150 years of Red Cross Red Crescent movement

Today the Red Cross Red Crescent movement is celebrating 150 years of humanitarian action around the world and sixty five years of service in Guyana for the Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS).

A release from the GRCS said that May 8 was the founder, Henri Dunant’s birthday and is designated World Red Cross Red Crescent day when the lifesaving work of the organisation is celebrated.

As the world’s humanitarian needs increases, the needs of vulnerable people are met by volunteers and staff.  In the last decade alone, over 160 million people have benefited from the emergency response work of volunteers of Red Cross Red Crescent societies around the world.

The national society says it has given support to many emergencies and will continue to focus on giving support to humanitarian needs in emergencies and providing disaster risk reduction training, first aid training, health education, violence prevention and provision of water and sanitation.

Secretary General of the GRCS, Dorothy Fraser took the opportunity to honour the humanitarian work of all the volunteers and staff and expressed thanks for their contributions.