Red Cross

Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia

0.01 sec.

Red Cross

International relief agency founded by the Geneva Convention in 1863, having been proposed by the Swiss doctor Henri Dunant, to assist the wounded and prisoners in war. Its symbol is a symmetrical red cross on a white ground. In addition to dealing with associated problems of war, such as refugees and the care of the disabled, the Red Cross is concerned with victims of natural disasters – floods, earthquakes, epidemics, and accidents. It was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1917, 1944, and 1963.

Prompted by war horrors described by Dunant, the Geneva Convention laid down principles to ensure the safety of ambulances, hospitals, stores, and personnel distinguished by the Red Cross emblem. (The Muslim equivalent is the Red Crescent.)

The organization consists of an International Committee (ICRC), an Executive Board, and a General Assembly and Executive Council. The secretary general is Didier Cherpitel, appointed in 2001.

The American Red Cross was founded in 1881.

The organization's principles held until 17 December 1996 when six foreign aid workers, including five nurses, were shot dead by masked killers at a Red Cross hospital in Chechnya in the former Soviet Union. The incident has spurred efforts to draw up new rules to protect vulnerable people working for humanitarian organizations, such as the Red Cross, in conflict zones.

The Red Cross said in June 1999 that 1998 had been the worst year for natural disasters in modern times. Most of those killed (96%) were in developing countries.

How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.

?Page tools

Printer friendly
Cite / link

Feedback

?Sign in

Mentioned in	?		References in classic literature	?		Hutchinson browser	?		Full browser	?
1665 1863 1877 1921 1998 2003 acephalous al-Qaeda Allen, Henry Justin Barton, Clara Bernadotte, Count Folke Cantata Misericordium Cardin, Pierre Castiglione delle Stiviere Cavell, Edith Cecil, Edgar Algernon Robert charities Coffin, Charles A Coolidge, Archibald Cary			The first three books tell the adventures of the Red Cross Knight St. English Literature For Boys And Girls by Marshall, H.E. View in context Such was the aspect of the times when the folds of the English banner, with the Red Cross in its field, were flung out over a company of Puritans. From Twice Told Tales by Hawthorne, Nathaniel View in context The two were called respectively The Humming Bee, and The Red Cross Knight. A Rogue's Life by Collins, Wilkie View in context			rectangle rectangular axes rectangular hyperbola rectangular prism recte et retro rectifier rector rectum Reculver recurring decimal recursion recursive recusant recycling red Red and the Black, The Red Army Red Army Faction Red Badge of Courage, The Red Bank Red Bay red blood cell Red Bluff Red Brigades Red Cloud Red Cross Red Data List red deer red dwarf red flag red giant Red Guard Red Hook Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Lake Red Lion Red Lodge Red or Dead red pepper Red River Red River of the North Red Rum Red Scare Red Sea red setter red shift red spider mite red tape Red Terror red valerian Red Wing			Red corallin red corals red corals red corpuscle red corpuscle red corpuscle red corpuscle red corpuscle Red corpuscles Red corpuscles Red corpuscles Red corpuscles Red corridor Red corridor red cotton bush Red cotton tree Red cotton tree Red Couch Interactive, LLC Red County Roleplay Red Crayon Red Crayon Red Crayon Red Crayon Red Crescent Red Crescent Red Crescent Red Crescent Red Crescent Rehabilitation Organization Red Crescent Society Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan Red Cross Red Cross Basic Sailing Red Cross Employment Agency Red Cross Hospital Red Cross Humanitarian Network Red Cross Knight Red Cross Knight Red Cross Nordic United World College Red Cross of Constantine Red Cross Red Crescent Red Cross Society Red Cross Society of China Red Cross Society of Eritrea Red Cross Society of Guinea Red Cross Society of Niger Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital Red Cross Wound Classification Red Cross Youth Red Cross Youth Club Red Cross, International Red Crossbill Red Crossbill Red Crossbill red crossbills red crossbills red crossbills red crumbweed red currant red currant red currant Red Curtain of Blood

Hutchinson Encyclopedia

Free Tools:	For surfers: Free toolbar & extensions \| Word of the Day \| Help For webmasters: Free content \| Linking \| Lookup box \| Double-click lookup \| Partner with us

Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.