Red Cross – Steinmeier recognizes achievements – politics
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier paid tribute to the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). “The ICRC has been working on the battlefields of the world for 160 years. Today, more than 20,000 people are deployed for the world’s largest humanitarian organization,” said Steinmeier in Geneva on Tuesday. The ICRC often continues to provide help when other organizations have already withdrawn. “The ICRC gives hope.”
Steinmeier awarded former ICRC President Peter Maurer the Federal Cross of Merit. “Even my country could not have wished for a more passionate, smarter fighter for more humanity in the world, a closer friend and better partner in the fight for the values we stand up for together: peace, freedom, humanity.” Based in Switzerland, the ICRC helps people who are victims of armed conflicts and wars. It also works to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law, which is often violated in wars like the one in Ukraine. Russia is attacking civilian buildings there.
Steinmeier continued: “Today, more than 100 armed conflicts are raging in the world, and more people are dependent on humanitarian aid than at any time since the end of the Second World War.” The ICRC also has a special role in Ukraine. “Germany stands staunchly by the ICRC and its special role – and Germany stands just as steadfastly on the side of Ukraine.”
After almost a year of war in Ukraine, more than 364 million euros in donations for the attacked country have been collected in Germany. This was announced by the disaster relief action alliance, which consists of four major aid organizations, on Tuesday in Berlin. The alliance includes Caritas, the German Red Cross, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe and Unicef Germany.
