AMERICAN RED CROSS WAS THE 1ST TO HELP ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
HULIQ
Sept 23 2009
SC
The role of Red Cross Societies in rendering assistance to the
Armenian refugees who suffered the Genocide is significant. One of the
first organizations that responded to the Turkish violence was the
American Red Cross. They set shelter camps in Armenia, particularly
in Etchmiadzin and in other parts of the world meeting the genocide
victims’ needs fleeing from Turkey.
Up until the middle of 19th century, there was no a neutral
international humanitarian principle or organization to provide
necessary treatment for those who were wounded on the battlefield
during the war. In 1859 Swiss writer, public activist Henry Dunant
witnessed the battle of Solferino and organized the provision of
the relief assistance for wounded. In his book entitled "A Memory
of Solferino" ("Un souvenir de Solferino") which was published in
1862 he put forward the idea of the necessity of the formation of
international voluntary relief organization to help wounded soldiers
in the case of war. The international conference held in Geneva in
1863 paved the way for the establishment of international humanitarian
law and the International Red Cross organization.
The International Red Cross consists of several distinct organizations:
the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and National Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
he International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), founded in
1863 in Geneva, Switzerland, initially had 25 members, citizens of
Switzerland. The ICRC has a unique authority under international
humanitarian law to protect the life and dignity of the victims of
international and internal armed conflicts.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
which includes National Red Cross Societies of almost all states in
the world, was founded in 1919 to coordinate the activities of above
mentioned societies in a peace time (since, according to its charter,
ICRC operates only in cases of armed conflicts).
National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies exist in nearly every
country in the world. Each of these societies works in its home
country according to the principles of international humanitarian law.
The role of Red Cross Societies in rendering assistance to the Armenian
refugees who suffered the Genocide is significant. One of the first
organizations that responded to the Turkish violence was the American
Red Cross.
The American Red Cross was established in 1881, in Washington. Clara
Barton became the first president of the organization. At the end
of 19th century Clara Barton was already considered to be a national
hero. In 1896 she leaded the American delegation that rendered huge
assistance to Armenians who suffered Hamidian massacres. Before
this mission Barton had offered relief to numbers of Americans during
floods, diseases and other catastrophes, but the mission to the Ottoman
Empire and Armenian provinces was a new experience for her. Americans
not only provided the Armenian provinces with money and food, but
also for the first time formed a specialized group under the aegis
of the Red Cross to operate in Armenia.
The delegation led by Clara Barton left for the Ottoman Empire in
June 1896. She stayed in Turkey about eight months coordinating the
humanitarian relief work of inner provinces. Just after her arrival
Barton met with Tefik pasha, the minister of foreign affairs of the
Ottoman Empire, represented the concerns of Americans about the pitiful
condition of the people of the interior as a result of the massacres
and pointed out that their objects were purely humanitarian, having
neither political, racial, nor religious significance. The meeting
ended with mutual understanding and five expeditions of the Red Cross
passed through Armenian provinces to observe the situation in the field
and to distribute whatever was needed. The Red Cross provided medical
help to Marash and Zeitoun, later the expedition moved to Kharberd
(Harpoot).Besides the medical assistance the Red Cross provided
food and clothes to the people in need, seed to plant the ground and
utensils to work with. Due to this relief work thousands of frightened
inhabitants returned to the villages from which they had fled for
their lives during the massacres and they stood on their feet again.
Thus the representatives of the American Red Cross worked in
Armenian provinces of the Ottoman Empire for about four months
providing overwhelming humanitarian aid to Armenians in need. Before
returning home they placed the funds donated from New York and Boston
in the hands of William Peet, the treasurer of the "American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions". Later it was employed in the
building and reconstructing of houses in the interior where all had
been destroyed during the massacres.
A new powerful wave of relief from the Red Cross came during World War
I, when Turkish authorities started the implementation of their old
plan of extermination of Armenians. Medical and financial assistance
was rendered to Armenian refugees by National Red Cross Societies of
different countries.
The Armenian Red Cross and Refugee Fund was founded by Emily Robinson
in autumn of 1914, in London. Emily Robinson was daughter of John
Robinson, the editor of "Daily News", one of the most authoritative
newspapers of London. She founded "The Armenian Society" in 1912
and at the beginning of 1914 published a volume entitled "The
Truth about Armenia", representing in facts the annihilation of
Armenians by Turks and the responsibility of the European states in
that tragedy. Since December 1914 the Armenian Red Cross and Refugee
Fund organized campaigns in which not only Armenians living in Great
Britain took part, but also a number of British. A large amount of
money was collected with the efforts of the organization which with
the medicaments and clothes was sent to the council of Great Britain
in Moscow and to Al. Khatisian for care of Armenian refugees. Among
the members of the organization were famous British public figures and
the activities were coordinated by Mrs. Bryce (wife of James Bryce).
The Russian Red Cross organized relief operations for thousands
of Armenians who had fled to Eastern Armenia from the Ottoman
Empire. Medical help was provided as well as clothes and
food. Significant medical and financial assistance was rendered to
refugees in Etchmiatzin. The organization also provided help to Erzrum
and took part in organization of migration of Armenians, who were in
danger to be annihilated by Turks, from Van to Eastren Armenia.
The American Red Cross provided huge aid to Armenians during Word
War I. Up until January 1918 this organization donated $ 1.800.000
for relief works in the Near East. Later this amount rose up to $
6.000.000. Through the efforts of the American Red Cross personnel
kidnapped Armenian children were restored to their parents and women
in Muslim harems were freed. Several thousand children and women
sought refuge with the Americans in the hope of finding their lost
relatives. After the armistice of Mudros the Red Cross stopped its
operations and offered the American Near East Relief to accept the
responsibilities of the Red Cross in the Near East. An agreement
between these organizations was signed in March 1919, in Konia and
according to it the funds and personnel of the Red Cross were put
under the control of the American Near East Relief organization.
An overwhelming level of relief assistance was organized for
Armenians who suffered the Genocide also by the Armenian Red Cross
detachments. The regulation of the Armenian Red Cross was adopted in
March 1920, according to which the organization was under the aegis of
the government of Armenia. The charter defined the goals, structure
and principles of the society in details. The general administration
of the society, that directed the organization, was in Yerevan.
The International Red Cross actively provided help to Armenians who
suffered the massacres since its foundation. It made campaigns in
different countries, offered medical and financial relief to Armenians
during both Hamidian massacres and the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1922.
Thousands of documents and data preserved in the archives of this
authoritative organization confirm the historical fact of the genocide
against the Armenians, implemented by the Ottoman government.