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Juan Manual Suárez
del Toro Rivero visits a rehabilitation centre run by
the Iranian Red Crescent Society in Isfahan |
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Letter from the president
It is a pleasure for me to introduce
the annual report of the International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies for 2002.
This report describes some of the main activities undertaken
in 2002. It does not reflect each and every achievement of the
178 National Societies that make up our Federation, but highlights
some of the most significant accomplishments at the global level.Day
after day, the Red Cross Red Crescent has carried out its work
on behalf of vulnerable people, responding to situations that
threaten human life and health and restoring hope and dignity
to millions of people over the course of the year. This enormous
task could not have been achieved without the efforts of our
network of volunteers. It is thanks to their commitment and
dedication that the Federation enjoys a solid reputation as
the world's largest humanitarian organization.
Our effectiveness as a global humanitarian organization depends
on the strength and presence of our National Societies at the
local level. The very diversity of the Federation makes us strong,
but at the same time, achieving an effective, coordinated response
to the complex humanitarian challenges we face is at times difficult.
One of our main concerns during 2002, therefore, was to continue
to strengthen our collective capacity to meet the ongoing and
evolving humanitarian issues around the world.
Humanitarian needs are too often greater than our capacity to
respond. That is why in 2003 it will be important to continue
to advocate on behalf of those who require assistance and to
improve our response to their needs.
We will have to develop new models of cooperation, and build
effective partnerships with other actors. We must also strengthen
our unique and complementary role as an auxi-liary to state
powers. I am fully confident that the Federation will take up
these challenges and demonstrate, just as we did during 2002,
our ability to transform our humanitarian principles and values
into concrete actions to protect human dignity.
Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro Rivero
President |
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