Most people associate the distinctive red-and-white emblems of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent movement with humanitarian relief in war and disaster zones. But the actual structure of the movement can seem bewildering.
What is the difference between the International Committee of the Red Cross and the federation that ties together the 180-odd national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies? Which branch of the movement deals with prisoners of war and which provides relief after natural disasters?
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) originated in Switzerland in 1863 to care for wounded soldiers, with medical staff using the inverted Swiss flag as a sign of their neutrality.
Under the Geneva Conventions established after World War Two to govern the rules of combat, it is a war crime to target anyone under this flag - including medical staff and anyone being cared for by them.
Some countries have been reluctant to use the red cross, and the Geneva Conventions have been altered in the past to include the crescent and the lion and sun symbol of Iran, although the latter has not been used since 1980. The crescent was incorporated into its official name in 1983.
The ICRC is mandated under the Geneva Conventions to uphold international humanitarian law, focusing primarily on helping victims of war, prisoners of war and political detainees. In other words, its main focus is conflict situations.
National Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, which are partly funded by the governments of their respective countries, are primarily concerned with emergency preparation and response, health work and training within their own countries. They also deploy abroad and send funds to their sister organisations in times of need.
During war time, national societies also assist civilians and back up military medical services when they think it appropriate.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the official umbrella body of the national societies, and is descended from a league set up in 1919.
The IFRC supports the national societies, and directs and coordinates international assistance of the movement to victims of disasters and health emergencies, as well as refugees.
It's usually the IFRC and its member societies that respond after natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, although the ICRC may step in if natural disasters happen in conflict zones.
For full membership of the IFRC, national societies are required to use a symbol recognised by the Geneva Conventions, and to represent countries with fully recognised statehood.
The IFRC gets most of its funding from governments in response to emergency appeals. National societies contribute around six or seven percent of their budgets towards overheads like running the Federation headquarters.
National societies get a lot of their funding from the public, while the ICRC is 80 percent financed by signatories to the Geneva Conventions.
The European Commission picks up the bill for a further 10 percent. Five percent comes from national societies, and the rest from private donations and other sources.
"It's not like a franchise," said ICRC spokesman Vincent Lusser. "We're not the head office. We're all members of the movement."
For more information, see the IFRC's Who we are
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