May 8 is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.

The international Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, which regards humanitarianism, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality as the basic principles of its activities, actively encourages international and regional cooperation and solidarity while adopting it as its basic mission to protect human lives from wars, various kinds of armed conflicts, natural disasters, etc. on a worldwide scale and stabilize the lives of victims.

Today, positive activities are being conducted by the movement in an organized way, especially by such international organizations as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and by RCRC societies in over 190 countries.

The theme of World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day for this year is "Keeping Humanity Alive".

In the present-day world filled with unprecedented crises and losses, it is a matter of urgency to protect human lives, which involves the protection of human dignity, alleviation of suffering and supporting of those living in harsh environment, especially in remote areas.

In our country, which regards man as the most precious being, the life and health of the people are highly being protected.

Everyone receives medical assistance at hospitals in Pyongyang and local areas such as the Breast Tumour Institute of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital, Okryu Children's Hospital, Ryugyong General Ophthalmic Hospital and Ryugyong Dental Hospital.

Activities are conducted as a movement involving the entire country, the whole society and all the masses to protect the lives and health of the people from flood and other natural disasters and relieve the suffering of victims.

The Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, whose basic mission is to promote the people's health and well-being, is performing brisk activities for preventing crises and disasters and for public health.

While taking relevant measures after getting familiar with natural disaster risk elements and places, it works to raise awareness of emergency among people to minimize damage from disastrous meteorological phenomena. It also promotes coordination and cooperation with state organs in the prevention of and response to all kinds of disasters.

It has mapped out a general development plan in the residential areas in relation to the work to respond to climate change and protect ecological environment, while encouraging the activities of young RC volunteers and increasing their number.

The RC volunteers do positive activities with the assistance of the national RC society, which has contributed to giving people a good understanding of common knowledge of health and hygiene and making them adopt a healthy lifestyle.

The DPRK RC Society, which joined the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on May 11 1956, also strengthens cooperation with international organizations.

It attended the 11th IFRC Asia-Pacific Regional Conference held in Vietnam in November last year through videoconferencing and presented a realistic and innovative proposal for responding to climate change and disasters, the main agenda item of the conference. It also extended active support, encouragement and solidarity to the humanitarian activities of national organizations in the Middle East, including the Jordanian and Egyptian Red Crescent societies, for the immediate achievement of a ceasefire, opposition to the massacre of civilians and realization of humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip and the peaceful settlement of the Middle East crisis.

The DPRK RC Society is intensifying its activities to keep humanity alive and protect the lives and health of people.