World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day

Every year on May 8, the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is celebrated. The international organization began its activities in 1863, and this date was chosen in honor of the birth of Henri Dunant, the founder of the International Red Cross Movement.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has been helping people affected by natural disasters, emergencies, migration and war for over 160 years.

Guided by the Fundamental Principles, the Movement provides assistance to victims of emergencies and armed conflicts.

The Movement has up to 100 million volunteers and staff from 191 countries. It consists of three components:

- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC);

- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

- 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is a reminder of the need for humanitarian action and support for organizations that work for the benefit of humanity. It is also an opportunity to recognize the contribution of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff to the development of humanitarian action.

The global organization performs a variety of humanitarian functions, such as providing assistance to victims of war and conflict, famine and emergencies, providing medical care and helping to solve social problems.

The Red Cross has been active in Ukraine since 1918.

The Ukrainian Red Cross is the largest humanitarian organization that has been working to protect human life, health and dignity for over a hundred years. The Ukrainian Red Cross carries out its humanitarian activities in close cooperation and collaboration with state and local authorities, public organizations, the corporate sector, as well as partners and colleagues in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.