WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement honoring International Red Cross and Red Crescent Day on May 8, 2015.
“On International Red Cross and Red Crescent Day we honor the global impact of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and we pay tribute to the humanitarian heroes who risk their own lives to alleviate the suffering of others. Nurses, engineers, and drivers, among others, all take great risks to work in difficult conditions. Humanitarian staff and volunteers truly embody the best of the human spirit, working tirelessly to serve a greater purpose and a global community.
“In a world of multiplying conflicts, humanitarians are relied upon more than ever to provide crucial life-saving aid on the frontlines of conflicts, where the needs are greatest. Placed in life-threatening situations in countries like Sudan, Myanmar, the Central African Republic and elsewhere, humanitarians have not been universally respected, and in some cases, actually targeted. In Syria alone, 47 Red Crescent volunteers have lost their lives since the beginning of the conflict.
“In honor of their unparalleled courage and sacrifice, we pause today to remember humanitarian heroes around the world, especially those who call Maryland home, and we recommit to doing everything we can to provide for humanitarians’ safety and security.”
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