The Battle of Solferino, fought on June 24, 1859, resulted in some 40,000 casualties and left such an impression on the Swiss merchant Henry Dunant that he was moved to write a book that would serve as the foundation for the International Red Cross.

From the very beginning, the International Committee of the Red Cross set out to create societies across the world that exist during peace time and can provide a pool of well-prepared volunteers ready in case of war.

"The idea of the Red Cross was born out of war," said Stephen Ryan, who works with youth and volunteers at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, the secretariat that binds together the 186 national societies and 97 million members and volunteers.

Peacetime creed

For the many nations not at war, Red Cross volunteers also pass on the movement's ideals, most notably the belief that each person is entitled to impartial humane treatment without prejudice.

National societies can run blood banks, lifeguard courses and some function as ambulatory services. Many organize volunteers to be available at rock music concerts and various other public events.

"It is still the function of the Swiss Red Cross to assist the medical service of the Swiss Army," added Beat Wagner, the spokesman for organization based in the capital Bern.

However, given that it has been generations since Swiss soldiers fired at an enemy combatant, most of the volunteers are involved in local charity work and help out in disasters.

The Red Cross societies are also usually among the first to respond to natural disasters, whether it is flooding in parts of Europe or hurricane-prone areas in the United States. They also train dogs used in search-and-rescue operations, such as the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Iran's historic city of Bam that claims tens of thousands of lives in 2003.

"A response to a natural disaster begins with a national society," said Christine South of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent's disaster relief team, adding that local societies tend to be trusted by their governments and are sometimes the only people allowed access to victims.

Impartial assistance

The organization has earned the trust of governments through its impartiality and confidentially; neutrality remains a core tradition of the ICRC.

Dialogue with governments, armed groups and civilian populations about matters such as the laws of war, the welfare of prisoners at detention centers and the safety of civilians during conflicts is kept strictly secret.

"Confidentiality is a way of action, it is an instrument," said Francois Bugnion, who recently retired after over three decades as a senior ICRC delegate, adding that the only cases of confidential reports being leaked occurred through dissenting government officials who provided information to the media.

This refusal to take a public stance in tense situations, has, however, drawn criticism from certain circles.

"Is it more important to go public with information or more important to bring food and medicine to the vulnerable?" asked Bugnion, noting the existence of organizations, like Amnesty International, that sometimes make judgemental statements.

In other cases, the ICRC's constant dialogue with all parties to conflicts, including flagrant violators of international law, has provoked similar disagreements.

Civilian casualties

But John Roche, who works for the federation's Africa department, said the ICRC's approach has been paying off.

"In Kenya, the Red Cross is seen as a lead humanitarian player," Roche said. During post election ethnic violence last year, the national society was able to fill the role of a neutral provider of assistance to all sides.

Changes in the ways wars are fought, however, are also affecting the work of the Red Cross as more civilians suffer from the effects of conflict than ever before. At the time of the creation of the ICRC, monarchs led their troops into battle, fighting in open fields, away from civilian populations. Today, war has become more guerrilla in nature, taking place in close proximity to civilians.

"When you look at Solferino, where only one civilian was reportedly killed, and you compare it with modern day conflicts in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Gaza or Somalia, you find that warfare takes a more widespread physical and emotional toll on civilians," said ICRC Director of Operations Pierre Kraehenbuehl.

sms/dpa/AFP

Editor: Kate Bowen