ICRC News 01 / 19-Jan-00

** SHORT MENU....

RWANDA / CONGO-KINSHASA: ICRC repatriates Rwandan POWS:
Eight members of the Rwandan Patriotic Army held in Kinshasa in connection
with the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were repatriated
by the International Committee of the Red Cross on 14 January for medical
reasons

YUGOSLAVIA: Putting hospitals back into action:
Work has started this week on rebuilding the Children's Tuberculosis and
Lung Disease Centre at Belgrade's Dragisa Hospital, which was heavily
damaged in the NATO air campaign last year. The Centre has 100 beds.


** STORIES IN FULL...

RWANDA / CONGO-KINSHASA
ICRC repatriates Rwandan POWS

Eight members of the Rwandan Patriotic Army held in Kinshasa in connection
with the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were repatriated
by the International Committee of the Red Cross on 14 January for medical
reasons. The decision to repatriate the prisoners was taken by the
Congolese authorities in accordance with the relevant provisions of the
Geneva Conventions. The prisoners had been registered and regularly visited
by the ICRC during their captivity.

On three other occasions over the past year (22 April, 14 July and 21
October) the ICRC repatriated, for medical reasons and at the request of
the detaining authorities, a total of four Zimbabwean prisoners of war held
in Kigali as well as a Rwandan POW held in Harare.

The ICRC stands ready to assist in the further implementation of
international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions and
their Additional Protocols.

Further information: Juan Martinez, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2281
mobile phone: ++4179 202 4200


YUGOSLAVIA
Putting hospitals back into action

Work has started this week on rebuilding the Children's Tuberculosis and
Lung Disease Centre at Belgrade's Dragisa Hospital, which was heavily
damaged in the NATO air campaign last year. The Centre has 100 beds.

The $750,000 project, undertaken by the Finnish Red Cross, should be
completed by May.

The Finnish Red Cross has completed similar work at medical facilities in
Kosovo, mainly in the town of Gnjilan. It has also provided equipment and
an administration team for the regional hospital there.

Their work has brought the Finns face to face with the effects of the
conflicts in both areas.  "For all the differences," says Marja-Leena
Oraby, the medical coordinator, "the needs are much the same in Belgrade
and Kosovo, both in medical terms - health-care facilities needing repair,
etc. - and in psychological and material terms since the general population
are still suffering trauma from the war while trying to cope with the
hardships of everyday life. I am pleased to see the Red Cross family
working together throughout the region to meet as many different needs as
possible."

Further information: Gordana Milenkovic, ICRC Belgrade, tel. ++381 11 450
590
Amanda Williamson, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2678 or ++41 79 217 3216


During the weekend of 22 - 23 January 2000, for all information please call
the press officer on duty Suzanne Berger, on (mobile) 41 79 217 32 37