| The Jiangsu-Zhejiang War refers to the war between Qi Xieyuan, warlord of Jiangsu and Lu Yongxiang, warlord of Zhejiang, over control of Shanghai, September-October 1924 for the first time and January-February 1925 for the second time. Above 100 thousand soldiers were involved in the war, whose theater of operations were mainly in Jiangsu. This war severely affected the social economy of Jiangsu and Zhejiang(particularly Southern Jiangsu), caused heavy property losses and casualties; a large number of common people became refugees, which leading to a serious humanitarian disaster. Confronted with such a miserable situation, the Red Cross Society of China shouldered the duty of rescue and humanitarian aid without hesitation.Before the outbreak of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang War, the Red Cross Society of China had already begun preparing for rescue work: deploying rescuers, raising drugs and other medical supplies, arranging vehicles for use at any time; dispatching rescue crews in different places, getting prepared for rescue work. At the same time, they established a number of wartime Red Cross hospitals in Shanghai to treat and cure the wounded soldiers and set up a large number of shelters to receive refugees, especially women and children. After the war broken out, rescue crews sent by the Red Cross Society immediately rushed to the war zones and rescued many crowds of wounded soldiers and refugees in spite of the difficulties. Owing to the fierce war and numerous casualties, the hospitals of the Red Cross Society kept making all efforts night and day, thus saving thousands of lives in the war. Besides the widely set shelters for refugees(women and children) made proper arrangements for nearly 100 thousand refugees. Immediately after the war, the personnel of the Red Cross Society engaged themselves in the aftermath by bury corpses and carry out epidemic prevention, to avoid the post-war epidemic diseases. They actively offered money to send the refugees and healed soldiers home, investigated the losses caused by war disasters, and gave relief to the returning refugees in need, helping them go through the difficulties and bringing hope to the lucky survivors. Under the leadership of the Red Cross Society, local branches of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai sent emergency relief teams or set up temporary hospitals and refugee camps according to their own situations. They carried out the rescue work vigorously, and completed the humanitarian rescue mission successfully. The branches greatly reduced the load of the Red Cross Society in the rescue operation. Meanwhile, some local branches such as Shanghai branch, Wuxi branch, Wuxian branch, and Jiangyin branch were outstanding in rescue abilities, competent in rescue measures, or effective in rescue results. These branches performed well in setting leading organ, constructing rescue teams, executing rules and regulations, raising funds, procuring goods, communicating and collaborating with other groups and so on, which was quite praiseworthy.The Red Cross Society of China played a leading role in providing humanitarian aid in Jiangsu-Zhejiang War. In this process, the Red Cross cooperated and coordinated with other social organizations, forming a resultant force, effectively gathering the humanitarian forces, and achieving a scale effect in rescue.In the rescue activities of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang War, the Red Cross Society of China achieved significant results, treated and cured thousands of injured people and soldiers, relieved and accommodated about 100 thousand refugees, and buried above 1500 bodies, effectively reducing the war damage and pain of the victims. In the process of rescue, the Red Cross Society worked in the first line from beginning to end, adhered to the basic principles of humanitarian, strictly observed the rules and regulations, fulfilled and promoted the Red Cross’ s spirit of humanism, fraternity and dedication with their practical actions. With the success of rescue work, the power of humanity was fully demonstrated, the Red Cross was widely received and recognized by all sectors of society, while social image and credibility of the Red Cross were further consolidated and improved.Besides, the Jiangsu-Zhejiang War rescue operation played a significant role in the development of the Red Cross. In the process of providing humanitarian aid, the Red Cross Society of China further accumulated experience of war rescue, expanded its social influence and expanded basic-level organizations, while the Jiangsu and Zhejiang branches went through ordeal in the rescue operation and achieved rapid development. |
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