Red Cross celebrates 150th anniversary

[Gerald]

The work of the ICRC, in some of the most dangerous places in the world

As it turns 150, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it faces unprecedented challenges in the complex age of modern warfare.

These include "new weapons [and] new types of actors coming into conflict", ICRC chief Peter Maurer said.

The world's oldest aid organisation recently warned it was unable to cope with the "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis in Syria.

The movement currently employs 13,000 people working in 92 countries.

The movement was founded by a Geneva businessman, Henri Dunant, in 1863 in response to the suffering of injured soldiers abandoned on the battlefield of Solferino in northern Italy.

Horrified by what he saw, he documented the slaughter in his book, A Memory of Solferino, and decided to create an organisation dedicated to helping war wounded.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21489772

Red Cross,did a good job.


Note: 17 February 2013 Last updated at 09:08 GMT

[Platapus]

The ICRC has consistently done good work in some bad places.

[Betonov]

But the organisation itself is a money machine to buerocrats at the top.

Millions of lives have been saved, but how millions more could have been if less money wouldn't vanished at the regional offices


I've been in the ICRC for two years now, but I will resign this year.
Not because of the organisation itself, but the fellow volunteers. 4 of us are constantly frowned upon because we work in a slightly more demanding companies and our free time is dictated by our bosses while the rest have a simple 7-15 ,weekends off office jobs and see us as freeloaders that don't want to help anyone We'll colectively leave since activities that pay are more important.


But I'll miss the cross on my back

[Gerald]

I was offered to work in (ICRC) fifteen years ago..but nothing came of it.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Betonov

But the organisation itself is a money machine to buerocrats at the top.

Millions of lives have been saved, but how millions more could have been if less money wouldn't vanished at the regional offices


I've been in the ICRC for two years now, but I will resign this year.
Not because of the organisation itself, but the fellow volunteers. 4 of us are constantly frowned upon because we work in a slightly more demanding companies and our free time is dictated by our bosses while the rest have a simple 7-15 ,weekends off office jobs and see us as freeloaders that don't want to help anyone We'll colectively leave since activities that pay are more important.


But I'll miss the cross on my back

Better a cross than a target