American Red Cross, Greater Cleveland Chapter Celebrates Admission of Israel, Palestine to Federation.

CLEVELAND -- The Greater Cleveland Chapter of the American Red Cross today celebrated the admission of Magen David Adam (MDA) and the Palestine Red Crescent Society to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The inclusion of these two National Societies is a significant step toward universality for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

"We are delighted that this official step, so long overdue, has come to fruition," stated Mary-Alice Frank, CEO of the Chapter. "With this decision, the true purpose of the Movement can be realized -- the Red Cross as a world-wide institution in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other as a true reflection of our humanitarian mission."

For more than 50 years, the American Red Cross National Board of Governors has considered MDA's admission to the Movement a policy priority. To underscore this commitment and to encourage action on this issue, the American Red Cross has withheld $45 million in dues payments to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in protest of non-admission.

MDA is a critical tracing partner to the American Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center. A resource of hope, the Center has responded to 40,000 requests worldwide for information on the fate of those affected by the Holocaust and in 1,200 instances has reconnected loved ones.

The vote to admit MDA and the Palestine Red Crescent Society came during a two-day International Conference in Geneva, where changes to the statutes of the Movement were adopted. The successful outcome was due in large part to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Agreement on Operational Arrangements between MDA and the Palestine Red Crescent Society in which both Societies committed to take concrete steps to improve humanitarian conditions in these areas.

The Greater Cleveland Chapter, with 101 years of service to the community, provides services to the residents of Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake counties. It is among the nation's oldest and largest chapters, an innovator in program and service delivery. Each year, the Chapter trains more than 100,000 people in lifesaving skills, responds to an average of one disaster each day, provides community education, and supports the Armed Forces and public safety departments. Its Nurse Aide training program is the largest in Northeast Ohio, and its Operation Save-A-Life program has provided more than 100,000 free smoke alarms.