A SERIES of events celebrating the annual World Red Cross Red Crescent Day were yesterday held across the island.
In Nicosia, President Tassos Papadopoulos was at the Cyprus Red Cross Society where he donated £4,000 to the organisation.
Speaking to reporters, he said: “Both the government and I personally shall continue to be active supporters and will walk together for this commendable cause, which the Red Cross has been pursuing consistently and selflessly.”
Health Minister Andreas Gavrielides was also present, launching an appeal for blood donors.
In towns and villages across Cyprus, volunteers could be seen going from door to door, asking people to contribute financially as part of a two-week campaign.
Director of the Cyprus Red Cross Society, Stelios Sycallides told the Cyprus Mail: “We currently have 9,000 Red Cross members on the island, which is good considering the size of the population. We don’t actively recruit new members as people come directly to us wanting to volunteer. In Cyprus, the Society efficiently carries out the work seen in other national Societies around the world. We try to be as active as any other international Society is and are thankful to the general public for their help.”
When asked specifically what kind of work is done on the island, Sycallides said: “We run a special home in Limassol for sick children, especially those suffering from cerebral palsy. Sixty-seven children receive regular treatment there. We also run a school for disabled children within the home. We also help with clothing and food for the needy, especially refugees and enclaved people.
“We always respond to international Red Cross appeals, for example the recent landslide disaster in the Philippines. We are also building a hospital in Sri Lanka to help people affected by the tsunami.”
Yesterday, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Movement’s 183 National Societies celebrated annual World Red Cross Red Crescent Day by paying tribute to the millions of volunteers who provide universal assistance to people in need.
“Volunteers are the backbone of our work,” said Juan M. Su?rez del Toro, the president of the International Federation. “They symbolise the power of humanity and without them, we would not be able to carry out our life-saving emergency activities or fulfil our day-to-day objective of protecting human dignity.”
Su?rez del Toro added that the efforts of each and every volunteer had a “very real impact” on communities, while the power of their combined efforts enabled the Movement to, “reach beyond borders, bringing help wherever it is needed”.
May 8 commemorates the birth of Henry Dunant, founder of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Motivated by what he witnessed following the Battle of Solferino in 1859, Dunant began advocating for humane treatment of the sick and wounded during wartime. By 1863, he had created the Movement. The spirit of volunteerism is its essence and heart and hands, with people contributing time, money and blood in order to help save lives, bring comfort to those in need and alleviate human suffering.
Today, the Movement consists of more than 97 million members and volunteers, assisting more than 277 million people worldwide. Although each national society has unique qualities, all are united by common principles and the goal of improving the lives of vulnerable people.
