Donor Profile

By Allison Deutsch

Grace Frances

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is an organization dedicated to the alleviation and suffering and the aiding of humanity's well-being. Devoting ourselves to working with countries in need and other humanitarian organizations, we strive both to assist in meeting the basic requirement of the world's poor in emergency situations, and to help develop programs that will enrich people's lives in the future. Our organization focuses on two major areas. First, we provide emergency relief, helping the disadvantaged to overcome devastation incurred from the outbreak of war to the calamity of a natural disaster. Second, we work in development, aiding in the planning and implementation of projects ranging from creating community based health care programs to better establish services for people with disabilities. Everything the Federation does proves our commitment to humanity and demonstrates our dedication to our mission statement:

To improve the situation of the world's most vulnerable.

We are honored to be a part of this consortium. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies looks forward to working in tandem with the participating countries, donor organizations, and NGO's toward a common goal of building a stronger international community and improving the well-being of our fellow world citizens.

The International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent finds its roots in the creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the 19th century. In 1859, Swiss Henri Dunant traveled to Italian battlefields, during the Solferino war, on a trip that would change his life. Battlefields covered with wounded and starving soldiers with no medical personnel to treat them, inspired Dunants vision of an organization that would send medical staff to work in the battlefields of worn-torn countries. In 1863, at the International Geneva Conference, world leaders created the International Committee of the Red Cross to meet the needs of those wounded in war. 1919 marked the creation of the League of Red Cross Societies, un umbrella organization for the national Red Cross Societies throughout the world. In 1953 the name changed to the League of Red Cross and red Crescent Societies and again in 1991 to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the name it goes by today.

Having almost 170 national societies around the world, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(IFRC) looks to a written philosophy to guide its work towards a unified vision for the organization. This creed is made up of seven essential principles known as the Fundamental Principles. As written in the Vienna Proclamation the principles are:

The IFRC movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.

Its a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

There can only be one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide.

Together the IFRC, and the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC), and the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies form the Intentional Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, all which operate independently of each other and hold equal amounts of power. Each of the three associates have their own unique qualities they bring to the organization as well as their own responsibilities and purpose; at the same time the three sectors work closely together. The ICRC is charged with official responsibilities laid out by the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols which include the monitoring of prisoners of war and the promotion and overseeing of the application of the humanitarian law.

The ICRC also carries out specific tasks to international communities and works with the other Movement groups in caring for the world's most vulnerable. Some direct duties the ICRC carries out consist of being a neutral intermediary between armed opponents, reuniting families separated by war, visiting prisoners of war and security detainees, caring for the wounded , providing relief for conflict victims, and protecting the civilian population in countries at war. In working with the other two Movement sectors the ICRC maintains a special role. It is in charge of making sure prospective National Societies are capable of carrying out their responsibilities Dan follow the principles of the Movement. Once they have been approved by the ICRC the National Societies are members of the Movement and can apply to join the Federation.

The ICRC also works with the National Societies through cooperating in global relief projects, calling on expert teams from National Societies, and lending assistance for various projects. Most National Societies require help in developing their programs and training their staff to carry out their humanitarian tasks. While the Federation has primary responsibility for development cooperation at the international scale, the Movement recognizes the ICRC's role in:

• technical and legal assistance in setting-up or reconstruction of National Societies (NS)
• Support for NS programmes relating to dissemination of humanitarian law and the Fundamental principles;
• Involving the NS in efforts to promote humanitarian law and ensure its implementation;
• Preparing the NS for their activities in the event of conflict by strengthening their operational capacity(tracing, dissemination, assistance, first-aid, etc.);
• helping to train NS officials in areas within the ICRC'S mandate.(Source:ICRC webpage)

The National Societies are responsible for carrying out humanitarian projects within accordance with the principles set by the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. In addition they must abide by the following conditions for recognition as stated in the "Statues of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement," adopted by the Twenty-fifth International Conference of the Red Cross at Geneva in October 1986. The National Societies must:

1. Be constituted on the territory of an independent State where the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Fields is in force.

2.Be the only National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society of the said State and be directed by a central body which shall alone be competent to represent it in its dealings with other components of the Movement.

3. Be duly recognized by the legal government of its country on the basis of the Geneva Conventions and of the national legislation as a voluntary aid society , auxiliary to the public authorizes in the humanitarian field.

4. Have an autonomous status which allows it to operate in conformity with the Fundamental Principles of the Movement.

5. Use the name and emblem of the Red Cross or Red Crescent in conformity with the Geneva Conventions.

6. Be so organized as to be able to fulfill the tasks defined in its own statues, including the preparation in peace and time for its statutory tasks in case of armed conflict.

7. Extend its activities to the entire territory of the State.

8.Recruit its voluntary members and its staff without consideration of race, sex, class, religion or political opinions.

9. Adhere to the present Statues, share in the fellowship which unites the components of the Movement and co-operate with them.

10.Respect the Fundamental Principles of the Movement and be guided in it work by the principles of international humanitarian law.

The IFRC makes up the third sector of the Movement and is made up of representatives from every National society around the world which meet every two years. One major component of the Federation's duties is putting together delegations to assist an devise National Societies. According to the current global need, the delegations vary in both number and size. The delegations serve two purposes: country delegations serve National Societies to assist in disaster and development projects , and regional delegations serve several National Societies within a specific world region, aiding in disaster relief and development projects and encouraging cooperation among the region's Societies. The main responsibilities of the Federation include:

-coordinating international assistance from National Societies to disaster victims and

helping them implement long-term development programs

-encouraging and facilitating the establishment and development of National

Societies

-acting as a permanent advocate, coordinator,and researcher for the National

Societies.

-representing the National Societies on the International levels.

The Federation receives revenue through three means with the first being statutory contributions. This is a fixed amount that is paid each year by our member National societies for our services to them, such as development, relief, coordination of activities, etc.

Another of our sources is voluntary contributions, which are donations received on a voluntary basis and go on a funding document called "strategic work plan." This document covers specific areas such as community health, First-aid, National society capacity building, means of communication, governance support, and fundraising coordination. The revenue may come directly from the National Society or through them from their government. It is usually "earmarked" to a specific program although National societies may decide to make their donation to a strategic work plan, and let the International Federation decide which program is presenting a lack of funding. This allows us to be more flexible and efficioent.There is also a emergency appeal that works the same way contributions from the National Societies and via them from governments, but are focused on relief programs.

The third source of revenue for the federation and the newest implemented is other volunteer funding.It is focused around finding new sources of money in an innovative way. For example, the Federation receives a portion of lottery funds, pledges and donations. The money gained though this last means is split up between the Federal Secretariat(25%) and the National Societies(75%). The money and allocation decisions are made through our management group.

With the revenue that we get we have many different ways in which we use it under two main categories which are Disaster Response, and Development.

• Assess, train and evaluate relief services
• Emergency response units
• Independent units ready for the field,

specialized in:basic health care, referral

hospitals, water sanitation, logistics,

telecommunications and

information/media

• Relief Health
• communicable disease alleviation and

vaccination

• Psychological support and stress

management

• Health education
• Medicines
• Mobile clinics and nursing care
• Food Distribution and nutrition
• Clothing and shelter
• Refugee camp management
• Water and sanitation
• Wells,bore holes, pumping, water

distribution, latrines and health edu.

• Information on humanitarian rights
• Promote International Humanitarian Law

basic standards for humanitarian assistance.

As we also are committed to meeting more than the basic needs. The Federation is increasingly addressing the needs of displaced persons and refugees. Approximately 65% of our budget is allotted to support operations to populations on the move. As in the case of Rwanda, from where almost 2 million people fled into neighboring countries and thousands became internally displaced. The International Federation set-up massive food distribution network, and emergency medical and water sanitation programmes. At the same time there is a continuing need for relief assistance for lower profile disaster events: floods, earthquakes, drought induced famines, and technological accidents. "Relief work is about the 3bottom line' of ensuring basic minimal necessities to keep people alive. Survival is the minimum that relief must secure." However there is a fifth element that has been added to the basic needs and this is protection from violence and harassment.

The International Committee of the Red Cross works hand in hand with the federation and has maintained a interest in Rwanda as we work to improve the quality of life for refugees.The ICRC provided about 60% of the food requirements of the country's prisons. While also providing nutritional supplements, life-saving medications and basic hygiene supplies. The ICRC water and sanitation projects have ensured a sufficient water supply and waste disposal for several prisons, and surrounding areas. In addition The Tracing Agency of the ICRC has helped children that were separated from their families, become reunited. The ICRC is working in cooperation with National Red Cross Societies, and hired about 1,550 local staff and 150 expatriates to work in Rwanda. These include a variety of National Societies, such as Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, etc. As the ICRC is part of the larger umbrella of our federation, we are continuing to work to unite all links of the Federation with the United Nations, especially with the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, and The World Health Organization.

Networking & Dedication:Case Studies

In addition to responding to situations ourselves, we also provide a network to get others to assist us, as in the case of DPR Korea. It was cold, and people were sustaining in mud-brick huts made after the floods swept everything away. "With millions of Swiss Francs from other National Societies worldwide, Paek's staff and thousands of Red Cross volunteers have distributed clothes blankets, medicine, building materials and food. All the Red Cross beneficiaries were left with just the clothes on their backs. A Red Cross volunteer was washed from her bed as the water engulfed her." (WDR, 1996) The Red Cross provided people with basic necessities, such as blankets, quilts and rice. As the over-seer of we responded to this disaster by channeling our resources across the world-169 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies-to the National Society in DPR Korea to assist flood victims. "The speed and efficiency with which relief goods have been transported from the point of entry to the target areas and then distributed fully in accordance with Federation guidelines has been remarkable." (Calvi-Parsetti) Individuals involved in the Federation demonstrate a great amount of dedication, as many of them are volunteers. However, the Red Cross also holds the right to protect our workers safety. As in the case of Chechnya, workers went to help war victims and were murdered. This was quite alarming to our organization, and definitely challenged our beliefs about the "neutral delivery of humanitarian aid." These are questions of life and death, and force our organization to reexamine our identity, how it works and whether we can adapt $500 million annual operation to the unpleasant realities of warfare and challenges of humanitarian work. There are often many aspects of conflict and this particular one revolves around issues such as the symbolism of the red cross, although it is not a religious symbol, rather a universal protective sign. However, as our organization has stated previously we are dedicated to humanitarian relief and neutrality therefore giving us a choice about the extent to which we remain in a situation. The National Societies know what their country's needs are and they decide what areas, and projects need help, and they essentially look for support from the International Federation, following the guidelines.

Representatives of six Central American States and Mexico unanimously came out in favor of a total ban on the production, possession, transfer and use of anti-personnel landmines and proposed, at a seminar held in Managua in May, the establishment of a "zone free from anti-personnel landmines on their territories." The meeting, devoted to mines, mine clearance and victim rehabilitation, was organized by the ICRC and the Nicaraguan Red Cross. In the meeting the States reaffirmed their determination to promote immediate national bans, and to appeal to the international community to increase support for mine clearance and victim rehabilitation in the region. This is a prime example of preparing to take care of the problem, before it becomes a situation where emergency relief is needed. The Red Cross strives to create healthy communities so we do not have to respond to a catastrophic situation.

This case study provides an example of the Red Cross meeting basic health issues. On June 17 the ICRC opened a first-aid post in Kandahar to facilitate the treatment and evacuation of the war-wounded, thus establishing a presence for the first time in south-western Afghanistan. Kandahar province has no adequate medical facilities, and severely wounded people in the area have to seek treatment at the Accra's surgical hospital in Quetta, set-up across the border in Pakistan. The new post in Kandahar should go some way towards alleviating this problem.

Donor organizations have a vast arena of issues to address when giving aid. Many times the issues are not cut and dry, and may be accompanied by religious, or cultural dilemmas, however as the Federation of the Red Cross we simply believe in humanity, and neutrality. Therefore we assist as many people as we can, and we hope that our programs help stabilize communities as we attempt to move away from international non-violence.

Bibliography

1.Hutchinson, John F., War and the Rise of the Red Cross. Boulder, Co: Westview Press Inc, 1996

2.Joyce, James Avery., Red Cross International and the Strategy of Peace. New York: Oceana Publication, 1959

3.International Federation of the Red Cross, World Disasters Report, Oxford Press, 1996

4.United Nations, General Assembly, 19 August 1994, 49th session

5.Interview with the local Red Cross

6. Freddie Biguin, Revenue Department, International Federation, Geneva

7. International Federation of the Red Cross webpage