relief groups & civilian relief
What do "relief groups" and "civilian relief" mean? I have never heard of them. Do they mean "emergency groups" and "civilian emergencies"?

Context:
Charitable and civic groups also employed them. For charities such as the Red Cross, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), and relief groups, posters made appeals for volunteers, donations, civilian relief, and universal compassion.

Question

relief groups & civilian relief
What do "relief groups" and "civilian relief" mean? I have never heard of them. Do they mean "emergency groups" and "civilian emergencies"?

Context:
Charitable and civic groups also employed them. For charities such as the Red Cross, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), and relief groups, posters made appeals for volunteers, donations, civilian relief, and universal compassion.

Answer

The term "relief groups" means different groups of people who help people who are in some kind of misfortune, such as surviving a flood, a country's economic downturn, a lack of food, or a health epidemic. The term "civilian relief" means helping the general population (not just special people) who are having problems.