Prince Tadateru Konoe, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is on a two day visit to Delhi during which he is meeting top Government officials and leaders of the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of South Asia. He is also on a humanitarian diplomatic mission to develop partnerships with diplomatic community, UN Bodies, corporate world leaders & others to foster alliances and understandings for sustainable partnership. In his address during his visit to the Indian Red Cross Society he shared the vulnerability of the people in South Asia and said, “South Asia is home to half of the world’s poor, 400

million are trapped in urban poverty, 200 million die before the age of 40 and it also accounts for 90 million malnourished children”. However, he opined that this area also has exceptional human resources. He added that the world is looking at India for leadership and guidance as it was one of the fastest growing economies todays.

Dr. S.P. Agarwal, Secretary General of the Indian Red Cross Society in his speech drew the attention of the President of IFRC on the fact that the share of the IFRC budget for South Asia was only ½ % while the region houses world’s 24% population. He requested for a review of the allocation of resources by the Red Cross Headquarters in Geneva.

President of the IFRC, Tadateru Konoe belongs to the royal Fujiwara family of Japan which had its origin during the Heian Period (794-1185). Heading the conglomeration of 186 national Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies, he has been associated with the Red Cross in Japan and the IFRC for over 45 years, including the position of the President of the Japanese Red Cross. He is also the first Asian to head the IFRC in its history of 90 years.

Japanese Red Cross and the IFRC have been assisting the Indian Red Cross in its health and disaster management programmes. The visit is expected to result in to greater co-operation in programme areas in which considerable scope of partnerships exist.