The Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) () is an independent, volunteer, non-profit, humanitarian organization established in the
Maldives
The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as the Maldive Islands, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is southwest of Sri Lanka and India, abou ...
by virtue of the Maldivian Red Crescent Act () Law No: 7/2009
Guiding Ethos
The vision of the Maldivian Red Crescent is "to be a model National Society contributing to overcome humanitarian challenges". The mission statement of the national society is "to volunteer, participate and partner in delivering humanitarian service to the most vulnerable".
As mandated by the Maldivian Red Crescent Law
and the Statutes of the National Society, the primary objective of the MRC is "to prevent and alleviate suffering with complete impartiality, making no discrimination".
In addition, the volunteers, members and staff of the national society follow the
Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement;
* Humanity
* Impartiality
* Neutrality
* Independence
* Voluntary Service
* Unity
* Universality
Formation
Maldivian communities were first introduced to the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The organized International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 16million volunteering, volunteers, members, and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ...
in the aftermath of the
Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 which brought
unprecedented devastation to the countries of the region including the Maldives.
The
(IFRC) along with National Societies from numerous countries were some of the first international responders in the Maldives. Their assistance in the immediate relief and recovery stages of the disaster as well as long term recovery and rehabilitation projects helped numerous Maldivian communities to overcome the effects of the disaster.
Local individuals realized the importance and the need for having Maldives’ own national society and volunteered for its establishment. With this in mind, the volunteers, with the support of the Government of the Maldives started the process that led to the eventual formation of the Maldivian Red Crescent. This group of volunteers, with assistance from IFRC and partner national societies in the Maldives at the time began formulating the necessary documentation and legal framework for the new national society.
The Maldivian Red Crescent was officially formed with the holding of its inaugural General Assembly on 16 August 2009.
The MRC became the 187th member of the Movement at the 18th Federation General Assembly held in
Geneva
Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...
on 23 November 2011, having fulfilled all the conditions necessary, to be recognized as a member.
Legal-base
In May 2009, the
Maldivian Parliament allowed the creation of the organization. As stipulated in the law, the objectives of the national society are;
* to provide humanitarian aid to civilian and military victims, and those suffering at times of war, conflict and peace;
* to protect and assist the victims including preservation of the physical integrity and dignity of the victims at times of war, conflict and peace;
* to contribute to the improvement of the conditions of the weak and the vulnerable; in times of ill health, in prevention of diseases, and in response to all humanitarian emergencies;
* to provide support to Government Organizations assisting the victims and those effected by disaster and natural causes.
In addition, the Law recognizes the role of the MRC as an auxiliary to the public authorities in the humanitarian field. The Law stipulates the exclusive usage of the "red crescent' emblem by the MRC.
Structure
The Maldivian Red Crescent is a membership driven organization. The members of the national society are registered at the branch level (typically in
atoll
An atoll () is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical parts of the oceans and seas where corals can develop. Most ...
s), whereas activities and volunteers are active at Unit level (typically
Island
An island or isle is a piece of land, distinct from a continent, completely surrounded by water. There are continental islands, which were formed by being split from a continent by plate tectonics, and oceanic islands, which have never been ...
s). Members of the society form the governance structure, with unit boards and branch boards being elected. Each year representatives of the branches convene to hold the national General Assembly, which is the highest decision making authority of the society. In between the Assemblies, the society is governed by the Governing Board, which is elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years.
The Maldivian Red Crescent headquarters is in
Hulhumalé
Hulhumalé (; Dhivehi: ހުޅުމާލެ) is a reclaimed island located in the south of North Malé Atoll, Maldives. The artificial island is being built up by pumping sand from the sea floor, in order to meet the existing and future housing, i ...
.
Services
The organisation mainly focuses on three areas. Areas include Disaster Management, Health and well-being and Youth empowerment. Looking into the services more briefly, it can be classified as First Aid Services, Emergency Response, Bed to Bed patient transportation, Epidemic control and many more.
Training
Maldivian Red Crescent offers a wide range of training programs to develop its volunteers. The most elite training program is the "National Emergence Response Team" Training (NERT). Other programs include "Emergency Response Team Induction Training", "Standard First Aid Training (SFA)", Epidemic Control for Volunteers, Basic First Aid, Emergency Life Support.
References
{{Authority control
Medical and health organisations based in the Maldives
Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies