Cambodia - ICRC: 16.Jul.97

ICRC
Cambodia
16 July 1997
Update No. 97/01


A divided country

Once again the war-weary, destitute Cambodians have been faced with the 
prospect of civil war. In the 1970s Cambodia was ravaged during the years 
of Khmer Rouge rule. In the 1980s the ICRC, working in camps on the 
Thai-Cambodian border, strove to provide the Khmers with the basic means 
to survive. With the signing of the Paris Agreements in 1991 and the 
subsequent elections in 1993, it appeared that Cambodia would be able to 
focus on building for the future. However, political tensions in 
Cambodian society are too great. 

On 5 July the undercurrent of tension between the democratically elected 
coalition government came to the fore when the forces of the two 
co-Premiers clashed in the capital. Hun Sen consolidated his grip on 
Phnom Penh and the city's environs, pushing Norodom 
Ranariddh's men from their bases in the capital. Towns in the north and 
north-west, such as Battambang and Siem Reap, were subject to occasional 
shelling.



The ICRC focuses on medical needs

In response to the recent violence in Phnom Penh and the north-west, the 
ICRC's delegation in the capital has been concentrating on providing 
essential medical assistance. The stocks at Phnom Penh's Calmette, 
Kossamak and Sihanouk hospitals were nearly exhausted. The ICRC has 
distributed basic medical supplies to the Calmette hospital which has 
treated up to 100 wounded, some of whom were evacuated by ICRC vehicles. 
The ICRC also evacuated Cambodian and foreign civilians trapped in the 
Tuol Kork area near the airport, the scene of some of the worst fighting.

The ICRC is currently building up an emergency stock of medical supplies 
in the capital and in Aranyaprathet, in Thailand near the Cambodian town 
of Poipet. 

The ICRC-supported National Blood Transfusion Centre in Phnom Penh has 
provided the medical facilities treating the wounded with units of blood 
tested for, among other things, hepatitis and the HIV virus. The 
delegation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, also runs 13 
provincial blood transfusion centres operating in many areas in Cambodia. 
The ICRC is currently seeking new partners to assist the Ministry of 
Health to take over this project.

The ICRC's programme for the physical rehabilitation of the war-wounded 
has not been significantly affected by recent events. The ICRC's 
prosthetic/orthotic workshop in Phnom Penh continues to manufacture 
components which are then supplied to various non-governmental 
organizations working in the field of prosthetics in Cambodia. Owing to 
the current uncertainty no new amputees have been admitted to the 
Battambang centre as they prefer to remain with their families for the 
time being. Those who have already been fitted with artificial limbs 
continue to be fed and housed at the centre until they can be reunited 
with their next of kin.

Detention-related activities

On 7 July the prison in Battambang came under mortar fire and four 
detainees were wounded. Delegates stationed in the town, together with 
staff of Midecins sans frontihres, organized first aid and arranged for 
the transfer of some of the wounded to the local military hospital. The 
ICRC also provided food for the detainees held in Sisophon, who had been 
left to fend for themselves.

On 8 July the ICRC visited detainees held in Phnom Penh's PJ, T3 and Tuol 
Sleng prisons. Delegates checked on the detainees' physical and material 
conditions of detention, talked to them in private and enabled them to 
maintain links with their families through the Red Cross message service. 
Delegates have also visited military personnel who have surrendered as a 
result of the recent events.

Promoting international humanitarian law

In a bid to prevent violations of international humanitarian law, the 
ICRC has a programme aimed at promoting respect for and compliance with 
these legal instruments. The delegation organizes seminars, lectures and 
presentations on the law of war for members of the Royal 

Cambodian Armed Forces, members of the Democratic National Union 
Movement, local authorities, academics, journalists and National Society 
personnel. In cooperation with the Federation, the ICRC strives to 
strengthen the Cambodian Red Cross's dissemination unit.

Personnel

Sixteen expatriates, including a representative of the Japanese Red Cross 
Society, and 150 Cambodian personnel work in the ICRC's delegation in the 
capital and its sub-delegation in Battambang. On 6 July part of the staff 
not involved in operational activities was transferred to Thailand.




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