The Kurdistan Red Crescent (Heyva Sor a Kurdistanê) was founded as a charitable institution in 1993 in Bochum, Germany. Since then, the association has been a blessing and hope for people in need all around Rojava, especially where wars are being waged and people are displaced. In 2015, the Kurdistan Red Crescent Switzerland (HSK-CH) became an autonomous organization with its own structures and projects, and since then it has been working in partnership with other Heyva Sor member organizations in Kurdistan, Europe, and elsewhere in the world. HSK-CH is registered in the commercial register of the canton of Vaud. It is governed by its statutes and by articles 60 ff. of the Swiss Civil Code.
Our Values
The Kurdistan Red Crescent Switzerland (HSK-CH) is a politically and religiously neutral organization. We use the term « Kurdistan » as well as Kurdish-language terms that refer to its four regions (Rojava « West », Bakur « North », Rojhilat « East » and Başûr « South ») without political connotation and only in reference to geographic regions and their inhabitants, regardless of their language, ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.
We base our actions on the Geneva Conventions and the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement:
* Humanity: The human being, the will to preserve their dignity and their life, and to alleviate their suffering, are at the center of our actions;
* Impartiality: We provide our assistance solely based on the needs of individuals and their level of urgency, without discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation;
* Neutrality: We do not engage in political or ideological controversies; however, we aim to advocate for the needs of the people we defend;
* Independence: Our autonomy from both states committing acts of violence against the civilian population and from any other political group is of paramount importance for supporting those in need;
* Volunteer Work: Members of our organization act on a voluntary, unpaid, and selfless basis, driven by the desire to help others;
* Universality: Although we focus on a specific geographic region, we aim for a broader goal: Alleviating human suffering worldwide.
However, we distance ourselves from the principle of unity. In fact, the Red Cross adopts the structure of states as the fundamental principle of its organization, with a single branch in each state. In the regions of the world where we operate, state violence is one of the primary causes of civilian distress. The legitimacy of these state interventions is widely questioned by the population. We believe it is appropriate to avoid subjecting our humanitarian assistance to the constraints and priorities of states. This strategy also allows us to intervene in situations where other humanitarian organizations have no opportunity to do so.
Our Mission
We provide assistance in various regions of the Middle East, particularly in Kurdistan, as needed. We support victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, or other situations requiring one-time or ongoing humanitarian aid. Our focus is on the most vulnerable individuals and groups who are suffering: children, orphans, families, single parents, the sick, injured, or disabled, as well as elderly people living alone. Our actions are essentially as follows:
* We assist people who are injured, ill, or in psychological distress by distributing medical equipment (e.g., prostheses for amputated war victims) and covering medical expenses;
* We establish and operate refugee camps (tents, food, medical aid, clothing, sanitation facilities, schools, etc.);
* We build and operate hospitals, medical counseling centers, and mobile clinics for conflict victims;
* We provide humanitarian emergency assistance in the event of natural disasters;
* « We construct permanent or temporary housing for families whose homes have been destroyed;
* We support the education of disadvantaged, orphaned, or sick children by providing them with the opportunity to continue their education and promoting education for gender equality and human rights;
We provide economic or material support (food assistance or basic necessities) to vulnerable individuals and groups: single parents, orphans, the sick or homeless, victims of war or natural disasters.
In general, we provide a logistical framework with immense solidarity towards the most disadvantaged, expressed by both the local population and our donors in Switzerland and around the world. We create conditions that allow people to remain in their historical living areas or return, thus mitigating internal and international migration, associated traumas, and rural depopulation.
Contact and Partner Network
For our work in Kurdistan, we benefit from long-term partnerships with reliable local organizations that have excellent relationships with the population and deep knowledge of the communities they collaborate with.
The HSK-CH and its partner organizations on the ground operate almost exclusively on a volunteer basis, allowing for very low operating costs (6%). In 2018, this organizational system made it possible for 94% of the donations to reach the target regions. Both in Switzerland and in various regions of Kurdistan, we have established a large and flexible network of diverse volunteers who can be mobilized when needed. The activities of our local partners run in conjunction with those of the local population and contribute to organizing comprehensive solidarity among the population with the poorest members of their community.