Every year on May 8, World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is celebrated. This holiday was established in honor of the Swiss physician, public figure and humanist Henri Dunant. This is a kind of tribute to people who provide medical and humanitarian assistance to those in need.
This holiday has its own interesting history. On June 24, 1863, Henri Dunant witnessed a battle between the Austrian and Italian-French armies in northern Italy near the city of Solferino. As a result of hostilities, about 40 thousand people were killed and wounded. Dunant was struck by the scale of the tragedy. Returning to Switzerland, he proposed the creation of a society to help wounded soldiers, as well as the adoption of a convention for the protection of the wounded and medical personnel on the battlefield.
The Geneva Society for the Promotion of Public Goods in February 1863 organized and funded a special commission. It consisted of 5 people, three of whom were doctors. This commission became the basis of the International Committee for Assistance to Wounded Soldiers. At the beginning, the activities of the organization extended exclusively to the participants in the wars, wounded in battles. Soon, assistance began to be provided to the civilian population. In Russia, a similar society was created in May 1867 and was called the "Society for the care of the wounded and sick soldiers."
Currently, the International Committee of the Red Cross has permanent missions and operates in different countries, including in many "hot spots" of the world. His work on providing humanitarian and medical assistance to victims of conflict has been awarded three Nobel Peace Prizes. Since 2005, the organization's emblem has been a red crystal.
On this holiday, large-scale humanitarian actions are held, as well as meetings of workers and volunteers of the Red Cross. If you have friends or acquaintances working in the branches of the Red Cross, congratulate them on their professional holiday. The Red Cross supports the blood donation program, so if you want to be of service to the community, go to your local clinic and donate blood. Perhaps your blood will save someone's life.
In addition, if you wish, you can become one of the volunteers who take part in the implementation of the humanitarian programs of the Russian Red Cross (RKK). To do this, contact your local RKK office in your city or region.
