The ICRC - what is it? Explanation

The ICRC - what is it? Perhaps, when referring to this abbreviation, the Muscovites immediately come to one of the most interesting educational institutions of the capital. The ICRC. Sholokhov is deciphered as the Moscow Cossack Cadet Corps. It is an educational institution in which young people of all ages are trained. The education program is very extensive. The pride of the corps is a musical instrumental ensemble and a museum dedicated to the memory of the great Russian writer, singer of the Cossacks, Mikhail Sholokhov. However, in our today's article, it will not be about him, but about an amazing organization, much earlier received the same name - the ICRC.

ICRC transcript

Every day somewhere there is a war. The clarification of relations through the use of brute force is the most common way to resolve the conflict. To help people who suffered as a result of such actions, an organization was created that eventually gained international status.

The ICRC abbreviation stands for the International Committee of the Red Cross. This organization is a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Was organized in Geneva as a humanitarian organization. The reduction is introduced for ease of use in colloquial speech, since the name is rather long.

The ICRC - what is it? What are its goals and objectives? What is the meaning of the activity? Does it bring profit to someone? A lot of questions are connected with this organization. After all, her actions are connected exclusively with the help of the victims, and many people simply do not believe in disinterestedness.

History of its creation

The organization was established in 1863 at an international conference in Geneva. The initiator was the "Geneva Welfare Society" after a resonant book by a journalist who witnessed a battle involving French and Austrian troops. Seen on the battlefield, he described in detail.

As a result, the organization spread throughout the world. The red cross on a white canvas became a symbol of help and support for the suffering, the symbol of the ICRC. The emblem was adopted by all states that signed the Geneva Conventions.

What it is?

The purpose of this independent humanitarian organization is expressed in principle, which states that even a war must be conducted within certain limits. Civilians should not suffer. First medical aid to the victims should be rendered, evacuation of the population from "hot spots", etc., organized.

Representatives of the ICRC carried out their activities in the territory of Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iraq, that is, in those countries in which hostilities took place. Where is the assistance from the ICRC currently directed? Ukraine and Israel are now the most unstable states in a state of military conflict.

Legally, the ICRC has not been formed as an international organization. But it is recognized as such for the reason that its activities are carried out on the territory of all states and international law is at the core.

What does the ICRC do? Examples

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC further) bases its activities on the principles of independence, neutrality, voluntariness, impartiality, humanity, unity and universality. They also characterize the actions that ICRC delegates are doing when they are in conflict areas.

The organization is completely voluntary and includes only volunteers who are willing to risk health and even life for others. Its representatives do not have the right to accept the position of one of the conflicting parties and must remain neutral.

Its main activity is aimed at providing humanitarian assistance. But in some cases, ICRC members also provide medical and psychological support to the victims of hostilities.

Who is funding the ICRC?

The ICRC is founded as a charitable organization and exists exclusively on donations that are voluntarily invested by the countries participating in the Geneva Convention, public and private organizations.

Donations can be made in different ways. Some private organizations provide the ICRC with the necessary medicines, equipment, things, products, etc. They even provide shelter for refugees and provide them with work. Help can be expressed not only in terms of money. This makes the ICRC universal and absolutely independent of the opinions of others. There are always willing to help and support those who need it.

Donations for the ICRC can not include any weapons. Representatives of the organization do not have the right to intervene in hostilities, but can only provide assistance to the victims. These are the main principles of activity and other charitable organizations.

Work in the ICRC. What does this give?

ICRC delegations operate on all continents. More than a thousand ICRC representatives organize the work of volunteers in various countries. Since the organization is engaged in a variety of support, the specialists who are part of it have different profiles, and have many skills that are unconventional for their specialization.

The main qualities that a representative from the ICRC should have is stress tolerance, communication and intelligence. After all, sometimes you have to find a way out of difficult and dangerous situations, without losing self-control. The most demanded are the professions of a surgeon, traumatologist, psychologist. The skills of working in the Ministry of Emergency Situations and other similar organizations are welcomed.

Skills in the ICRC attract employers looking for a responsible and versatile person who is not afraid to change their way of life and strives to change the world for the better.

The main activities of the ICRC

The delegates of the ICRC have the right to visit prisoners of war committed during the international military conflict. The belligerents are obliged to provide access to prisoners so that delegates can be convinced of the observance of humanitarian law (conditions of detention, food) and exclude ill-treatment, which is unacceptable under the Geneva Convention. And also to talk privately with the prisoners, to give them the necessary help and support, to convey messages or letters from relatives.

In the event of internal conflict in the country, the ICRC can only offer its assistance or respond to a call for help from the authorities. But the authorities can not accept the offer of help.

Another aspect of the ICRC's activities is coordinated by the Central Tracing Agency, which works on several fronts. The agency collects information on victims of military conflicts to provide them with various types of assistance, to find family members who lost each other, to prepare and send official appeals to the authorities of the state on behalf of relatives to find out information about missing persons.

The main activity is aimed at rendering assistance to the victims in hostilities, in particular prisoners of war and civilians.

What is the ICRC's assistance?

Humanitarian assistance from the ICRC - what can it be? First of all, humanitarian aid is food, warm clothes (clothes, shoes, blankets, etc.), personal hygiene items.

The concept of assistance to war victims includes providing housing to immigrants from the occupied territories, providing the necessary minimum set of furniture, utensils and household items. This can be resettled in specially organized hostels, in apartments of citizens ready to receive settlers, or the creation of tent camps and the construction of temporary housing.

The countryside is characterized by the ICRC's assistance in the maintenance of agriculture, the provision of veterinary services and the distribution of planting seeds and equipment.

Providing water to the population is a priority for the occupied territories. This assistance consists in delivering water to regions where there is no access to water supply, as well as restoration of water towers and drilling of wells.

Help from the ICRC - what does this give the state? For the country in whose territory the hostilities are being conducted, the ICRC provides the necessary assistance, thereby helping the authorities to focus on a peaceful resolution of the problem.