History of the Croatian Red Cross

First humanitarian associations in Croatia that performed their activities in compliance with the internationally accepted principles of the Movement of the Red Cross were founded in 1878 in Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Zadar. "The Women’s Patriotic Dalmatian Association for Relief to Wounded and Sick Soldiers" was the first association recognized for its humanitarian work on the 22 October 1878.

Between 1878 and 1918 the Croatian Red Cross acted within the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy as a part of its Red Cross. Until 1941 it acted first within the Kingdom of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, and then within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. During the Second World War the Croatian Red Cross acted as an independent society but with no international recognition. Once the War was over it continued to function as the Red Cross of Croatia – a part of the Yugoslavian Red Cross in Croatia.

On 13 August 1991 the Croatian Red Cross requested from the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross from Geneva that the relief be directly sent to Croatia and not via the centre in Belgrade. On 22 August the International Committee of the Red Cross accepted the proposal and allowed to the Croatian Red Cross to have the relief for Croatia sent directly to Zagreb. At the same time Croatian and Slovenian Red Cross announced the commencement of the procedure to establish independent National Societies in Croatia and Slovenia.

On 10 October 1991, after the expiry of the moratorium on the decision of the Croatian Parliament to proclaim the independence, the Croatian Red Cross announced the beginning of its process for independence, and at the same time requested from the International Committee of the Red Cross to be recognized as a full member of the International Movement of the Red Cross based on its acting and fulfilment of all the needed conditions.

On 19 November 1991 the Croatian Parliament adopted the Act on the Croatian Red Cross.

During the 30th session of the Governing Board of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies held in Swaziland on 5 and 6 October 1992, Croatia’s candidature for full membership was considered and supported. On 25 August 1993 the International Committee of the Red Cross recognized the Croatian Red Cross as a full member of the Movement, and on 25 October of the same year the tenth General Assembly of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies accepted the Croatian Red Cross into full membership.

On 12 October 2001 the Croatian Parliament adopted new Act on the Croatian Red Cross, updated to meet the needs of the inhabitants.

In the period between 1991 and 1998 the Croatian Red Cross, as the largest humanitarian organization, provided relief for the hundred of thousands of war victims. During those years the Croatian Red Cross provided aid for an average of 490 thousand of people (displaced, refugees, and other categories of war victims) on regular basis.

The number of people who regularly received aid provided by the Croatian Red Cross from national and international sources was at its peak in 1992. During that year the Croatian Red Cross provided aid for 751 thousand people or 16 per cent of total population based on the data for that year.

During the same period the Croatian Red Cross collected 1,1 million blood units.

Tracing Service of the Croatian Red Cross received and distributed over 1,5 million family messages, started and processed over 28 700 tracing requests, organized 174 family meetings and reunited 23 000 of separated family members. Over 17 000 people came to the Tracing Service headquarters to request help.

Croatian Red Cross provided help for the vulnerable and elderly, organized educational health protection programs especially aimed at the youth, organized acceptance, warehousing, transport and distribution of international humanitarian relief.

Croatian Red Cross organized psychological and social support for persons accommodated in 284 centres all over Croatia.

Immediately after the occupied Croatian territory has been recaptured, Croatian Red Cross organized the net of its local branches over the area and started providing aid for all in need.

All mentioned activities took part during difficult times in Croatian history and were executed by a relatively small number of professionals thanks to the large number of Croatian Red Cross volunteers. That is in correspondence with the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which underline voluntary service as the basis for all activities and interventions.

All members of the Croatian Red Cross contributed immensely, by their unselfish assistance, in providing services for the numerous victims during the Homeland War.