Red Cross Organisation, Bulgaria

Bulgarian Red Cross is a voluntary organisation, part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and is guided by its Fundamental Principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. Through its network of volunteers in the whole country, the BRC renders assistance to the vulnerable people in disaster and crisis situations. By means of training programmes and activities for the benefit of the public, the National Red Cross Society contributes to alleviating and preventing the suffering in all its forms, protects health and life and ensures respect for the human being.

The Bulgarian Red Cross has the following strategic priorities:

  • To react quickly and effectively to the vulnerability on a local scale;
  • To direct its efforts to the areas where it could be most influential and achieve the best possible results. These core areas constitute the mainstay for the authority, entity and significance of the overall organization, such as:
  • To popularise and affirm the Fundamental Principles of the Movement and its basic humanitarian values;
  • To assist in disaster situations;
  • To assure disaster preparedness;
  • To provide health and social care for the benefit of the public.
  • To reform and enhance its capacity (especially in the field of financial resources) so as to become "a well-functioning National Society" that contributes to the development and consolidation of civil society in Bulgaria.

Main areas of activity:

  • Support and participation independently or in cooperation with other formations and specialised services for prevention and reduction of effects of disasters, accidents and calamities/crises;
    Preparedness and assistance in accordance with its capacity in response to appeals of other States and National Societies in times of disasters and conflicts;
    Collection and distribution of humanitarian aid and donations from the country and abroad;
    Assistance to vulnerable and impoverished citizens, social and medical institutions etc., and provision of social and health services;
    Organisation of and maintaining social institutions;
  • Social assistance and organizing health and care activities, social legal and psychological consultations;
  • Protecting and improving people’s health, prevention of diseases and traumas through educational programmes and activities;
  • Organisation of training events and courses in first pre-medical aid, first psychological aid, drug addicts’ problems, HIV/AIDS, promotion of non-remunerated blood donation, etc.;
  • Training, qualifying and re-qualifying of staff members, with a view to implementing the organisational activities and achieving its goals, and issuing the respective certificates;
  • Organisation and participation in meetings, seminars, courses, conferences, press conferences, competitions and reviews on the major activities of the Bulgarian Red Cross and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.