The Red Cross Movement

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is dedicated to preventing and alleviating human suffering in warfare and in emergencies such as epidemics, floods and earthquakes.

It is composed of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and 186 individual national societies like the British Red Cross.

The International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian help for people affected by armed conflict and situations of violence and to promote the laws that protect victims of war.

The ICRC:

• protects civilians from attack. It reminds authorities and other actors of their legal obligation to international humanitarian and human rights laws
• provides assistance including health care, water and sanitation and economic security to people affected by conflict
• visits prisoners of war and detained civilians to monitor conditions of detention
• reunites families separated by disaster or conflict.

DFID provides core funding to ICRC to help it deliver these services and, where necessary, additional country programme funding in specific humanitarian situations.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) undertakes relief operations to assist victims of natural disasters. Its unique network of more than 180 societies, which covers almost every country in the world, is the IFRC's principal strength.

The IFRC focuses on:

• promoting humanitarian values
• disaster response
• disaster preparedness
• health and community care
• strengthening the capacity of member national societies.

DFID provides core funding to IFRC and, where necessary, additional funding at country level.

The British Red Cross

The British Red Cross (BRC) is an autonomous organisation and a member national society within the IFRC.

The BRC:

• prepares for and responds to emergencies in the UK and overseas
• tackles health and social care issues
• reunites families separated by disaster or conflict through the global Red Cross/Red Crescent Network
• provides first aid
• supports refugees in the UK.  

DFID provides support to the BRC through a three year Programme Partnership Arrangement. The funding will be used to strengthen the BRC's ability to provide emergency response and will build the resilience of individuals and communities to respond to emergencies.