Fourteen million volunteers and 450,000 employees from around the world flooded social media with their smiling faces accompanied by the hashtag #ForEveryoneWhereverTheyAre on the occasion of this year’s International Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.
For years, the celebration has occurred on 8 May, which is the birthday of the founder of the Red Cross, Henry Dunant, this year being its 190th anniversary.
The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Cairo delegation, Ronald Ofteringer, thanked the volunteers and staff who have devoted their time and sympathy to their impartial humanitarian work in Egypt and around the world.
Moamena Kamel, secretary general of Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC), described the day as one to celebrate the first Red Cross volunteer, Dunant. “We convey a tribute to every Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteer in every spot of conflict, war, or crisis anywhere in the world,” she added.
During the ceremony held on Saturday at ERC’s headquarters in Cairo, Kamel said that the ICRC and ERC provide support to millions of people affected by conflict, violence, armed conflict, natural disasters, and other emergencies throughout the world through a wide range of humanitarian principles, such as humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
Nehal Hefny, undersecretary general of the ERC, said that the target plan for this year includes completing the development of ERC’s central blood bank and blood banks in various governorates.
She noted the expansion of health and safety training programmes implemented at schools to offer training in first aid, emergency response, health behaviors, reducing violence, and more.
