100th anniversary of the foundation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 1919 – 2019
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, providing assistance for 100 years to vulnerable population without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.
Founded in 1919, the IFRC comprises 191 member Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies. There are more societies in formation.
The secretariat of the IFRC is in Geneva and there are more than 60 delegations strategically located to support activities around the world. The role of the secretariat in Geneva is to coordinate and mobilize relief assistance for international emergencies, promote cooperation between National Societies and represent these National Societies in the international field. The role of the field delegations is to assist and advise National Societies with relief operations and development programmes, and encourage regional cooperation.
The IFRC vision: To inspire, encourage, facilitate and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies, with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering, and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.
The IFRC carries out relief operations to assist victims of disasters, and combines this with development work to strengthen the capacities of its member National Societies. The IFRC’s work focuses on four core areas: promoting humanitarian values, disaster response, disaster preparedness, and health and community care.
The unique network of National Societies – which cover almost every country in the world – is the IFRC’s principal strength. The activities are implemented by around 17 million volunteers in the local communities who assist on annual basis around 150 million people in the world through different activities for assistance and care.
Macedonian Red Cross is a full-fledged member of the IFRC since 1995 when it was admitted as the 169th member society. Macedonian Red Cross is the first national society in the Movement that received the Certificate for strong national society in 2015.
The IFRC, together with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross, make up the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
