Born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded and sick soldiers on the battlefield, the Turkish Red Crescent Society has fulfilled successful services in all the wars Turkey has been party to. The Society has assisted in delivering health care and treatment to tens of thousands of wounded or sick Turkish as well as friendly and enemy soldiers through the mobile and stationary hospitals it established behind the front, patient transport services, the hospital ships it has equipped, and the nurses and volunteer healthcare assistants it has trained; provided the required humanitarian assistance to both Turkish and enemy prisoners of war, devoted efforts to the care and protection of civilians affected from the war, pioneered in many health and social relief related services in our country, and participated in international humanitarian assistance activities.

Following the glory at the end of the War of Independence, in which the Turkish Red Crescent Society actively assumed responsibilities, and the declaration of the Republic, the Society mobilized all its resources to solve the many problems our country encountered.

Weary of the subsequent wars we joined, our nation was faced with hunger, drought, and epidemics in the first years of our Republic. While dealing with these problems, the Red Crescent also met the clothing, food, shelter, and health requirements of prisoners of war and immigrants, and tried to heal the wounds of the occurring disasters.

Apart from these existing problems, new demands and requirements were emerging naturally in our rapidly developing and changing society. The Red Crescent kept up with these developments and have continuously expanded the horizons of its objectives and areas of activity to solve the problems of health-related and social issues.

The activity and service areas that the Turkish Red Crescent Society have, in time, assumed responsibility for are as follows:

1. Disaster Preparedness and Response

2. Cash and in-kind relief services
3. Health and Social Support Services

4. Youth and Volunteer services

5. Blood Services
6. International Relations

The Purpose of The Red Crescent is to:
Perform the duties given to it by the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, which protects the victims of war, and by the stipulations of the international agreements, to which the Republic of Turkey is party, and assisting the execution of these duties, In peacetime, carry out the services in conformity with the Statutes in all kinds of disasters within the country and abroad, Be loyal to the principles of humanitarian law, support health and social solidarity, assist in the development of social welfare, Maintain unification of purpose and cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the national societies that constitute parts of this federation.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TURKISH RED CRESCENT SOCIETY
In wartime and peacetime, the Turkish Red Crescent Society carries out the services required by its mission and given to it by law.

In wartime and emergency situations declared by the government; The Turkish Red Crescent Society assists the Turkish People and the Turkish Armed Forces on and behind the front in accordance with the needs and requirements determined by the Government and in line with its mission, Maintains continuous control over tools, materials, and medicines that will be used in the accomplishment of war-related duties, disposes of them without leading to loss or malfunctioning, tries to maintain the stock levels through the replenishment of the disposed materials, Assigns an adequate number of delegates from among the members of the Executive Committee or, depending on the situation, other staff appointed by the Executive Committee to the Armed Forces in order to establish communication and ensure cooperation with the Armed Forces.

Participates in the fight against possible contagious diseases that may be encountered within the Armed Forces, Acts as an intermediary in the repatriation, communication with their families, and sending of money and articles to the Turkish, friendly, and enemy prisoners of war and those under surveillance; establishes the investigation and organization of communication to this end,Assists in the relocation and settling of children and vulnerable people into the locations shown by the Government.

Establishes hospitals according to the wishes of the government in locations shown by the Government.

In peacetime;
Trains nurses, volunteer nurses and sick attendants, first aid and emergency care, laboratory, radiology and other health professionals in the required fields. Establishes and operates dispensaries, health centres and hospitals, training and educations centres and educational institutions, and rehabilitation centres in line with its objectives.

Establishes, operates, and takes the necessary measures to allocate the organization necessary to provide blood and blood products throughout the entire country.

Participates and assists in the fight against contagious diseases, and similar disasters related to public health, and child deaths.

Prepares the necessary tools and equipment needed to carry out its duties in wartime and peacetime.

Provides relief to the poor. Gives treatment relief to needy patients; tries to provide complementary, supportive, and prosthetic replacements for their missing or damaged organs.

Provides the necessary relief assistance in fires, earthquakes, floods, drought, famine, mass migration or displacement because of war, and other similar situations.

Trains rescuers and first aid workers, forms the teams that will constitute the required cadres, maintains a ready stock of all the required materials-tools and equipment and establishes their operational standards with regulations.

Establishes the volunteer organization of The Turkish Red Crescent Society.

Assists in civil defence planning and training.Manages just as a commercial organization the goods within the possession and privilege of The Turkish Red Crescent Society in line with regulations prepared consistent with the benefit of the public.

Receives and operates foundations and facilities that juridical and real persons would like to establish via The Turkish Red Crescent Society in line with the Turkish Civil Law.

Executes Governmental decisions and requests that are in accordance with the purpose of The Turkish Red Crescent Society.

In relation to international cooperation;
The Turkish Red Crescent Society participates in the disaster response and emergency relief assistance activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the National Societies that are part of this federation. It sends teams, gives emergency relief materials and cash aid.

In wartime and peacetime, it carries out joint activities with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the National Societies that are part of this federation and sends representatives to these.

Accepts their representatives, facilitates the relationships of foreign teams with civilian and military authorities.