ICRC celebrates 150 years amidst rising conflicts

The International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, is celebrating 150 years of their service to humanity in the wake of rising crisis and conflicts across the world.

The Central African Regional Delegation of the ICRC, created in 1992, with headquarters in Yaounde, covers six African countries notably Cameroon, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Sao Tome and Principe. It will join the rest of the 83 delegations all over the world in commemorating 150 years of its existence on October 3, 2014.

The Head of Central African Delegation of the ICRC, Thomas Merkelbach, said that with the commemoration of this anniversary, he is convinced that the activities of the outfit and the Red Cross Movements as a whole would continue to grow and serve those who are in great need of help in our world.

Hear him: “The organisation has to brace itself to be able to meet the growing needs of the victims of war and conflict today.”

Merkelbach emphasised on the great role they have to play in the protection of human life and preservation of human rights especially in Africa, a continent riddled with rising armed conflicts, human trafficking and food scarcity.

The ICRC has 84 delegations spread across the globe, and has since 1863 been out to protect the lives of people who are victims of war, provide medical and material aid to the affected people, prevent suffering worldwide by promoting international human rights, and reunite separated families.

According to the President of the organisation, Peter Maurer, the celebration of their anniversary will give them the opportunity to critically assess their past and determine the major factors that enabled them to bring help to millions of victims of armed conflicts and other violence-related situations.

“Now more than ever, we not only need to remain true to our principles but equally find new ways of better serving people in need. We need to double our efforts to engender neutrality, impartiality and independence that go with our humanitarian work is understood by everyone,” he went on.

It is worthy noting that in 2013 alone, the ICRC employed 12,700 volunteers in the 84 delegations, distributed more than 32,000 tonnes of rice and wheat to people in need, reunited 1,476 families, took charge of over 12,500 surgeries and provided some 9,000 prostheses to people with disabilities stemming from armed conflicts.

ICRC, it should be recalled started providing its services to mankind since 1863.