• The National Red Cross/Crescent Societies
• The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

The National Society

Thes  organization and the work of the Red Cross/Crescent Societies around the world - and its relations with the government - varies from country to country, but all those that have been officially recognised (by the ICRC) are bound by the basic principles of the Red Cross, in particular that of neutrality.
Societies act as auxiliaries to the public (governmental) authorities and services, and normally concentrate on activities concerned with public health - including first aid and primary health care - and relief.  They are required to act without discrimination on racial, religious or political grounds.  In some countries the national society is assigned a pivotal role in the organization of relief operations.  Many national societies also maintain stocks of relief supplies.  National societies receive funds from their own membership and local fund raising activities, and often also from the government.  Especially in emergencies they may also receive funds, supplies and/or personnel assistance from sister societies in other countries.  This support is normally channelled through the IFRC, but may occasionally be given on a bilateral basis.
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
The IFRC is a federation of the national Societies world-wide.  It is headquarters in Geneva and aims to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote all forms of humanitarian activities by its member Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering.
When disasters occur, the IFRC assists the national Society, when necessary, in assessing needs, mobilising resources and organising relief activities.  IFRC delegates are often assigned to assist the national Society directly, and personnel from other national Societies may be requested and assigned under the Federations auspices.
The IFRC frequently issues international appeals for specific emergency programmes agreed with the national Society concerned.  Funds received are administered through the Federation, which undertakes purchases and also coordinates the delivery of food, drugs, blankets, tents, and other supplies from sister Societies and other sources.  Aid donated through the Federation is always transferred to the national Society of the affected country. The IFRC may advance funds at the start of an operation pending the receipt of donations.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
The ICRC is the founder body of the Red Cross movement and the promoter of the Geneva Conventions and their additional Protocols, both parts concerning the treatment of wounded and sick military personnel, prisoners of war, and civilian populations in internal and international conflicts.  It is an independent and private institution, and is neutral and politically, ideologically, and religiously impartial.  The Committee itself is composed of a maximum of 25 members all of whom are, by statute, Swiss citizens. The organization, which has its headquarters in Geneva, acts in cases of conflict - internal or international - to:

• Ensure that the Geneva Conventions are observed by parties to the conflict;
• Assure/provide protection, medical care and material relief assistance to victims of the conflict;
• Organise tracing services to identify and re-establish communications between family members who have become separated, as well as tracing and visiting prisoners (e.g. prisoners of war or "security detainees").

The ICRC cooperates with the national Societies but exercises its particular functions and usually mounts its own operations separately. It establishes its own offices (delegations and sub-delegations) and assigns its own personnel (who will be Swiss ICRC delegates or delegates from other national Societies there will always be Swiss ICRC delegates in any delegation and usually in the core functions). Medical teams from other national Societies may be assigned in the field under the auspices and directions of the ICRC. The ICRC raises funds by international appeals.