The Red Cross and Red Crescent 1863-1868 – The Birth of Humanitarian Organisations

Today's International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement owes its existence to Swiss social activist Henri Dunant. 

Dunant was horrified by what he witnessed at the Battle of Solferino in Italy in 1859, when 30,000 people died in a single day and thousands were injured. Dunant began travelling around Europe to promote an international relief society that could help the wounded on both sides of a war. Various organisations emerged from this work. 

• In 1863, he took part in the founding of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a private organisation focusing on the humane treatment of victims of armed conflict. 
• In 1901, he won the first Nobel Prize for peace, and the ICRC has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize three times.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was founded in 1919 and today coordinates activities among many national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. One of these national societies is the American Red Cross (ARC), which collects, processes and distributes blood and blood products; provides disaster relief and assistance to those in need; cares for members of the military and their families; and offers health education programmes. The ARC also supports international aid programmes that help fight measles and malaria in Africa.

The ARC, the largest supplier of blood to US hospitals, was founded in 1881 by American nurse Clara Barton. The ARC also performs extensive blood testing to ensure that blood products are free of viruses and uses leukoreduction (the removal of white blood cells from the blood) to reduce the potential complications of blood transfusions.

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In our country, the Turkish Red Crescent Society, founded in 1868, serves the same purposes:

• Humanitarian aid, 
• Emergency response, 
• Blood donation, 
• Health services, 
• Social assistance,
• Advocacy for the community 

The Red Crescent undertakes a mission to provide emergency aid to victims in difficult conditions such as natural disasters, wars and emergencies. It also supports healthcare institutions and patients by collecting regular blood donations. Today, the Red Crescent in Türkiye has become an organisation with an extensive volunteer network, modern facilities and comprehensive services. Continually growing and developing, the Red Crescent continues to touch people's lives through its people-centred work.

Historical figures mentioned in the article: Clarissa Harlowe “Clara” Barton (1821–1912), Jean Henri Dunant (1828–1910

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