The American Red Cross, as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, helps millions worldwide prepare, prevent and recover from natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and health emergencies, through mobilizing the power of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement—the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 186 Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies and more than 97 million volunteers. In all our work, we abide by the seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. International Services initiatives focus on primary health care, emergency response and preparedness, restoring family links, and the dissemination of international humanitarian law. For each of these priority areas, we promote cost-effective, community-based programs, which target large numbers of people with humanitarian aid that is rapid, effective, and large-scale.  

    

International Humanitarian Law - Become Trained!
International humanitarian law is everyone's concern. In a world where warfare and civil strife are a daily reality for millions, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) provides a framework for protection of civilians and combatants alike. The American Red Cross has a unique mandate to educate the American public about the guiding principles and framework of IHL as they apply to the protection of members of the armed forces, including prisoners of war, and civilians. This four-hour introductory course is free of charge and intended to raise awareness among local community members and leaders about the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the basic rules of IHL and the role of the Red Cross during armed conflict to implement IHL. We invite you to enroll in “Introduction to International Humanitarian Law” held at the Red Cross Headquarters in Kearny Mesa

Exploring Humanitarian Law
War is a lot more complicated than a video game. Students need the skills to understand when conflict intersects with the rights and protections of people—at home and abroad.The Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) curriculum is an adaptable toolkit that gives educators easy-to-use materials to expose students to issues of international humanitarian law, the rules that ensure respect for life and human dignity in war. The Red Cross needs your help introducing international humanitarian law education into local middle and high school classrooms.

Measles Initiative
Launched in 2001, the Measles Initiative is a partnership—led by the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and World Health Organization—committed to reducing measles deaths worldwide. The Measles Initiative partners provide technical and financial support to governments and communities to carry out mass vaccination campaigns.

Originally formed to reduce measles deaths in Africa, the Initiative now supports vaccination campaigns in more than 60 countries around the world. Since 2001, the Measles Initiative supported the vaccination of more than 700 million children.  On December 4, 2008, the Measles Initiative announced global measles deaths dropped by 74% between 2000 and 2007. Although more than 3.6 million lives have been saved, there is still much more work to be done. If you would like more information on the Measles Initiative and how you can contribute to this campaign locally, please contact us at 858-309-1488.  We need dedicated volunteers to advocate and fundraise for this Initiative throughout San Diego!

Regional Programs and Response: See what the Red Cross is currently doing around the world to help alleviate human suffering. 

International Services :: Restoring Family Links 
Armed conflict and natural disaster leave millions of people around the globe in urgent need of humanitarian assistance every year. Adding to the physical losses, the confusion and chaos surrounding war and natural disasters often separates families when they need each other most. Tragically, when families and loved ones are separated by war or disaster, their suffering is greater. But, through the strength of the Red Cross Movement and the work of tracing volunteers at national societies around the world, including the American Red Cross, families reconnect. 

"I Am Alive"
The family messages transmitted by the Red Cross can be very brief, but the three short words "I am alive" may be all that is needed to ease the minds of distraught loved ones half a world away.
 
Restoring Family Links accepts tracing cases and traces sought persons when:

• Families have been separated as a result of either armed conflict or disaster.
• As much as possible, families should have tried normal channels of communication before requesting Red Cross tracing services.
• The family member making the inquiry provides essential information on the sought person.
• The family member making the inquiry is a close family relative, who has been in direct contact with the sought person before the conflict or disaster occurred.
  
  Contact an International Services Caseworker at 858-309-1488.

International Tracing

Holocaust Tracing

The American Red Cross, as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, helps millions worldwide prepare, prevent and recover from natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and health emergencies, through mobilizing the power of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement—the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 186 Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies and more than 97 million volunteers. In all our work, we abide by the seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. International Services initiatives focus on primary health care, emergency response and preparedness, restoring family links, and the dissemination of international humanitarian law. For each of these priority areas, we promote cost-effective, community-based programs, which target large numbers of people with humanitarian aid that is rapid, effective, and large-scale.  

    

International Humanitarian Law - Become Trained!
International humanitarian law is everyone's concern. In a world where warfare and civil strife are a daily reality for millions, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) provides a framework for protection of civilians and combatants alike. The American Red Cross has a unique mandate to educate the American public about the guiding principles and framework of IHL as they apply to the protection of members of the armed forces, including prisoners of war, and civilians. This four-hour introductory course is free of charge and intended to raise awareness among local community members and leaders about the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the basic rules of IHL and the role of the Red Cross during armed conflict to implement IHL. We invite you to enroll in “Introduction to International Humanitarian Law” held at the Red Cross Headquarters in Kearny Mesa

Exploring Humanitarian Law
War is a lot more complicated than a video game. Students need the skills to understand when conflict intersects with the rights and protections of people—at home and abroad.The Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) curriculum is an adaptable toolkit that gives educators easy-to-use materials to expose students to issues of international humanitarian law, the rules that ensure respect for life and human dignity in war. The Red Cross needs your help introducing international humanitarian law education into local middle and high school classrooms.

Measles Initiative
Launched in 2001, the Measles Initiative is a partnership—led by the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and World Health Organization—committed to reducing measles deaths worldwide. The Measles Initiative partners provide technical and financial support to governments and communities to carry out mass vaccination campaigns.

Originally formed to reduce measles deaths in Africa, the Initiative now supports vaccination campaigns in more than 60 countries around the world. Since 2001, the Measles Initiative supported the vaccination of more than 700 million children.  On December 4, 2008, the Measles Initiative announced global measles deaths dropped by 74% between 2000 and 2007. Although more than 3.6 million lives have been saved, there is still much more work to be done. If you would like more information on the Measles Initiative and how you can contribute to this campaign locally, please contact us at 858-309-1488.  We need dedicated volunteers to advocate and fundraise for this Initiative throughout San Diego!

Regional Programs and Response: See what the Red Cross is currently doing around the world to help alleviate human suffering. 

International Services :: Restoring Family Links 
Armed conflict and natural disaster leave millions of people around the globe in urgent need of humanitarian assistance every year. Adding to the physical losses, the confusion and chaos surrounding war and natural disasters often separates families when they need each other most. Tragically, when families and loved ones are separated by war or disaster, their suffering is greater. But, through the strength of the Red Cross Movement and the work of tracing volunteers at national societies around the world, including the American Red Cross, families reconnect. 

"I Am Alive"
The family messages transmitted by the Red Cross can be very brief, but the three short words "I am alive" may be all that is needed to ease the minds of distraught loved ones half a world away.
 
Restoring Family Links accepts tracing cases and traces sought persons when:

• Families have been separated as a result of either armed conflict or disaster.
• As much as possible, families should have tried normal channels of communication before requesting Red Cross tracing services.
• The family member making the inquiry provides essential information on the sought person.
• The family member making the inquiry is a close family relative, who has been in direct contact with the sought person before the conflict or disaster occurred.
  
  Contact an International Services Caseworker at 858-309-1488.

International Tracing

Holocaust Tracing