International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Description

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, or IFRC, is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network.

Its secretariat supports and coordinates 191 member National Societies and their volunteers, reaching around 150 to 160 million people each year. It acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs of vulnerable people, working with impartiality as to nationality, race, gender, religion, class and political opinion. It delivers long-term services and development programmes as well as emergency disaster response, and works to raise humanitarian standards and persuade leaders to act for vulnerable people.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, alongside the International Committee of the Red Cross and the National Societies. It is guided by the Fundamental Principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality, and by its Strategy 2030 plan of action. Its strength lies in its community-based volunteer network and its independence and neutrality.

The organization traces its origin to 5 May 1919, when National Red Cross Societies of the Allied Powers met in Paris to found the League of Red Cross Societies, aiming to unite existing Societies and support the creation of new ones. The league took on the coordination of relief for natural disasters and health emergencies alongside the older, conflict-focused mission of the ICRC. It adopted its current name, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in 1991, and its secretariat is based in Geneva, Switzerland.