Six stamps and a Miniature Sheet will be issued by Jersey Post to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world’s largest humanitarian network. The Company will also donate a percentage of its philatelic sales of this issue to the British Red Cross to help them raise funds to purchase an emergency support vehicle for the island. During the Occupation of Jersey from 1940-1945, islanders experienced first-hand the life-saving efforts of the Red Cross and the stamp subjects were as relevant then as they are today. The stamps are presented in sheets of ten, each one with a different border illustrated according to Jersey’s own association with the Red Cross.” During the Occupation of Jersey, the Red Cross postal message system kept Channel Islanders in touch with their relatives and the Red Cross ship ss Vega delivered food parcels packed in Canada and New Zealand which were provided from the British Commonwealth stores at Lisbon. Following the Allied Invasion of Normandy, supplies to the Island were cut off and the situation was becoming desperate so many lives were saved. The arrival of the ss Vega into the harbour at St Helier has been illustrated on the Miniature Sheet. Nick Chandler, operations manager for the Red Cross in the Channel Islands, says: “We are delighted Jersey Post has chosen to honour the Red Cross with this beautiful set of stamps highlighting the important work we do in the UK and around the world helping people in crisis. Importantly the stamps highlight the significance of the ss Vega to the islands during the Occupation. This is a fitting way to commemorate the loyal and heartfelt support we always receive from the people of Jersey and we are also hugely appreciative of the fact that Jersey Post is donating a portion of its philatelic sales to our Bad Wurzach and Back cycle challenge.”     The stamps will be released on the eve of the anniversary of Jersey’s Liberation from Nazi Occupation in 1945 and this year, 9 May will mark the end of a charity cycle event, ‘Bad Wurzach and Back’, organised by the Red Cross in Jersey to raise funds for the emergency support vehicle. The timing also coincides with Red Cross Week (May 5-11), the charity’s annual fundraising extravaganza. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is neutral and impartial and provides protection and assistance to people affected by disasters and conflicts. The date 8 May 2013 is officially World Red Cross Day and May 8 is the birthday of its founder, Henry Dunant and 2013. With regards to the stamp issue, Jersey Post’s Philatelic Product Manager, Mrs Melanie Gouzinis explains: “The stamps have been illustrated to reflect some of the different aspects of work undertaken by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement around the globe and have been given the following titles: Tracing and messaging | Red Cross staff & volunteers | Water, shelter and food First Aid training |Emergency response | Protecting people in armed conflict