ICRC News 25 / 06-Jul-00

** SHORT MENU....


Democratic Republic of the Congo:ICRC emergency work continues FOLLOWING
TRUCE In Kisangani:
Nearly one month after a truce put an end to the most recent fighting
between Ugandan and Rwandan forces in Kisangani, the ICRC is continuing to
provide urgently needed assistance for some 1,700 people, mostly civilians,
who were wounded in the clashes.

REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: ICRC provides 5,700 families with seed:
The ICRC has started a programme that will enable families in
Congo-Brazzaville to grow their own vegetables


** STORIES IN FULL...


Democratic Republic of the Congo
ICRC emergency work continues FOLLOWING TRUCE
In Kisangani

Nearly one month after a truce put an end to the most recent fighting
between Ugandan and Rwandan forces in Kisangani, the ICRC is continuing to
provide urgently needed assistance for some 1,700 people, mostly civilians,
who were wounded in the clashes. The organization has distributed medicine
and food to the 50 hospitals and health centres where these people are
being treated and an ICRC surgeon is operating in the general hospital.

Meanwhile, the ICRC and the local Red Cross have virtually completed one of
the most difficult and urgent tasks of all - the collection and burial of
hundreds of decomposing bodies. The ICRC believes that at least 619
civilians and 141soldiers died in the week-long fighting. Up to 250 Red
Cross volunteers and numerous ICRC staff were involved in removing the
remains, which presented a major threat to public health.

Together with its local partner, the ICRC has also been active in
protecting civilians, in particular children, against the risk posed by the
thousands of unexploded shells, grenades and other ordnance littering the
city. Red Cross teams have located about 2,500 danger sites, which have
been secured and notified to the local military forces, and have
disinfected and cleaned up 75 public buildings, including 11 schools.

To help those whose houses were destroyed or damaged in the fighting, the
ICRC has distributed plastic sheeting, blankets and soap to more than 1,100
families in Kisangani. It has also taken special measures to speed up the
exchange of Red Cross messages between the residents of Kisangani and their
relatives living in other parts of the country.

The ICRC reopened its office in Kisangani in February 1999.

Further information: Chris Bowers, ICRC Geneva , tel: ++ 41 22 730 20 61



REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
ICRC provides 5,700 families with seed

The ICRC has started a programme that will enable families in
Congo-Brazzaville to grow their own vegetables. Some 5,700 families in the
Pool and Lekoumou regions - many of whom have recently returned to the
homes they fled during the fighting - have been given tomato, cabbage and
onion seed. Not only will the vegetables ensure a healthier diet, but it is
hoped that the families will be able to sell any surplus produce. 

As the situation slowly returns to normal, the ICRC has been doing its part
to improve the nation's health. Having helped the national and regional
health authorities to reopen 18medical centres, many of which required
extensive repairs, it is now supplying these centres with essential drugs.
In addition, the ICRC has recently completed a programme in Kindamba to
feed around 400 severely and 1,100 moderately malnourished people.

Further information: Chris Bowers, ICRC Geneva , tel: ++ 41 22 730 20 61


During the weekend of 8 - 9 July 2000, for all information please call the
press officer on duty Suzanne Berger, on (mobile) 41 79 217 32 37