The ICRC is a humanitarian organisation providing protection and assistance to people affected by armed conflict and violence in more than 90 countries.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a humanitarian organisation founded in 1863 in Switzerland, following Henry Dunant's account of the Battle of Solferino in northern Italy, where 40,000 soldiers were left dead or wounded. Dunant's conviction that even in war there are limits - and that wounded soldiers should receive care regardless of nationality - led to the creation of peacetime relief committees and, ultimately, the ICRC. The organisation employs over 18,000 staff and operates in more than 90 countries, including conflict zones worldwide.
Its work spans protection and assistance for people affected by armed conflict and violence. This includes running field hospitals to treat the wounded, visiting detainees to monitor their treatment and conditions, and reconnecting families separated by conflict. The ICRC also delivers emergency water and sanitation services to communities cut off by fighting, and trains volunteers to support its operations in the field. The Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems mark those it seeks to protect and allow humanitarian workers to reach people in need when others cannot.
The ICRC's activities are guided by the Fundamental Principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and by international humanitarian law. Roles with the organisation cover healthcare and medical relief in conflict zones, water and sanitation (WASH) in emergencies, protection work, and legal and operational expertise in armed conflict and violence response.
