A general assembly of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Monday paid tribute to Red Cross and Red Crescent's volunteers and staff, who lost their lives in the line of duty.
"I would like us to have a moment to pay tribute to the memory of so many volunteers and staff of the Red Cross and Red Crescent who lost their lives in the line of duty as a consequence of accidents or violence," Kerem Kinik, Turkish Red Crescent head said in the opening ceremony on Monday.
"The last two years have been markedly tragic, with more than 75 Red Cross or Red Crescent workers, who died in the service of humanity and the ideals of our movement," Kinik noted.
He said "power of humanity" is the strongest remedy for a better world. "I wish once again that our statutory meetings will host fruitful discussions and have good outcomes for humanitarian aid sector and hence the entire humanity," Kinik said.
"We deliver our services and benevolences for humanitarian purposes by executing several operations across the world. It is our duty to touch people's lives, to change their misfortune, to ease the humanity's pain, to mitigate sufferings and to deliver humanitarian aid," he added.
Mehmet Gulluoglu, Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) president, said that the authority is operating hand-in-hand with Turkish Red Crescent and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) to fulfill humanitarian needs.
He called the humanitarian volunteers "heroes" and thanked them for their services to human well-being.
At the ceremony, IFRC President Tadateru Konoe also adressed the audience and thanked Turkish Red Crescent, its president and staff for their generous efforts.
"We try to reach every needy people around the world wherever necessary."
Konoe pointed out that humanitarian efforts are in progress in Myanmar, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Bangladesh these days.
During the event, a short film about the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was shown to the audience.
The IFRC general assembly will address humanitarian crises in Myanmar, Somalia, Iraq and Syria during the summit, which would conclude on Nov. 11.
The assembly will select a new IFRC president as well as four vice presidents and board members for the next four years. Candidates from Italy, Norway, Jordan and Sweden are seeking the presidency. The Turkish Red Crescent head Kerem Kinik is a vice president candidate for the Europe region. Election results will be announced late on Monday.
