The Kazakhstan Red Crescent Society and the Red Cross Societies from the Cook Islands and Micronesia have been formally admitted to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, bringing to 181 the number of full members. The decision to admit the three new National Societies was adopted unanimously at the Federation’s General Assembly in Geneva on Friday.
“I congratulate these National Societies. Their work will benefit from being part of the Federation, and the support and expertise that that brings,” said Federation President, Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro. “It is great news that our network is becoming more and more universal.”
Founded in 1937 as part of the Soviet Alliance of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, The Red Crescent Society of Kazakhstan (RCSK) became independent in 1992. It has some 500,000 members, including over 5,000 volunteers. Speaking of what the decision means for the RCSK, its president, Dr Erkebek Argymbaev, said it entailed “greater responsibility and the need to become stronger financially. We want to become a strong society, attractive to and respected by the Kazakh people.”
Among the RCSK’s priorities is working with the government on legislation governing the status of the Society and protection of the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems. As well as being prone to natural disasters and environmental problems, Kazakhstan is confronted with increased rates of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and infant and maternal mortality.
Natural disasters like typhoons and floods are common in the Cook Islands and Micronesia, and their Red Cross Societies are confronted by massive logistical challenges given the huge distances between islands.
The Cook Islands Red Cross, formed in 1989, has developed into a thriving Society with branches on nine of the 12 inhabited islands. It has a wide range of programmes, from HIV/AIDS prevention to dissemination of International Humanitarian Law. “The key to our success has been to have activities that are relevant to local people such as community-based health and disaster preparedness,” says Secretary General Niki Rattle.
The main activities of the Micronesia Red Cross, which was created in 1998, are first aid training, disaster preparedness and youth activities, including HIV/AIDS awareness and reproductive health education. This national society showed its worth to the local community three years ago when it mobilised 100 volunteers to deal with a serious cholera outbreak.
“We feel very privileged to be finally recognised as a fully-fledged National Society. We have worked hard over the past five years to comply with the statutory requirements, and are grateful for the assistance we have received from various National Societies,” Emilio Musrasrik, President of the Micronesia Red Cross said.