Managing External Relations - Disaster Management Center ...

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Managing External Relations
and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. In support of its
main objective, the Organisation has a wide range of functions, including the following:
To act as the directing and co-ordinating authority on international health work;
To promote technical co-operation
To assist Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services;
To furnish appropriate technical assistance and, in emergencies, necessary aid,
upon the request or acceptance of Governments;
To stimulate and advance work on the prevention and control of epidemic,
endemic and other diseases;
To promote in co-operation with other specialised agencies where necessary, the
improvement of nutrition, housing, sanitation, recreation, economic or working
conditions and other aspects of environmental hygiene;
To promote and co-ordinate biomedical and health services research;
To promote improved standards of teaching and training in the health, medical and
related professions;
To establish and stimulate the establishment of international standards for biological,
pharmaceutical and similar products, and to standardize diagnostic procedures;
To foster activities in the field of mental health, especially those activities affecting the
harmony of human relations.
WHO also proposes conventions, agreements, regulations and makes recommendations
about international nomenclature of diseases, causes of death and public health practices.
It develops, establishes and promotes international standards concerning foods and
biological, pharmaceutical and similar substances.
International and Inter-governmental Organisations
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) acts as a neutral intermediary and aims
to protect and assist victims of armed conflict and internal violence by reminding parties of their
obligations under international humanitarian law. ICRC activities include provision of food and
non-food relief items, health services, water and sanitation programs, restoration of family links,
and visits to prisoners. UNHCR may work with ICRC to trace missing family members.
The following information is on the World Wide Web at (http://www.icrc.org/eng/icrc)
The Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
The ICRC acts to help all victims of war and internal violence, attempting to ensure
implementation of humanitarian rules restricting armed violence
The ICRC’s mission arises from the basic human desire, common to all civilizations, to lay
down rules governing the use of force in war and to safeguard the dignity of the weak.
The ICRC has received a mandate from the international community to help victims of war
and internal violence and to promote compliance with international humanitarian law.
The ICRC’s activities are aimed at protecting and assisting the victims of armed conflict and
internal violence so as to preserve their physical integrity and their dignity and to enable
them to regain their autonomy as quickly as possible.
The ICRC is independent of all governments and international organisations. Its work is
prompted by the desire to promote humane conduct and is guided by empathy for the
victims. The ICRC is impartial; its only criterion for action is the victims’ needs. The ICRC is
neutral and remains detached from all political issues related to conflict.