Lebanese Red Cross

General information

The Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) is a humanitarian organization established on July 9, 1945 as an independent national society. In 1946, it was recognized by the State as a public non profit organization and as an auxiliary team to the medical service Lebanese Army.

In 1947, the Lebanese Red Cross joined the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement -which has today affiliates in 175 countries- and became a member of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ever since. Further more, it is a founding member of the Secretariat General of the Organization of the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies.

Following the years of civil strife, the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) had to reorient its services towards postwar requirements. In 1993, the society established along-term development plan leading up to 2000. An extension of the development plan is expected to take place in 2002, to cover the period up until 2005.

The Lebanese Red Cross Society is led by volunteers, whose mission is to provide relief to victims of natural and human made disasters, and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies, and to mitigate the suffering of the most vulnerable.