Albanian Red Cross
| Kryqit të Kuq Shqiptar | |
| Formation | October 4, 1921 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Humanitarian Aid |
| Headquarters | Tirana, Albania |
|
Region
|
Albania |
|
President
|
Ylli Alushi |
|
Main organ
|
General Assembly |
|
Revenue
|
185,910,992 ALL (2014) |
|
Staff
|
47 (2013) |
|
Volunteers
|
2,737 (2013) |
| Website | http://www.kksh.org.al |
The Albanian Red Cross (Albanian: Kryqit të Kuq Shqiptar, KKSH), or ARC, is the national society member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for Albania. The oldest humanitarian organization in Albania, it was founded on October 4, 1921, and was officially recognized by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in 1923. Its headquarters are located in the Albanian capital of Tirana, and its 39 branches provide humanitarian assistance across the country in accordance with the Fundamental Principles.
The first activity of the Red Cross Movement in Albania was in 1920, when aid from the American Red Cross was distributed at the rear of the Albanian Army. On October 4, 1921, the Albanian Red Cross Society was founded and the organization's first statutes were accepted in 1922. In its first year, it began publishing a magazine, took over the operations of an orphanage, and assisted refugees from the surrounding region. In 1923, the International Committee of the Red Cross officially recognized the Albanian Red Cross, making it the 38th national society.
Throughout the second half of the 1920s and the 1930s, the Albanian Red Cross expanded its coverage across Albania. It opened a nursing school, training nurses to serve the poorest and most vulnerable of the population. With the French Red Cross, it established counseling and milk distribution programs for undernourished children. During this period, the organization's activities were funded by charitable donations from the Albanian people, with significant support coming from the Albanian diaspora, particularly from the United States.
During World War II, the main activities of the Albanian Red Cross was at the Greco-Italian War front. It established and operated a field hospital at the front, and also opened an office to assist displaced populations in searching for missing family members. In the immediate post-war years, the Albanian Red Cross distributed food, clothing, and cash to those struggling to rebuild. Shelters were set up in major cities for the elderly.
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