MRCS History and Background

In Myanmar, the Red Cross Society actively engages in a variety of humanitarian activities aimed at responding to emergencies, supporting vulnerable communities, and promoting health and well-being. Our initiatives include disaster response and recovery, first aid training, health and hygiene promotion, and psychosocial support. Through these efforts, we strive to create a safer and more resilient society, ensuring that everyone has access to the care and assistance they need in times of crisis.

As the leading and oldest humanitarian organization in Myanmar, the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. Our journey began in 1920 as a branch of the Indian Red Cross Society. Following Burma’s formal separation from India in 1937, the Society achieved official national status in 1939 and was admitted to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in 1946.

In 1959, the Burma Red Cross Act was enacted (with additional amendments in 1964, 1971, and 1988), which conferred responsibility on the National Society for implementing humanitarian activities and alleviating human suffering. This Act also included the incorporation of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas, which became known as the Burma Ambulance Brigade.

In 1989, the organization was renamed the Myanmar Red Cross Society in accordance with the legislative change from Burma to Myanmar. The MRCS Law was revised and enacted in August 2015, and it was introduced to Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners, UN organizations, INGOs, LNGOs, community-based organizations, and media groups in October of the same year.

The Myanmar Red Cross Assembly is the supreme authority of the Society, representing the MRCS, its supervisory committee, branches, and sub-branches. The Council and Executive Committee (EC) are elected during the Myanmar Red Cross Assembly in accordance with the election regulations. The assembly comprises 71 Central Council members and 11 EC members (5 full-time and 6 part-time). Additionally, the organization includes 17 state and region Red Cross Supervisory Committees, 330 township branches, and over 20,000 Red Cross volunteers who run the humanitarian activities.

3 Main Activities:

• Promoting health.
• Preventing diseases.
• Providing help to those in distress.

Core Activities:

• First Aid & Safety Services.
• Psychosocial Support.
• Blood Donation – Recruiting healthy blood donors.
• Health & Care – Health Education & Disease Prevention.
• Rehabilitation – Providing artificial limbs to amputees.
• Water & Sanitation,
• Disaster Preparedness, Response, Relief & Recovery.
• Restoring Family Links.
• Livelihood Program.
• Red Cross Dissemination.

Award

A member of Myanmar Red Cross Society won Henry Dunant Medal in 1977 for saving a soldier whose car fell into the Ayeyarwady River which was icy cold at that time . His name was Sai Aung Hlaing Myint. He was from Kachin State.