WORLD RED CROSS DAY

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27962, 8 May 1956, Page 2

WORLD RED CROSS DAY

MESSAGE FROM MR HAMMARSKJOLD Today is World Red Cross Dav. the 128th anniversary of the founder of the movement, Jean Henri Dunant. The following message for Red Cross Day has been received from the Secretary-General of the United Nations (Mr Dag Hammarskjold):— “World Red Cross Day is an occasion for recalling the bright record of man's humanity to man. so often overshadowed by fresh experiences of man’s inhumanity. “As Secretary-General of the United Nations I am particularly mindful of the unique role played by the Red Cross—the international committc* ol the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies, whose member societies in 74 countries group more than 100.000 men. women and young persons—-in giving practical effect in their daily work to the concept of ‘the dignity and worth of the human person' enshrined in the United Nations Charter. “It has happened many times in the last 10 years that the international community has appealed to the Red Cross to give aid and comfort to some of its stricken members. Whether the occasion has been disaster in the form of earthquakes in Asia or Latin America, floods innundating the lowlands of Europe, political upheaval rendering millions homeless and helpless in the Middle East or Korea, the answer has always been the same. A prompt ‘yes’ followed by immediate, practical and selfless service without which many of the sufferers would have been unable to survive. “Mav I express the thanks of the United Nations on the commemorative day for all that the Red Cross has done in the past and will do in the future to help human beings round the world to recall their brotherhood by helping their fellowmen,” the message says.