August 8, 2024By: Salomie Weah
The Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS), is the single largest voluntary humanitarian organization and an auxiliary to the public authorities whose role is to deliver impartial humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people before, during, and after the emergency. The birth of the LNRCS was influenced by global historical developments back in January 1919 at the end of World War I.
President Daniel E. Howard who served as Liberia’s 14th head of state, was moved with compassion by the degree of suffering occasioned by the war and constituted a Voluntary Relief Committee as an auxiliary to the government working directly with the Armed Forces of Liberia to raise funds and assist the war victims.
In 1922, the National Legislature of Liberia passed a joint resolution to give the committee a legal status and renamed it as the Liberian National Red Cross Society (LNRCS), and in 1959, the Liberia National Red Cross was admitted as a member of the International Federation of the Red Cross Movement.
After 86 years of existence, the joint resolution which legally brought the LNRCS into being was reaffirmed in August 2008 when the Fifty-Fifth National Legislature of Liberia adopted it and passed it into law, thus giving the entity legal rights and making it an autonomous body.
For over one hundred years, the Red Cross has been in existence in Liberia, demonstrating its humanitarian actions, offering support and expressing solidarity in the midst of despair. The Liberian Red Cross has always been here saving lives, bringing hope and building community resilience whenever people are in crisis, after a natural disaster, during a protracted conflict, or in times of famine or disease.
The LNRCS has a unique mission which is to respond to the vulnerable people affected by emergencies, disasters, ill-health and contextual social issues at all times and to treat them with dignity and without discrimination and, with a vision to becoming Liberia’s premier humanitarian organization, noted for responding to humanitarian crisis with a reputation for transparency and accountability.
The LNRCS Headquarters is located on 107 Lynch Street in Central Monrovia, adjacent the Ministry Of Public Works, and it’s currently being headed by Hon. Gregory T. Blamoh, who is serving as its Secretary General.
They’re also present in all 15 counties in Liberia, and in 92 districts or branches across Liberia working in communities through their network of over 3,500 volunteers with over 5,000 members and are engaged with the Disaster Management (DM), Health and Care and Humanitarian Values programs.
These programs provide humanitarian services such as providing disaster relief assistance, restoring access to safe drinking water, promoting humanitarian values and dignities, protection, Gender and inclusion, community empowerment, health care delivery, and rebuilding the lives of individuals and families affected by disasters and health emergency in order to gain back their hopes.
The LNRCS under the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement operates on seven fundamental principles, and they include Humanity, Impartially, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. These fundamental principles function in a unique way which include: to prevent and alleviate human sufferings wherever it may be found and with a purpose of protecting lives and health and ensure for all human beings.
For impartiality, they make no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.
It is a neutral body making everyone enjoys its confidence. It takes no side in hostilities, or engages itself in any controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature in any way. The body is independent and always maintain its autonomy so that it may be able at all times in accordance with the principles of the movement.
It is a voluntary relief organization not prompted in any manner by desire for gain, and there can only be one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in any one country. It is also a movement in which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other. The work of the Red Cross is made possible through voluntary contributions from institutions and individuals like you therefore, the Red Cross needs you today.
The Red Cross is calling on you to register as a member or a volunteer and make a difference to the work that they are doing to save lives and bring hope; empowering vulnerable people and reducing human suffering.
The Red Cross can be reached on the following addresses, and they include their website: www.lnrcs.org.lr or email: secretariat@liberian-redcross.org or on through their contact #: +231777590809
