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List of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest group of organizations that help people. They provide humanitarian aid all over the world. This movement is made up of three main parts:

  • The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an independent and neutral organization. It protects and helps people who are victims of wars and other violence. The ICRC responds to emergencies. It also works to make sure everyone follows international humanitarian laws. Its main office is in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is a global organization. It connects 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world. The IFRC helps people before, during, and after disasters and health emergencies. It works to meet the needs of vulnerable people and make their lives better. It is also based in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • The 191 individual National Societies are part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. These include the Red Star of David Society in Israel. These societies work in their own countries.

Who are the Members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent?

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has members all over the world. These members are called National Societies. They work in almost every country. You can find information about these members in a special database called the Federation-wide Databank and Reporting System (FDRS). This system shows how the Red Cross and Red Crescent network helps people globally.

Some countries have a Red Cross Society, while others have a Red Crescent Society. In Israel, there is the Red Star of David Society. All these groups work together under the same humanitarian principles.

Countries Without Active National Societies

Most countries have a Red Cross or Red Crescent National Society. However, a few places do not have a society that is an active member of the IFRC.

Sometimes, a National Society might not be a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This can happen for different reasons. For example, some groups might not meet the rules for being recognized.

In other cases, a country's IFRC membership might be temporarily stopped. This means they cannot fully participate for a period of time. For example, the Belarus Red Cross and the Peruvian Red Cross have had their memberships suspended.

A few countries, like Nauru and Vatican City, do not have a National Society at all. Also, the National Society in Nicaragua was recently closed by its government.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Sociedades Nacionales de la Cruz Roja y la Media Luna Roja para niños

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List of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.