Ukrainian Red Cross Society

Ukrainian Red Cross Society

Formation	October 28, 1992
Legal status	Foundation
Purpose	Humanitarian aid
Headquarters	Kyiv
Region served	Ukraine
President	Ivan Usichenko
Main organ	Board of Governors
Budget	US$12 million (2014)
Website	www.redcross.org.ua

Ukrainian Red Cross Society (Ukrainian: Українське Товариство Червоного Хреста) is a non-profit humanitarian and charitable association of Ukraine. It operates in disaster management, health and care, tracing service,^[1] youth activities/volunteers, protection of human dignity.

Among the main declared principles:

• Humanity, preventing and alleviating human suffering wherever it may be found,
• Impartiality, without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions,
• Neutrality,
• Independence,
• Voluntary Service,
• Unity, there can be only one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in any one country,
• Universality, working worldwide.

Early history

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society was established in April, 1918 in Kiev as an independent humanitarian society of the Ukrainian People's Republic. Its immediate tasks were to help refugees and prisoners of war, care of handicapped people, orphaned children, fighting famine and epidemics, support and organize sick quarters, hospitals and public canteens.

From the 1920s, when Ukrainian territory was integrated part of the Soviet Union, and until 1992, the Ukrainian Red Cross functioned as a part of the Soviet Red Cross.

During World War II

When the structure of the UPA was unified in 1943, the Ukrainian Red Cross was re-established as a separate body from the Soviet Red Cross. The service provided care for the sick and wounded UPA soldiers, attracted well-qualified doctors, prepared the supply and manufacture of medicine, equipped underground hospitals and conducted training classes for new physicians and soldiers of the UPA and prepared special medical manuals. Doctors worked in regional military hospitals which treated the wounded who had suffered from the attacks of German, Soviet or Polish punitive groups.

Present time

Volunteers administering first aid to a wounded Euromaidan protester.

The Red Cross law was passed by the Ukrainian parliament in 1999.

At present, the Ukrainian Red Cross involves more than 6.3 million of supporters and activists. Its Visiting Nurses Service has 3200 qualified nurses. The organization takes part in more than 40 humanitarian programmes all over Ukraine, which are mostly funded by public donation and corporate partnerships. By its own estimations, the Society annually provides services to more than 105 000 of lonely elderly people, about 23 000 of people disabled during the Second World War and handicapped workers, more than 25 000 of war veterans, and more than 8 000 of adults handicapped since childhood. The assistance for orphaned and disabled children is also rendered.^[2]

Ukrainian Red Cross Society (since 1999) is a member of the International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies.

References

1. Searching for Lost Relatives, General information, Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco
2. "Червоний Хрест допоміг дітям-сиротам", by Zoryan Onyshkevych, Ukrainewstand, February 2001, in Ukrainian

External links

• Ukrainian Red Cross Society