The humanitarian role played by both the Red Cross and the Red Crescent is a very important role. They basically protect the life and health of all human beings. They also have a deep concern for the welfare of people in third world countries affected by war, strife, and other disasters. The Red Cross and the Red Crescent help people that need it regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, religious affiliation, political affiliation. Their philosophy is that everybody are living, breathing, human beings.

During wars, Red Cross would act as a neutral entity representing the international community as a whole such as helping the wounded and getting needed medical supplies to the people that need it. Such as World Wars I and II where Red Cross nurses from all over the world would come to the war zone and help the wounded soldiers regardless of what side they were fighting for. It shows the depth of the humanitarian role is that the Red Cross doesn’t discriminate against anybody.

Asides from medical help, they transfer money and messages from people to the soldiers. They also play a major role in prisoner exchanges between warring parties. Like when both parties have prisoners, the Red Cross will intervene and try to get both sides to release the prisoners. Once the prisoners are released, they can return back to their respective home countries.

They also play a huge role, let alone humanitarian role, making sure the parties at war do not violate the Geneva Conventions such as crimes against humanity. In warring and/or occupied territories, the Red Cross and the Red Crescent will step in to help the civilian population that’s been greatly affected by the constant fighting.

These are just rough examples of the role the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies play in helping humanity. Both societies promote humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. Meaning that all humans are equal beings. One of the biggest humanitarian roles is promoting those statutes of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.

The roles they play follow:

• Promotion of humanitarian principles and values.

• Provision of relief assistance in emergency situations of large magnitude. (The Tsunami of ’04 and Hurricane Katrina of ’05.)

• Support the national societies with education and supplies.

• Support local health care projects.

• Support national societies with youth-related projects.

Another big role that the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are playing is a movement for the worldwide ban on the use of landmines. Which in turn have no benefit in which military officers have claimed along the social, physical, and psychological damage due to landmines. So both societies are working to advocate a worldwide ban of landmines, disarming current landmines, and helping people that have been affected by landmines.

It all merges into one big role, promoting humanity and helping people regardless. They’re the biggest practitioners of the Golden Rule, “treat others the way you want to be treated.”