The theme for this year’s World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day (May 8) is “Keeping Humanity Alive.”

In the world marked by unprecedented crises and losses, the significance of World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day resonates even more profoundly.

On this occasion, the theme serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring commitment of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent movement to uphold human dignity, alleviate suffering, and extend assistance to people facing dire circumstances, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas.

The Red Cross Society of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in close cooperation with the government, has worked to prevent and alleviate the suffering and misfortune of all people and promote their health and wellbeing without any discrimination.

In order to cope with more frequent occurrences of climate change catastrophes around the world, such as flood, heavy rain, drought, heat wave and typhoon, the DPRK Red Cross Society has worked with local authorities to put all disaster risks and vulnerable places under control and take measures in advance, while its branch offices in towns and counties have mobilized volunteers to inform the locals of a working knowledge of public health, particularly crisis response procedures, order of conduct, and first aid.

Branch officials and volunteers help local authorities to identify places prone to inundation, landslide and rockslide and take precautionary measures, and actively join in the effort to monitor flash floods.

Over the years the Red Cross Society has reeducated the volunteers across the country about the knowledge of life-saving first-aid practices through a mass education network like sci-tech learning space and through its branches at all levels. Those educated volunteers have made the rounds of individual households in mountain villages, farms, workplaces, and childcare and educational institutions to conduct a range of publicity activities among the locals, especially women, elderly, people with disabilities, and adolescents, covering first aid, climate change and public health, epidemic prevention, handwashing, mother and child health and nutrition, blood donation, and road safety.

RC volunteers’ strenuous efforts have made great contributions to bringing about positive changes of behaviour among more and more residents in saving human lives, protecting health, raising common knowledge of health and hygiene and maintaining healthy lifestyles.

In addition to its traditional activities, the Red Cross Society is directing greater efforts into its capacity building, a prerequisite for successfully carrying out its activities, with an emphasis on raising the environment-friendly awareness of the greening of RC activities, hygienic knowledge and environmental protection.

Yang Ryon Hui