Cambodia celebrates 150th anniversary of Int'l Red Cross Day

Xinhua | 2013-5-8 

Cambodia on Wednesday marked the 150th anniversary of the World Red Cross Red Crescent Day, vowing to increase humanitarian assistance to reach more people living in difficulties or suffering from disasters.

"With the generous and continual support from all national and international charitable donors for our humanitarian activities, I strongly believe that the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) will achieve more and more success for the sake of maintaining humanity for the nation and our people," Prime Minister Hun Sen's wife Bun Rany, CRC's president, said during the celebration. "More support from donors will give us broader chance to assist people in need."

The event, under the theme "150th Years of Humanitarian Action, " was held at the CRC's headquarters with the participation of about 10,000 government officials, diplomatic corps, development partners, local and foreign businesspeople, and students.

Addressing to the participants, Prime Minister Hun Sen lauded the CRC for its active humanitarian activities in assisting victims in any disasters such as floods and storms.

"The Cambodian Red Cross has been largely contributing to helping the government in social and economic development and poverty alleviation," he said, urging the agency to increase its activities for a better health and livelihoods of Cambodian people.

Jacques Stroun, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regional delegation, said the ICRC was grateful for the quality of its cooperation with the CRC, pledging to continue close and good cooperation with the CRC for humanitarian causes.

He said that 150 years after the birth of the Red Cross--Red Crescent Movement, the world's largest humanitarian agency has provided much needed humanitarian services to vulnerable communities all across the globe.

"During all these years, we have joined efforts to assist people affected by conflict and other situations of violence, and to prevent future suffering by promoting universal humanitarian values," he said. "Thousands of volunteers and professionals unite every day to help people affected by violence or natural disasters. "

At the annual event on Wednesday, the Cambodian Red Cross had collected a total donation of 15 million US dollars from generous people including government officials, legislators, foreign diplomats, and local and foreign companies doing business in Cambodia.

The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia also made a donation of 10,000 US dollars to the CRC.