The ICRC
The ICRC stands for International Committee of Red Cross/Crescent. It is a humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland and a three-time Nobel Prize Laureate. States parties (signatories) to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 (Protocol I, Protocol II) and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect victims of international and internal armed conflicts. Such victims include war wounded, prisoners, refugees, civilians, and other non-combatants.
The ICRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The ICRC works neutrally and impartially to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict by:
- Visiting POW's and detainees
- Searching for missing persons
- Transmittting messages between separated family members
- Reuniting dispersed families
- Providing safe water, food and medical assistance to those in need
- Promoting respect for International Humanitarian Law.
The IFRC
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (initially known as the League of Red Cross Societies or LRCS) is a humanitarian institution that is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the ICRC and 187 distinct National Societies. Founded in 1919 and based in Geneva, Switzerland,
it coordinates activities between the National Societies in order "to
improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of
humanity".
On an international level, the Federation leads and organizes, in close
cooperation with the National Societies, relief assistance missions
responding to large-scale emergencies.
The IFRC promotes programs on
behalf of victims of natural disasters, socio-economic crises and
health emergencies; refugees, and member national societies include:
- Promoting humanitarian values
- Disaster Response
- Disaster Preparedness
- Health & Community care
- Capacity building