THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS

Who We Are

The International Committee of the Red Cross is a Swiss-based humanitarian organisation mandated by the international community to be the guardian and protector of the international humanitarian law. The ICRC is the founding member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (1863). Worldwide, ICRC provides assistance to people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence.

What We Do

• Try to ensure civilians not taking part in hostilities are spared and protected
• Visit prisoners of war and security detainees
• Transmit messages to and reunite family members separated by armed conflict
• Help to find missing persons
• Offer or facilitate access to basic health care services
• Provide urgently needed food, safe drinking water, sanitation and shelter
• Promote respect for international humanitarian law
• Monitor compliance with and contribute to further development of international humanitarian law
• Help reduce the impact of mines and explosive remnants of war on people
• Support National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to prepare for and respond to armed conflict and other situations of violence

Accomplishments/Projects

The ICRC presents Annual Reports that summarise the organisation's continuing work to protect populations around the world from the effects of armed conflict and violence.

As stated in the 2008 Annual Report, the ICRC provided food for more than 2.8 million people and emergency supplies such as tents and blankets for almost 3.3 million people; its water, sanitation and construction projects supported 15 million people; around 3.4 million, more than half of them children, benefited from ICRC supported health care facilities; delegates visited 494,540 people deprived of their freedom in 2,387 places of detention in 83 countries; in collaboration with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around 667,000 messages were exchanged between family members separated by hostilities and other crises.

What We Need

As an institution whose activities of protection and assistance for victims of conflict situations worldwide are funded exclusively through voluntary contributions, the ICRC is most grateful for every support. The ICRC website welcomes donation in varied currencies which can be made online, via bank transfer, cheque, or postal transfer. Donors can also make a regular gift. Regular contributions help the ICRC to plan its relief activities in advance and to respond immediately in times of crisis.

The ICRC also works with volunteers--medical professionals, lawyers, counselors, teachers, etc.--in providing assistance to people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence.

How You Can Help

By booking hotels with Hotelwithheart.com and choosing the ICRC to be the beneficiary, you can help our worldwide work. This simple gesture, which is at no cost to you, helps us succor the devastated populations of disaster-stricken countries, heal the war-wounded, restore peace and re-establish humane living conditions in post-war countries.

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