World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day observed

Islamabad (Web Desk): World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is being observed today (Thursday) across the globe including Pakistan.

Theme of the day this year is "Keeping Humanity Alive around the world".

The day is dedicated to the people who suffer from the shortage of food, several natural calamities, war as well as from and epidemic diseases.

Many governments and private organisations become active members to help needy people who suffer from several disasters.

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is celebrated on May 8 to commemorate the birth anniversary of the founder of the Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Henry Dunant. He was born on 8th May 1828 in Geneva and was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

After World War I, Red Cross was introduced as a major contribution to the peace and set up an international commission at14th International Conference of the Red Cross to study the Red Cross Truce.

In 1934 the report of the Red Cross Truce was presented and its principles were approved at the 15th International Conference in Tokyo to get applicable all across the world in different regions.

In 1946 in World War II, the Tokyo proposal was put into effect. The possibility of an annual celebration was asked by the Board of Governors of the "League of the Red Cross Societies (LORCS)", later called the General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross Societies.

Two years later the proposal of celebrating annually World Red Cross Day was adopted on May 8, 1948, the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross.

In 1984 officially it was named “World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day”.

As per the organisation, in today's world of rising inequality, health problems and conflict, it is difficult to uphold human ideals.

“In such a situation, the volunteers of the Red Cross believe that this day will be useful to keep humanity alive and to spread peace and hope to the world community,” it added.