WHEREAS, the Red Cross is an international movement which provides the necessary humanitarian aid to victims of armed conflicts and, in general, to all victims of man-made and natural disasters without discrimination based on race, color, nationality, sex, religion, political outlook, or any other ground, and fosters understanding, cooperation, friendship, and lasting peace among peoples;

WHEREAS, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, a member of this international movement and established in 1935, has been expanding its services and structural organization through the support of the government and the public at large and of its members in particular;

WHEREAS, the participation, in cooperation with the concerned organizations, of the Society in the country’s development activities and its contributions in the efforts of raising the standard of living of the population to a minimum level of acceptable standard, in addition to the provision of relief aid to victims of disasters, should be encouraged;

WHEREAS, it has become appropriate and necessary to engage in the prevention of the threat of drought and hunger resulting from environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources;

WHEREAS, it is necessary to restructure and organize the Society in every region in line with the structure of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia so that it will be able, based on objective realities, to fulfill its aims and mission and discharge its international duties;

WHEREAS, it is appropriate to respond to the request of the General Assembly of the Society for further revision of the Charter, as revised under Council of State Special Decree No. 21/1990;  

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with Article 55(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is hereby proclaimed as follows: