International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies facts for kids
Emblem of the IFRC
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| Abbreviation | IFRC |
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| Formation | 5 May 1919 |
| Type | Humanitarian aid organization |
| Purpose | To carry out relief operations to assist victims of disasters, and combine this with development work to strengthen the capacities of its member National Societies |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
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Secretary General
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Jagan Chapagain |
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President
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Kate Forbes |
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Main organ
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Governing board |
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Parent organization
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International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement |
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Budget
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495,444,000 CHF |
| Website | www.ifrc.org |
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is a huge worldwide organization. It helps people in need. Every year, it reaches about 160 million people. It works through its 191 member groups, called National Societies.
The IFRC helps before, during, and after disasters. It also helps with health emergencies. Its goal is to meet the needs of people who are vulnerable. It does this fairly, no matter their background or beliefs.
The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This movement also includes the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The IFRC is strong because of its many volunteers. It also has local experts and works independently. It helps improve humanitarian standards. It works to make communities healthy and safe. It also helps people become stronger and promotes peace.
Contents
History of the IFRC
How the IFRC Started
The IFRC began on May 5, 1919. This was after World War I. Representatives from the Red Cross groups of the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, and the United States met in Paris. They created the League of Red Cross Societies (LORCS). Their main goal was to make existing Red Cross groups stronger. They also wanted to help create new groups.
Henry P. Davison from the American Red Cross led this effort. He had support from Woodrow Wilson, the U.S. President. This new group helped the Red Cross Movement do more than just war-related work. It started helping with natural disasters and health emergencies too. The League also helped new Red Cross groups get started.
In its early years, the League did two main things. First, it promoted health and prevented illnesses. It also helped train nurses and volunteers. Second, it created the Junior Red Cross. This program taught children and students about the Red Cross. It also let them help with relief activities.
At first, there were some disagreements. The ICRC was worried the new League would take over its role. Henry Davison also did not want to include Red Cross groups from countries that lost the war. This went against the ICRC's idea of helping everyone. But over time, they worked out their differences. In 1928, they agreed on their roles. This helped them work together better.
By the mid-1930s, the League became truly global. It had 58 National Societies. This included the Egyptian Red Crescent and the Red Lion and Sun of Iran.
The IFRC's Headquarters Moves
The League's main office, called the secretariat, first started in Geneva. In 1922, it moved to Paris. This move helped the League develop its own identity. But on September 5, 1939, the office moved back to Geneva. This was because Germany invaded Poland, starting World War II. The League wanted to work from a neutral country like Switzerland. The secretariat has been in Geneva ever since. In 1959, it moved to its current building.
Early Missions and Growth
In its first years, the League mostly collected information. It shared this with National Societies. Its first hands-on mission was in Poland. They observed a typhus epidemic. They then shared information to stop the disease from spreading.
The League's first big relief effort was after the 1923 earthquake in Japan. About 200,000 people died. Many more were hurt or lost their homes. For the first time, 35 National Red Cross Societies worked together. They raised a lot of money to help.
The League started asking for donations in 1925. But disaster relief was still a smaller part of their work. Public health and youth activities were bigger. By the 1920s, National Societies were better prepared for disasters. The Great Depression also caused money problems worldwide. This made the League focus more on helping people in poverty.
In the 1930s, more cars were on the roads. This led to more accidents. The League became a leader in first aid for road accidents. It set up a special committee in 1932.
As World War II approached, the League's activities slowed down. But it worked more closely with the ICRC. They helped during the Spanish Civil War and the Second Sino-Japanese war. They sent food and medical supplies to civilians. An agreement in 1941 helped them keep supporting National Societies during the war.
After the war, the League started strong again. It reconnected with National Societies. It also sent aid to war-torn areas. In 1948, the League helped the United Nations with a big relief program. This program helped Palestinian refugees. The League helped in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
From 1951 to 1954, bad weather hit many parts of the world. The League's relief work became more hands-on. It sent out many appeals for help. It became very good at disaster relief. By the late 1960s, there were over 100 National Societies. On December 10, 1963, the League and the ICRC won the Nobel Peace Prize together.
In 1983, the League changed its name. It became the "League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies." This was because more groups used the Red Crescent symbol. In 1991, it changed again to its current name: the "International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies" (IFRC). In 1997, the ICRC and IFRC signed an agreement. This agreement, called the Seville Agreement, made their roles even clearer.
Before the 1990s, all disaster relief was done as one big team. Richer Red Cross groups sent money and people to the IFRC. The IFRC then coordinated the help. But after Hurricane Mitch in 1998, things changed. More groups started helping directly. This meant more Red Cross and Red Crescent groups worked internationally.
In 2004, the IFRC started its biggest mission ever. This was after the tsunami disaster in South Asia. Over 40 National Societies worked with 22,000 volunteers. They brought help to countless victims. Many people had no food or shelter. There was also a risk of diseases spreading.
What the IFRC Does
The IFRC helps coordinate all the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It also helps new National Societies get started in countries where they don't exist yet. A National Society can only join the IFRC after the ICRC recognizes it.
The IFRC works with the National Society in the affected country. This is called the Host National Society (HNS). It also works with National Societies from other countries that want to help. These are called Partner National Societies (PNS). About 25–30 National Societies regularly work as PNS in other countries. The most active ones include the American Red Cross and the British Red Cross.
Another important job of the IFRC is to ban land mines worldwide. It also helps people hurt by land mines. This includes medical, mental, and social support.
The main tasks of the IFRC are:
- To promote kindness and good values.
- To support National Societies.
- To support projects when money is available.
The Red Cross Red Crescent is the world's largest humanitarian network. It has:
- Almost 11.6 million volunteers.
- More than 473,000 paid staff.
- Over 165,000 local Red Cross and Red Crescent offices.
- 19.4 million people who have given blood.
- More than 11 million people trained in First Aid.
- Over 106.5 million people helped by long-term programs.
- More than 49.5 million people helped in 2016 after disasters.
- A total income of over 23.4 billion Swiss francs in 2016.
How the IFRC is Organized
The IFRC has its main office in Geneva, Switzerland. It also has five regional offices. Plus, there are many country and multi-country offices around the world. The secretary general is Jagan Chapagain from Nepal.
The IFRC is led by a governing board. This board includes a president, five vice presidents, and other leaders. The highest group is the General Assembly. It meets every two years. Delegates from all National Societies attend. The General Assembly chooses the president. The current president of the IFRC is Kate Forbes from the USA.
Presidents of the Federation
As of 2024, the president of the IFRC is Kate Forbes (USA). The vice presidents are Mr Bolaji Akpan Anani (Nigeria), Mr Miguel Villarroel Sierraalta (Venezuela), Ms Maha Barjas Al-Barjas (Kuwait) and Ms Natia Loladze (Georgia). Manuel Bessler (Switzerland) is also a vice president.
Here are some of the past presidents (until 1977, they were called "Chairman"):
- 1919–1922: Henry Davison (American Red Cross)
- 1922–1935: John Barton Payne (American Red Cross)
- 1935–1938: Cary Travers Grayson (American Red Cross)
- 1938–1944: Norman Davis (American Red Cross)
- 1944–1945: Jean de Muralt (Swiss Red Cross)
- 1945–1950: Basil O'Connor (American Red Cross)
- 1950–1959: Emil Sandström (Swedish Red Cross)
- 1959–1965: John MacAulay (Canadian Red Cross)
- 1965–1977: José Barroso Chávez (Mexican Red Cross)
- 1977–1981: Adetunji Adefarasin (Nigerian Red Cross Society)
- 1981–1987: Enrique de la Mata (Spanish Red Cross)
- 1987–1997: Mario Enrique Villarroel Lander (Venezuela Red Cross)
- 1997–2001: Astrid Nøklebye Heiberg (Norwegian Red Cross)
- 2001–2009: Don Juan Manuel Suárez Del Toro Rivero (Spanish Red Cross)
- 2009–2017: Tadateru Konoe (Japanese Red Cross Society)
- 2017–2023: Francesco Rocca (Italian Red Cross)
- 2023–present: Kate Forbes (American Red Cross)
How the IFRC is Funded
The IFRC gets its money from a few places. National Societies pay regular fees. It also earns money by providing services to partners. And it gets donations from governments, companies, and individuals. When there's a big disaster, the IFRC asks for emergency donations.
Symbols and Principles
The IFRC's symbol combines a red cross and a red crescent. They are on a white background, inside a red frame. The red cross is on the left, and the red crescent is on the right.
The IFRC's main motto is "Per Humanitatem ad Pacem." This means "Through Humanity to Peace." Its mission statement is "to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity." From 1999 to 2004, the slogan for the whole Movement was "The Power of Humanity." In 2003, a new slogan was adopted: "Protecting Human Dignity."
The official logo for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement was published in 2016. It shows the red cross and red crescent symbols together. The words "INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT" are around them. This logo is used when the ICRC, IFRC, and National Societies work together. This happens during emergencies or global campaigns.
Seven main principles guide the IFRC and its members. They are:
- Humanity: Helping people who are suffering.
- Impartiality: Helping everyone equally, without taking sides.
- Neutrality: Not taking part in arguments or conflicts.
- Independence: Making their own decisions.
- Voluntary Service: Helping without wanting to be paid.
- Unity: Having only one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in each country.
- Universality: Being a worldwide movement where all societies have equal status.
Working with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The IFRC and the ICRC have had disagreements at times. For example, after World War I, the American Red Cross wanted the League to be the main international Red Cross group. But they have signed agreements to work together. The 1997 Seville Agreement helps a lot. It says the IFRC leads in emergencies not caused by war. If there's a war, the ICRC takes charge. Now, they work together much better.
See also
In Spanish: Federación Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja para niños
