Historical Background
On December 23, 1920, the Siamese Red Cross Society Executive Vice-President Field Marshal His Royal Highness Paribatra announced the establishment of the Relief Section to provide assistance to disaster victims, regardless of their ethnicity and language, in time of peace and in time of war, no matter whether the disaster, such as floods and fires, is natural or man-made. นายพันเอก พระศักดาพลรัตน์ (พลตรี พระยาดำรงแพทยาคุณ) was appointed the first Director of the section. Thus, the Siamese Red Cross Society initially had five sections, namely, the Hospital Section, Science Section, Hygiene Section, Relief Section, and Youth Red Cross Section.           In 1831, the Hospital Section was merged with the Relief Section in accordance with International Red Cross Principles.
In 1932, the Hygiene Section was merged with another Relief Section and was renamed the Relief and Hygiene Section. Thus, the Siamese Red Cross Society then had three sections, namely, the Relief and Hygiene Section, Science Section, and Youth Red Cross Section.
In 1972 , due to the expanding workload of the Relief and Hygiene Section, the Thai Red Cross Society decided to restructure its management. The Relief and Hygiene Section was abolished on October 1, 1972 with three agencies emerging, Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Queen Sawang Wadhana Memorial Hospital, and the Relief Section, which in turn had three departments, Relief Department, Red Cross Health Station Department, and Rehabilitation Department.
Later on, due to heavier workloads concerning general affairs, the General Affairs Unit was set up on March 29, 1976.
On February 4, 1985 , the Medicine and other Medical Supplies Unit was set up to respond to increasing workloads and responsibilities.
In 1987 , the Thai Red Cross Executive Vice-President Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the official opening ceremony of the new office of the Thai Red Cross Relief Section, a six-story building located in the compound of Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute at 1871 Henri Dunant Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330.
In 1997 , due to the amendment in the Articles of the Thai Red Cross Society concerning Thai Red Cross affairs, the Relief Section was renamed the Relief and Community Health Bureau. It had six divisions, namely, the General Administration Division, Relief Division, Red Cross Help Station Division, Medicine and Other Medical Supplies Division, Hua Hin Chalerm Prakiet Health Station, and Rehabilitation Department.
On February 25, 1998 , due the expansion of its responsibilities, the 10th Red Cross Help Station was promoted to the Hua Hin Chalerm Prakiet Health Station. On May 7 of the same year, Thai Red Cross Optometrist and Eyeglasses Centre was opened for business to offer academically sound optical services and consultations to people with visual defects under the care of ophthalmologists. Partial proceeds from the sales of glasses and related equipment go to help the underprivileged with visual defects.
On September 29, 1999 , Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the opening ceremony of the Chao Phraya Flood Victim Relief Center and renamed it the Thai Red Cross Chalermprakiet Center of Medical Vehicles. It is located by the Noi River in Bangjak Sub-district, Visetchaichan District, Angthong.

At present, the Relief and Community Health Bureau has provided assistance and relief to disaster victims and the underprivileged and offered community health services to the public for 81 years (as of December 23, 2001). The Bureau has always kept pace with current economic and social changes.

Responsibilities
Major mandates embraced by the Relief and Community Health Bureau.     
1. Disaster relief services are provided in compliance with humanitarian principles to disaster victims, who suffer loss of life, limbs, and property. Disaster relief services are divided into three phases, i.e. before, during, and after a disaster occurs. Before a disaster occurs, preparation is made in terms of procedural plans, manuals, staff, vehicles, communications, medicine, medical supplies, and other basic necessities. The goal is to maintain a state of readiness and respond immediately to a disaster that may threaten or strike people and communities and to reduce or prevent loss. While a disaster occurs, relief units are put into operation as appropriate, and medicine, medical supplies, and other basic necessities are transported to Red Cross Chapters and Red Cross Help Stations, which serve as centers for disaster relief for victims in each region. After a disaster occurs, assistance is given to individuals and families affected by disaster to enable them to resume their normal daily activities independently as soon as possible. Mobile hospitals are out to take care of physical and emotional rehabilitation needs among disaster victims. Other services include vocational training, family member search, and community morale improvement.     
2. Underprivileged Relief Services are offered in a proactive manner as the Relief and Community Health Bureau realizes the importance of assistance given to the underprivileged whose numbers have increased and who can be found almost everywhere. Underprivileged Relief Services include Specialised Medical Mobile Units such as Eye Surgery Project, Ear Nose Throath Surgery Project, Hearing Lost and Found Project, Cosmetic Surgery Project for Cleft Lip and Palate and Other Deformities, Mobile Dental Clinic, Elderly Project, and Optical Glasses Project.     
3. Community Health Services are among the main responsibilities of the Relief and Community Health Bureau. Public services on offer include:
- Health Education Courses on health care are offered both at and outside the stations.
- Health Promotion Such services as mothers and their newborns health care, family planning, school health care, child nutrition, and house and community calls are offered.
- Disease Prevention Immunization against various diseases is offered to children and adults both at and outside the stations.
- Examination and Treatment Examination, diagnosis, and treatment of common diseases are offered including blood and urine tests, wound dressing, and injections.

4. First Aid, Health, and Relief Training It is aimed to train the public in primary first aid, health, and relief practices, which they can apply to assisting themselves and others when needed. The focus is on promoting good health with adherence to the saying prevention is better than cure. The courses offered, each directed to suit particular trainees, include Disability Care, Patient Care, Child Care, and Elderly Care.