The International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement is an international humanitarian movement with almost 100
million volunteers, members and staff worldwide, which was founded
to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human
beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering. It is called a
'movement' and has two major independent organizations. The
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). A private
humanitarian institution founded in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(IFRC) was founded in 1919 and coordinates activities between the
186 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The International
Federation Secretariat is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
In addition, there are 186 national Red Cross and Red Crescent
societies. Thirty Three Islamic states use the Red Crescent symbol.
The first disaster relief provided by the American Red Cross
benefited thousands of fire victims of the Michigan Great Fire of
1881. The fire raged for three days, scorching over a million acres.
282 people died in the blaze, which burned much of the thumb area of
Michigan.
The American Association for the Relief of Misery on the
Battlefields was a result of the International Red Cross and the
forerunner of the American Association of the Red Cross. Clara
Barton was instrumental in establishing the American Red Cross
chapter in September 1881.