The International Committee Of The Red Cross Civilian Relief Brief History

Founded in 1863 by Henry Dunant and four other eminent citizens of Geneva, theUInternational Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independentorganization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity ofIvictims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. The ICRC is at the origin of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It directs and coordinates the international relief activities conducted by the Red Cross Movement in situations of1conflict. It also endeavors to prevent sufferings by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles. In its 137 years of existence, the ICRC has carried out humanitarian activities in allIinternational armed conflict and, since 1960, in an increasing number of internal conflicts.Since its origins, the activities of the ICRC have constantly expanded. In the past 40 years, theIICRC increased its overall permanent staff from 200 to 1500 with a permanent presence in 53countries in 1994 and its budget has now grown to more than 756 million Swiss Francs in 1995. Today it has some 800 delegates working in more than 50 countries throughout theIworld, assisted by over 5,000 local employees, without taking into account the help provided by members of the National Societies.Since the time of the Spanish Civil War, conflicts have exacted an extremely high toll H among civilians, thus demonstrating the need to introduce effective mechanism to protect them. Nowadays, civilians are not only increasingly affected by hostilities but are more and more often targeted as such. The taking of hostages, looting, rape, harassment, threats, the displacement of populations and the deliberate cutting off of access to food and drinking water during armed conflicts are some of the numerous acts designed to cause suffering and spread I terror among the population. Civilians are caught between rival factions are sometimes exposed to as much, if not greater, danger than combatants detained in a prison.Following the definition of civilian, a description of the foundation of ICRC, its key features and its principles and the principles of the Movement that it comforts to is brieflyIgiven. Attention is thereby focused on the development of civilian protection and assistanceconducted by JCRC, its achievements and limitations. Then the legal provisions inInternational Humanitarian Law regarding civilian protection and assistance are analyzedIaccordingly. Finally, new trends and obstacles are evaluated to envision the future steps forICRC in protection of the civilian population.