Sudanese Red Crescent Society

The Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) is the biggest and most decentralized and widespread humanitarian organization operating in Sudan. The society developed out of the Sudan branch of the British Red Cross Society and was established in 1956. Upon Sudan's independence in March1956 received official recognition as an independent National Society following the Sudanese Council of Ministers decree No. 869. The National Society covers nearly the entire country with 15 State branches and several sub-branches/units in the provinces/localities and administrative units, with a nationwide community-based network of 35,000 active volunteers and another 300,000 who can be deployed as need arises. It has well-established working relations with public authorities at federal, state and local levels, and good partnership and collaboration with Movement partners and UN specialized agencies and national and international NGOs working in Sudan.

The SRCS law has been proclaimed by the authority in June 2010, giving the National Society a strong legal base and clear mandate to run First Aid, emergency response, health interventions and other humanitarian operations. The Society is well known by the public for its humanitarian work and community service through many years of emergency relief and community-based programming, and through close collaboration with national and international organizations as well as relevant government departments.

Over the past four years, the National Society has taken significant steps to address fundamental structural and organizational change. A process of decentralization and the establishment of autonomous state branches, as well as the development of an active and participatory community-based volunteer network has been initiated to make the National Society more accessible, responsible and accountable.