Celebrating the establishment of the Red Cross
From what started as a group of volunteers who worked close to the battlefields, the Red Cross also has volunteers assisting at scenes of natural disasters.
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The society started when, at the battlefield of Solferino, Henry Dunant was struck by the insufficiency of medical services.
Back then, due to a great number of soldiers who died for lack of care and the vast suffering that could have been avoided, the great project was conceived of forming ”relief societies for the purpose of having care given to the wounded in war-time by zealous, devoted and thoroughly qualified volunteers”.
This brought about the decision by various senior military officers to call upon the services of voluntary medical personnel, who would be placed under military command (Resolution 6 of the 1863 Geneva International Conference).
The International Committee of the Red Cross was formed in 1863 and is the founding body of the movement.
Under the terms of the Geneva Convention, it undertakes the role of neutral intermediary in times of armed conflict, providing protection and assistance to victims, visiting detainees, providing medical care to the sick and wounded and tracing and reuniting separated families.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was founded in 1919, in Paris, in the aftermath of World War One.
It was originally known as the League of Red Cross Societies, before it was renamed in October, 1983, as the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
In November, 1991, it became the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The federation supports humanitarian activities by the Red Cross in each country, including providing emergency relief for natural disasters, the development of new social welfare initiatives, caring for refugees and simply caring for the vulnerable in society.
The Red Cross South Africa
On January 1, 1896, four doctors approached President Paul Kruger for permission to form an ambulance corps.
Kruger not only gave the doctors his personal blessing, but his Volksraad also made a grant of 500 pounds for equipment, considered a most generous contribution in those days.
Six months later the Government of the South African Republic signed the Geneva Convention, and the ambulance corps took steps to become an independent Red Cross Society, ‘Het Transvaalsche Roode Kruis’.
During 1899, a national society was formed in the Orange Free State Republic and, later that year, a British Red Cross Society branch was established in the Cape Colony.
From its earliest beginnings in South Africa, the Red Cross made no distinction between frontiers, race or political creed.
During the South African War (1899 – 1902), the society expanded rapidly, receiving aid from the Red Cross in the Netherlands, Germany, Britain, Belgium, Russia and Canada.
The common purpose was to relieve the suffering of wounded, sick combatants, regardless of who they were fighting for, and to pass on information regarding persons killed, wounded or captured.
With the return of peace in 1902, the Red Cross Movement in South Africa became dormant until it was revived in 1913, when its objectives included spreading knowledge of first aid, home nursing and hygiene, as well as carrying out relief work for the injured, sick and wounded.
The South African Red Cross Society itself was founded in 1921, with the amalgamation of the various Red Cross entities which existed in the country. It was recognised by the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1928 and admitted into the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in 1929.
Over the years, the work of the Red Cross in South Africa has changed to reflect the environment in which it is working.
The national society is organised into five regions, under the control of the elected national council. Each region has several branch offices which, in turn, have several committees with representation from the communities.
As a vitally important partner in this country’s health and welfare network, its principle concerns can be summarised in one sentence: to encourage and promote the improvement of health, the prevention of disease and the mitigation of suffering.
The South African Red Cross Society is one of the 186 members of the federation and responds to needs in each province and territory, and provides relief during minor and major disasters and emergencies throughout South Africa.
Source: www.redcross.org.za