The Red Cross was founded in Switzerland in 1864 by Swiss banker Henri Dunant. The reason for its creation was the Battle of Solferino in Italy. During a business trip in 1859, Dunant saw a battle between the Austrians and the French at Solferino. He later described this battle in a book: ‘A Memory of Solferino’. In this book, he cited arguments for a health institute without borders. He eventually founded this institute and it was called the Red Cross.

At an 1863 conference in Geneva, Dunant's proposal to create an association of voluntary aid workers was approved. On 22 August 1864, the Red Cross was officially established. Dunant derived the Red Cross symbol from the flag of Switzerland. He reversed the colours, making the symbol also known as the ‘Geneva Cross’. The Red Cross has nearly 100 million members, volunteers and supporters, and is the largest humanitarian organisation in the world with 192 organisations.