Afghan Red Crescent Society

The Afghan Red Crescent Society, or (ARCS), (Pashto: د افغاني سرې میاشتې ټولنې) is the Afghan affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Society has existed for over 70 years although with limited structure due to the prevailing conditions which have affected the country at large for over 20 years.

Afghan Red Crescent Society
د افغاني سرې میاشتې ټولنې
Formation1934
TypeAid agency
PurposeHumanitarian Aid
HeadquartersKabul, Afghanistan
Location
President
Fatima Gailani
AffiliationsInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
WebsiteARCS Official Site

History

The ARCS was founded in April 1934. It traces its origins to the Naderia Orphanage, with the purpose of helping orphans and those in need.[1] In October 1951, the society adopted its constitution, which articulated democratic provisions for membership, elections at central, provincial and local branches, and managing board. In 1964 ARCS took over Marastoon (مرستون) or Afghan Welfare organizations.[2] The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is one of the two main partners of the ARCS, establishing its delegation in Afghanistan in 1991, with only temporary evacuations during the most recent conflict.[2] Although limited in terms of organizational capacity in recent years, the organization and activities of the ARCS covers territory throughout the country, with active branches in 31 of 32 provinces.

Organization and activities

The ARCS receives a significant portion of its support from the National Societies of several developed nations, including those from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Japan, with support channeled through the International Federation. The ARCS also maintains bilateral relations with the National Societies of Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.[2] The ARCS has been led by Ms. Husn Banu Ghazanfar since 2019.

Based on its wide-ranging humanitarian work throughout Afghanistan, the ARCS claims the ability to work with all ethnic groups through its services. The primary activities of the organization have been focused primarily on disaster response, health care, and youth. Ms. Fatima Gailani claimed, in a 2007 interview with the International Review of the Red Cross, that the ARCS has nearly 37,000 volunteers. In 2013, the society employed 1,717 staff members and retained 23,440 volunteers. In that same year, the society assisted more than 700,000 Afghanis through disaster preparedness programs, more than 430,000 through long-term development programs and more than 30,000 in acute disaster response activities.[3]

References
  1. A Brief History of the Afghan Red Crescent Society Archived 2017-08-02 at the Wayback Machine. Afghan Red Crescent Society.
  2. Organizational Overview - ARCS (PDF) (PDF). International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
  3. "IFRC Data Explorer". IFRC. 2013. Retrieved 1 Jul 2016.
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