International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Before the mid-nineteenth century, battlefield healthcare was largely nonexistent. Casualties of war lacked organized medical systems and safe facilities designed for their care, leaving countless soldiers vulnerable and unassisted. This chaotic state of affairs was brought to public attention by Swiss businessman Jean-Henri Dunant, who inadvertently became a pivotal figure in the evolution of modern humanitarian practices. During a trip to Italy in June 1859, Dunant found himself in Solferino shortly after a devastating battle that claimed the lives of around 40,000 soldiers. Witnessing the harrowing scene of wounded soldiers crying out for help, he was compelled to act, setting aside his original business purposes to provide solace and care....