This year the oldest public humanitarian organization of our country – the Red Crescent Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan – reaches the age of 85, Delovoy Kazakhstan reports.
On May 6, 2022, the oldest public humanitarian organization of our country – the Red Crescent Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RCS RK), the successor of the Red Cross Society of the Kazakh SSR established in 1937– celebrated its 85th anniversary. Currently RCS RK is a member and an integral part of the most famous and affluent humanitarian association in the world – the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement) established in 1863, which purpose is mitigation of people sufferings, protection of human life and health and ensuring respect of human dignity especially during armed conflicts and other emergencies.
The anniversary event has been attended by heads of specialized international and regional organizations, the diplomatic corps, located in the south capital, representatives of national agencies – MFA, MES, MHC and MD RK, the Almaty Akimat, the RCS RK staff members of regional branches, volunteers and aid recipients, donor organizations of some countries, homeland benefactors and businessmen rendering different support.
The event served to highlight the rich history of the Red Crescent of Kazakhstan since the date of establishment and appraise development and results of RCS RK activities over the period since Kazakhstan gained independence, to name actual development priorities within the context of development of New Kazakhstan proceeding from the latest message of the Head of the State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Every year, the RCS RK renders assistance to more than 100 000 of people from vulnerable groups of population and those affected by natural disasters and other crises. For the purpose of full-scale implementation of the President's initiative, for the sake of expansion and enhancement of efficiency of its social services to the population the Red Crescent of Kazakhstan needs to raise its own potential. This target includes, among other things, increase of the number of highly-qualified personnel, availability of premises for population training and consulting, warehouses for storage of humanitarian aid, facilities/equipment for disaster response teams and accumulation of reserves for emergency situations, enhancement of the legal framework for activities of the Red Crescent Society. The RCS RK acts on the basis of the Decree of the President "On Activities of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society" dated April 17, 1992. In recent years we have actively worked on adoption of an individual law on activities of the Red Crescent Society, which according to its status established by the 1949 Geneva Conventions is auxiliary to the State in the humanitarian sphere.
While opening the jubilee forum and greeting participants, representatives of ministries, RK executive agencies drew attention to the fact that despite a complicated situation in the world consolidation of joint efforts of the state and the Red Crescent of Kazakhstan continue strengthening cooperation and interaction between them across a wide range of actions and initiatives in the humanitarian domain.
Representatives of foreign and specialized international organizations highly appreciated results of RCS RK activities and assured that they would continue to escalate cooperation in the best interests of most vulnerable social groups of our country.
In their speeches the RCS RK leadership highlighted achievements and confirmed preparedness for further practical implementation of project in areas of social and medical programs, rendering support to regional branches for the purpose of disaster risk reduction and emergency response, promotion of first aid training and the culture of voluntary blood donation, support to vulnerable social groups including broad-scale development of volunteering movement as recognized in the whole civilization.
The special event dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the Red Crescent of Kazakhstan was also dedicated to celebration of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day which is annually celebrated by all the world on May 8 as a symbol of unity and solidarity of the Movement of the reputable international humanitarian network – it will be held under the "BeHumanKind" slogan which is of prime importance in the period of modern humanitarian challenges, such as pandemia, climate changes, numerous disasters, crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine.
In the jubilee year of 2022 across the whole territory of the country various events aimed to enhancement of awareness of humanitarian principles and values of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the International Humanitarian Law, as well as activities of the RCS RK and its assistance to population of Kazakhstan will be held. These events will help to engage new partners and volunteers in implementation and development of humanitarian activities in our State and rendering of assistance to even more people in need.
