluntary Service
•   Unity
•   Universality
The IFRC's vision is; "To inspire, encourage, facilitate and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies, with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering, and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world."
The Irish Red Cross Society was set up by an Act of the Oireachtas on 1 August 1939, over a month before the start of World War II. The Red Cross had been around prior to this as an autonomous entity within the British Red Cross during the War of Independence in 1920 and records show that there were Red Cross branches in Dublin which helped look after the sick and wounded during the 1916 Easter Rising.
Since being established the Irish Red Cross has been at the forefront of delivering aid to vulnerable people in Ireland and in countries struck by wars or natural disasters. In 1945 it set up a hospital in St Ló, in Normandy, France, after the city was bombed in July of that year. The same year the IRC also helped with Operation Shamrock, which saw hundreds of German children being transferred to Ireland to be housed temporarily while their homes in Germany were being rebuilt. The Irish Red Cross has a history of helping refugees including refugees from Hungary (1956), Vietnam (1979), Bahi (1985), Bosnia (1993) and Kosovo (1998). In 1961 the Irish Red Cross set up the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, which sought to extend the works of the Irish Red Cross into the developing world. This was eventually formed into a permanent group called Gorta.
At home in Ireland, the IRC has always been at the forefront for providing services to those most vulnerable within communities. Post war, they looked after the upkeep of cottage hospitals to help deal with the public health crisis caused by the spread of Tuberculosis. In 1964, they set up the first Meals on Wheels service in the country as well as offering the first Occupational First Aid courses to businesses and factories. The Irish Red Cross also organised the first Water Safety Campaign, and were in charge of it from 1945-1971 when responsibility was handed over to a new state agency. They also introduced a blood donation service, maintaining it until the responsibility was handed over to the new state agency, the National Irish Transfusion Board.
Today the Irish Red Cross has 144 branches across Ireland, each run entirely by volunteers. Across the country is has several services including; ambulance services, rescue services, youth services, community services and the IRC Restoring Family Links service which helps people in Ireland to re-establish contact with immediate family members after separation due to armed conflict, political upheaval, natural disaster, migration and other humanitarian crises.
The Irish Red Cross contributes to the mission of the Red Cross Movement to prevent or alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found by responding to the needs of those affected by slow or sudden onset disasters across the globe. In particular, it supports emergency support, emergency response recovery and longer term development activities wherever possible.
•   The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
•   The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
•   187 Member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
As partners, the different members of the movement support communities in becoming stronger and safer through a variety of development projects and humanitarian activities. The movement also works in cooperation with governments, donors and other aid organisations to assist vulnerable people around the world.
The Irish Red Cross is a part of the IFRC, which is the world's largest humanitarian organisation, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It was founded in 1919, in Paris in the aftermath of World War I and today has 187 Red Cross and Red Crescent member societies (the Red Crescent is used instead of the cross in many Islamic countries). The IFRC's work focuses on four core areas; promoting humanitarian values, disaster response, disaster preparedness and health and community care.
The IFRC has seven fundamental principles which underline all its' charitable work across the globe. Proclaimed in Vienna in 1965, the seven fundamental principles are:
•   Humanity
•   Impartiality
•   Neutrality
•   Independence
•   Voluntary Service
•   Unity
•   Universality
The IFRC's vision is; "To inspire, encourage, facilitate and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies, with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering, and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world."
The Irish Red Cross Society was set up by an Act of the Oireachtas on 1 August 1939, over a month before the start of World War II. The Red Cross had been around prior to this as an autonomous entity within the British Red Cross during the War of Independence in 1920 and records show that there were Red Cross branches in Dublin which helped look after the sick and wounded during the 1916 Easter Rising.
Since being established the Irish Red Cross has been at the forefront of delivering aid to vulnerable people in Ireland and in countries struck by wars or natural disasters. In 1945 it set up a hospital in St Ló, in Normandy, France, after the city was bombed in July of that year. The same year the IRC also helped with Operation Shamrock, which saw hundreds of German children being transferred to Ireland to be housed temporarily while their homes in Germany were being rebuilt. The Irish Red Cross has a history of helping refugees including refugees from Hungary (1956), Vietnam (1979), Bahi (1985), Bosnia (1993) and Kosovo (1998). In 1961 the Irish Red Cross set up the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, which sought to extend the works of the Irish Red Cross into the developing world. This was eventually formed into a permanent group called Gorta.
At home in Ireland, the IRC has always been at the forefront for providing services to those most vulnerable within communities. Post war, they looked after the upkeep of cottage hospitals to help deal with the public health crisis caused by the spread of Tuberculosis. In 1964, they set up the first Meals on Wheels service in the country as well as offering the first Occupational First Aid courses to businesses and factories. The Irish Red Cross also organised the first Water Safety Campaign, and were in charge of it from 1945-1971 when responsibility was handed over to a new state agency. They also introduced a blood donation service, maintaining it until the responsibility was handed over to the new state agency, the National Irish Transfusion Board.
Today the Irish Red Cross has 144 branches across Ireland, each run entirely by volunteers. Across the country is has several services including; ambulance services, rescue services, youth services, community services and the IRC Restoring Family Links service which helps people in Ireland to re-establish contact with immediate family members after separation due to armed conflict, political upheaval, natural disaster, migration and other humanitarian crises.
The Irish Red Cross contributes to the mission of the Red Cross Movement to prevent or alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found by responding to the needs of those affected by slow or sudden onset disasters across the globe. In particular, it supports emergency support, emergency response recovery and longer term development activities wherever possible.
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