The history of the red cross in Romania

• Author: Mariana Borcoman
• Position: Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 117-124

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 10 (59) No. 2 - 2017

THE HISTORY OF THE RED CROSS IN

ROMANIA

Mariana BORCOMAN1

Abstract: The Red Cross Movement was established in Romania

in1876nder the aegis of the homonymous international society. Its working

principles are: helping people in need, humanity, intervention in case of

disasters and calamities, and respect for human rights. During the

Hohenzollern regime in Romania, as well after 1918 the movement started

medical and social assistance programs, training courses focused on

people’s response to major events or AIDS prevention, as well as volunteer

initiatives for blood donation. Its role becomes a salient one during the two

world wars either through the military hospitals it establishes or as a result

of its fund raising campaigns.

Key words: charitable movement, humanitarian involvement, volunteering,

military hospitals.

1. The Origins and History of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent

Movement

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are the result of the initiative

undertaken by the Swiss businessman, Henry Dunant (1828-1910) in 1859 as a result of

the bloodiest battle of the century that was carried in Solferino. Dunant’s initiative drew

the entire world’s attention to the need to establish humanitarian organizations and to

promote an international agreement on supporting the wounded and their assistants.

Henry Dunant had come to Solferino to meet Napoleon on business purposes and thus

witnessed the horrible images still present after the battle. The young Genovese was

deeply impressed by the humanitarian disaster resulting from the clash between the

belligerents. Consequently, he gathered people in the neighboring city and for three days

he incessantly took care of the wounded. His motto “Siamo tutti fratelli” (we are all

brothers) opened the hearts of the volunteers who tended to the needs of all those in

distress regardless of whether they were enemies or compatriots.

Even though Henry Dunant returned to Switzerland, he remained preoccupied with the

nightmare he had witnessed in Solferino. Most likely, in order to remove the images from

his memory he wrote a book called “A Memory of Solferino” which he published at his

own expense in November 1862. Its main goal was to present the cruel reality of war to

the whole world. Therefore, he sent the book to all ruling families of Europe, as well as to

the military and political leaders involved in philanthropic actions, and to his friends. The

main ideas developed by the latter proved of vital importance and concerned. The fowling

1 Transilvania University of Braşov, m.borcoman@unitbv.ro