International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

Hello! We are the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. You might have seen our special symbols before. We use a red cross, a red crescent, or a red crystal. When you see one of these symbols, it is a sign of our promise to help people who are suffering. This could mean they are hurt, hungry, or have lost their homes. Our symbols also show that we are neutral helpers. Being neutral is very important—it means we do not take sides in a fight or disagreement. We are there to help anyone and everyone who needs it, no matter who they are.

Our story began a long time ago with a big idea from a man named Henry Dunant. In the year 1859, he saw the Battle of Solferino. After the fighting was over, many soldiers were left wounded and alone, with no one to care for them. Henry Dunant believed that all soldiers deserved help, no matter which army they belonged to. He had the idea to create a group of neutral helpers who could care for the wounded during wars. This powerful idea grew, and in 1863, our movement was started in the city of Geneva in Switzerland.

From that one idea, our work has grown to help people in many different situations. We are there during times of trouble, like wars, to provide medical care to the sick and injured. But we also help after natural disasters, like big earthquakes, floods, or storms. When a disaster strikes, we bring people things they need to survive, such as clean water, food, and shelter to keep them safe. We also do another very special job. Sometimes, families get separated during a crisis. We work hard to find them and reconnect them with their loved ones.

To do our job well, we follow some very important rules. These rules help everyone trust us, so we can work in difficult places. One of our most important principles is neutrality, which means we never take sides. Another key rule is called impartiality. This means we help the people who are the most vulnerable first. It doesn’t matter where someone comes from or what they believe; if they are suffering the most, we help them first. These principles guide us in everything we do and make sure our help is always fair.

Today, we are a very big family that works all around the world. Our movement is made of three main parts that work together. There is the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the National Societies. These National Societies are the local Red Cross or Red Crescent groups that you can find in nearly every country. All of this work is made possible by our millions of volunteers. These are caring people who give their time to help others in their communities and across the globe. Together, we all work to keep our promise to help.