7 May 2007

World Red Cross Day – Together For Humanity

Working together to help those who can’t always help themselves has long been the ethos behind much of the work of New Zealand Red Cross, and that will be emphasised tomorrow, 8 May, on World Red Cross Red Crescent Day.

The theme for the day is “Together for Humanity” and will see 185 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world mark the day.

New Zealand Red Cross National President Penny Mason believes Red Cross Day is a great opportunity to reflect on the work the organisation undertakes both nationally and internationally.

“Red Cross is all about people and working together, and World Red Cross Day is a good opportunity to remind everybody about the important work we do,” she says.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) believe there is a need for governments and organisations to work together to meet the growing humanitarian challenges around the world. A challenge New Zealand Red Cross works hard to achieve.

365 days a year, New Zealand Red Cross staff and volunteers help those in need. Over 24,000 people per week within New Zealand communities are helped in some way by Red Cross services and activities such as meals on wheels, breakfasts in schools, emergency and welfare response, first aid training, providing education on international humanitarian law, refugee support, restoring family links and offering fair priced clothing, shoes and household items in our 40 Red Cross shops.

Internationally New Zealand Red Cross has 28 aid workers working in over 15 countries. Our aid workers undertake vital roles as health professionals, logistics and security specialists, running water and sanitation engineering programmes and administering large and diverse aid projects.

8 May marks the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant, the man who is credited with the initial inception of the Red Cross in 1859. Following heavy fighting in Italy between the armies of Imperial Austria and the Franco-Sardinian alliance that left thousands wounded, Dunat mobilised local people to provide food and comfort for the injured.

Subsequently, Henry Dunant and five others set up the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded which later became the International Committee of the Red Cross.

ENDS

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