RED  CRESCENT

 

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, an international humanitarian agency dedicated, in time of war, to alleviating the sufferings of wounded soldiers, civilians, and prisoners of war. In time of peace it renders medical aid and other help to people afflicted by major disasters such as floods, earthquakes, epidemics, and famines, and performs other public service functions.

Organization

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement consists of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a group of up to 25 Swiss citizens, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 160 national Red Cross societies; and the Geneva-based International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (known until 1993 as the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) which coordinates peacetime activities of the national societies. The International Conference of the Red Cross, usually held every four years in different countries, brings together representatives of the Red Cross organizations and those governments that have ratified the Geneva Conventions. In 1986 the Movement's name was changed to include the Red Crescent, the organization's name in most Muslim nations.

 

History

The initiative for founding the Red Cross came from the 19^th century Swiss philanthropist Jean Henri Dunant. Appalled by the almost complete lack of care for wounded soldiers on the battlefield, he appealed to the leaders of nations to found societies devoted to the aid of the wounded in wartime. Five Swiss citizens formed a committee, which later became the ICRC, and issued a call for an international conference, which was held in Geneva in October 1863 and was attended by delegates from 16 nations. Another conference was held in Geneva the following year, and official delegates of 12 nations signed the first Geneva Convention, laying down rules for the treatment of the wounded and for the protection of medical personnel and hospitals. It was also at this meeting that the famous symbol of the movement, the white flag bearing a red cross, was adopted. (This symbol was later modified in non-Christian countries, with the Islamic nations substituting a crescent for a cross, and Israel substituting the Star of David.) The principles enunciated in the first Geneva Convention were subsequently revised and amended at conferences held in 1906, 1929, and 1949. In 1977 additional protocols were added to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 to protect all non-combatants in all types of conflicts, international as well as domestic. Over the decades the ICRC and the Federation have sent representatives and aid to many countries around the world to help detainees, prisoners of war, and refugees of war, political upheaval, or civil strife. The federation also assists victims of natural and man-made disasters.

Dunant was a corecipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. The ICRC has been awarded three Nobel Peace Prizes, in 1917, 1944, and 1963; it shared the 1963 prize with the League of Red Cross Societies.

 

The booklet of first issue of Turkish Red Crescent Organization (Hilal-ı Ahmer Cemiyeti) 1910-1911

 

The booklet of second issue of Turkish Red Crescent Organization 1915

 

100^th anniversary and the founder of Turkish Red Crescent (normal stamp)

On the stamp with 50+10 kurush value     Dr. Marko Pasha and Etem Pasha

On the stamp with 60+10 kurush value     Serdar Ekrem Ömer Pasha and Dr. Abdullah Bey

On the stamp with 100 kurush value  in front of the Turkish Red Crescent building Atatürk and the first Health Minister of Turkey  Dr.Refik Saydam

 

On the entire registered letter, third issue of Turkish Red Crescent Organization

 

                   Turkish Red Crescent post card                        Behind the post card cancellation of Turkish Red Crescent

 

Turkish Red Crescent post card

 

Turkish Red Crescent stamps are obligatory stamps. They can not be used in Turkish post. They are only valid in feast days with normal stamps !!!

 

75^th.anniversary of Turkish Red Crescent 29.10.1952 (normal stamp)

Perforation error, without perforation

 

Because of the feast the letter was sent with Red Crescent stamp

from Sivas to Istanbul on the 8^th of November 1941.

Crescent placed towards right, error

 

         

Turkish Red Crescent in Korean war ; (left) American Army Air Force and (right)Turkish first day cancellation

 

           

120^th anniversary of Turkish Red Crescent first day cancellation

 

 

 

FDC’s of Red Crescent from other Islamic countries