Many international organizations are intergovernmental. Intergovernmental organizations form when multiple governments form an international organization. There are more than 300 intergovernmental organizations around the world.

The United Nations (UN) is the largest and most familiar intergovernmental organization. In 1945, at the end of World War II, governments wanted to avoid future wars. They formed the UN. The UN's main goal is to keep peace. The UN currently has peacekeeping missions all over the world.

The UN has several specialized subgroups, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank. WHO is responsible for giving direction on international health issues, setting standards, and providing information for governments to make decisions. For example, WHO took the lead during the swine flu outbreak in 2009. It tracked the spread of the flu, offered recommendations about who should get vaccines, and told people how to avoid becoming sick. The World Bank is a bank for nations, not people. The World Bank has two separate groups. One group, the International Development Association, provides loans to the world's poorest countries. The other group, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, gives loans to developing countries.

The UN also has groups focused on culture (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)), justice and law (the International Court of Justice (ICJ)), and immigration (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)), among others. Each of the subgroups has headquarters in a different place. The main UN offices are in New York City, New York, United States. The World Health Organization has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Bank is based in Washington, D.C, United States. The International Court of Justice is in The Hague, Netherlands. Most countries of the world belong to the UN and its subgroups.

One of the greatest humanitarian organizations in history was founded on October 29, 1863 by Henri Dunant when he was horrified by the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino, fought in Northern Italy in 1859. He was travelling through the area and was shocked and horrified by the thousands of wounded soldiers left on the battlefield. As a result, he helped organize people from nearby villages to bring aid, water, and food to the wounded. Their nationalities did not matter to Dunant.

A few years later he wrote a book entitled A Memory of Solferino. His book included what he had seen in Solferino and suggested for armies to train volunteers to help the injured from both sides during a war. In addition, he wanted the volunteers to have a guarantee of protection. He wrote to important leaders throughout Europe and convinced them of his plan.

In 1863, an association in Geneva considered Dunant's idea and delegates from several countries attended a conference to discuss the plan and ultimately approved it. It was the official beginning of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organization that would help many people throughout the world.

In the United States, Clara Barton and a few other people she had known founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881. She had first heard of the International Red Cross when she had visited Europe after the Civil War. When she came back to the states, she campaigned for the organization and then led the American Red Cross for the next 23 years.

The American Red Cross introduced its first aid, water safety, and public health nursing programs prior to World War I. When the war did begin, the organization grew rapidly and membership grew from 17,000 to over 20 million adults and 11 million junior Red Cross members. The public also contributed millions of dollars for their efforts. The American Red Cross continued with their aid to soldiers, civilian war victims, disaster relief efforts, blood drives, and much more during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Gulf Wars.

One of the greatest humanitarian organizations in history was founded on October 29, 1863 by Henri Dunant when he was horrified by the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino, fought in Northern Italy in 1859. He was travelling through the area and was shocked and horrified by the thousands of wounded soldiers left on the battlefield. As a result, he helped organize people from nearby villages to bring aid, water, and food to the wounded. Their nationalities did not matter to Dunant.

A few years later he wrote a book entitled A Memory of Solferino. His book included what he had seen in Solferino and suggested for armies to train volunteers to help the injured from both sides during a war. In addition, he wanted the volunteers to have a guarantee of protection. He wrote to important leaders throughout Europe and convinced them of his plan.

In 1863, an association in Geneva considered Dunant's idea and delegates from several countries attended a conference to discuss the plan and ultimately approved it. It was the official beginning of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organization that would help many people throughout the world.

In the United States, Clara Barton and a few other people she had known founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881. She had first heard of the International Red Cross when she had visited Europe after the Civil War. When she came back to the states, she campaigned for the organization and then led the American Red Cross for the next 23 years.

The American Red Cross introduced its first aid, water safety, and public health nursing programs prior to World War I. When the war did begin, the organization grew rapidly and membership grew from 17,000 to over 20 million adults and 11 million junior Red Cross members. The public also contributed millions of dollars for their efforts. The American Red Cross continued with their aid to soldiers, civilian war victims, disaster relief efforts, blood drives, and much more during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Gulf Wars.

One of the greatest humanitarian organizations in history was founded on October 29, 1863 by Henri Dunant when he was horrified by the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino, fought in Northern Italy in 1859. He was travelling through the area and was shocked and horrified by the thousands of wounded soldiers left on the battlefield. As a result, he helped organize people from nearby villages to bring aid, water, and food to the wounded. Their nationalities did not matter to Dunant.

A few years later he wrote a book entitled A Memory of Solferino. His book included what he had seen in Solferino and suggested for armies to train volunteers to help the injured from both sides during a war. In addition, he wanted the volunteers to have a guarantee of protection. He wrote to important leaders throughout Europe and convinced them of his plan.

In 1863, an association in Geneva considered Dunant's idea and delegates from several countries attended a conference to discuss the plan and ultimately approved it. It was the official beginning of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organization that would help many people throughout the world.

In the United States, Clara Barton and a few other people she had known founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881. She had first heard of the International Red Cross when she had visited Europe after the Civil War. When she came back to the states, she campaigned for the organization and then led the American Red Cross for the next 23 years.

The American Red Cross introduced its first aid, water safety, and public health nursing programs prior to World War I. When the war did begin, the organization grew rapidly and membership grew from 17,000 to over 20 million adults and 11 million junior Red Cross members. The public also contributed millions of dollars for their efforts. The American Red Cross continued with their aid to soldiers, civilian war victims, disaster relief efforts, blood drives, and much more during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Gulf Wars.

One of the greatest humanitarian organizations in history was founded on October 29, 1863 by Henri Dunant when he was horrified by the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino, fought in Northern Italy in 1859. He was travelling through the area and was shocked and horrified by the thousands of wounded soldiers left on the battlefield. As a result, he helped organize people from nearby villages to bring aid, water, and food to the wounded. Their nationalities did not matter to Dunant.

A few years later he wrote a book entitled A Memory of Solferino. His book included what he had seen in Solferino and suggested for armies to train volunteers to help the injured from both sides during a war. In addition, he wanted the volunteers to have a guarantee of protection. He wrote to important leaders throughout Europe and convinced them of his plan.

In 1863, an association in Geneva considered Dunant's idea and delegates from several countries attended a conference to discuss the plan and ultimately approved it. It was the official beginning of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organization that would help many people throughout the world.

In the United States, Clara Barton and a few other people she had known founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881. She had first heard of the International Red Cross when she had visited Europe after the Civil War. When she came back to the states, she campaigned for the organization and then led the American Red Cross for the next 23 years.

The American Red Cross introduced its first aid, water safety, and public health nursing programs prior to World War I. When the war did begin, the organization grew rapidly and membership grew from 17,000 to over 20 million adults and 11 million junior Red Cross members. The public also contributed millions of dollars for their efforts. The American Red Cross continued with their aid to soldiers, civilian war victims, disaster relief efforts, blood drives, and much more during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Gulf Wars.

One of the greatest humanitarian organizations in history was founded on October 29, 1863 by Henri Dunant when he was horrified by the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino, fought in Northern Italy in 1859. He was travelling through the area and was shocked and horrified by the thousands of wounded soldiers left on the battlefield. As a result, he helped organize people from nearby villages to bring aid, water, and food to the wounded. Their nationalities did not matter to Dunant.

A few years later he wrote a book entitled A Memory of Solferino. His book included what he had seen in Solferino and suggested for armies to train volunteers to help the injured from both sides during a war. In addition, he wanted the volunteers to have a guarantee of protection. He wrote to important leaders throughout Europe and convinced them of his plan.

In 1863, an association in Geneva considered Dunant's idea and delegates from several countries attended a conference to discuss the plan and ultimately approved it. It was the official beginning of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organization that would help many people throughout the world.

In the United States, Clara Barton and a few other people she had known founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881. She had first heard of the International Red Cross when she had visited Europe after the Civil War. When she came back to the states, she campaigned for the organization and then led the American Red Cross for the next 23 years.

The American Red Cross introduced its first aid, water safety, and public health nursing programs prior to World War I. When the war did begin, the organization grew rapidly and membership grew from 17,000 to over 20 million adults and 11 million junior Red Cross members. The public also contributed millions of dollars for their efforts. The American Red Cross continued with their aid to soldiers, civilian war victims, disaster relief efforts, blood drives, and much more during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Gulf Wars.

One of the greatest humanitarian organizations in history was founded on October 29, 1863 by Henri Dunant when he was horrified by the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino, fought in Northern Italy in 1859. He was travelling through the area and was shocked and horrified by the thousands of wounded soldiers left on the battlefield. As a result, he helped organize people from nearby villages to bring aid, water, and food to the wounded. Their nationalities did not matter to Dunant.

A few years later he wrote a book entitled A Memory of Solferino. His book included what he had seen in Solferino and suggested for armies to train volunteers to help the injured from both sides during a war. In addition, he wanted the volunteers to have a guarantee of protection. He wrote to important leaders throughout Europe and convinced them of his plan.

In 1863, an association in Geneva considered Dunant's idea and delegates from several countries attended a conference to discuss the plan and ultimately approved it. It was the official beginning of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organization that would help many people throughout the world.

In the United States, Clara Barton and a few other people she had known founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881. She had first heard of the International Red Cross when she had visited Europe after the Civil War. When she came back to the states, she campaigned for the organization and then led the American Red Cross for the next 23 years.

The American Red Cross introduced its first aid, water safety, and public health nursing programs prior to World War I. When the war did begin, the organization grew rapidly and membership grew from 17,000 to over 20 million adults and 11 million junior Red Cross members. The public also contributed millions of dollars for their efforts. The American Red Cross continued with their aid to soldiers, civilian war victims, disaster relief efforts, blood drives, and much more during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Gulf Wars.