President Sirleaf Issues Month-Long Red Cross Proclamation
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has issued a Proclamation declaring May 1 through 31 as Red Cross Month and, Thursday May 8, 2014as “World Red Cross/Red Crescent Day”to be observed throughout the Republic as a WORKING HOLIDAY.
The Proclamation calls on all persons residing within the territorial limits of Liberia to observe the event under the theme: “One Hundred Fifty Years of Humanitarian Action”.
The Presidential Proclamation further orders and directs all civil and voluntary organizations and Government Agencies concerned to fully participate in such program as planned by the Liberia National Red Cross Society to make the occasion meaningful and rewarding.
A Foreign Ministry release notes that the Liberia Red Cross Society will join the World Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the birth of the Movement on May 8, 2014.
The Proclamation, say recent survey highlights that half of the 13 million Red Cross/Red Crescent volunteers worldwide are young people. It added that youths are innovators, embracing new ideas and technologies faster than any generations before them. It also indicated that thousands of youth worldwide have been trained as peer educators in the Red Cross/Crescent Movement.
Since its formation, the World Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has been committed to render relevant and timely services to the distressed and needy people throughout the world in time of trouble, sickness, war, natural calamity and other forms of disaster.
The release further asserts that after the 150 years of its birth, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement continues to provide humanitarian services to vulnerable communities and remains committed to doing so now and in the future. The celebration which will focus on the 150th anniversary of the first Geneva Convention will be held simultaneously in the 15 Counties beginning with a street parade, indoor program, mini tournament and the launching of the Red Cross membership drive geared towards raising funds to support humanitarian work of the Liberian Red Cross.
