ICRC News 46 / 29-Nov-00

** SHORT MENU....

Afghanistan
A race against time

ICRC staff narrowly won a race against time when they managed to reach an
isolated community in a remote area of Afghanistan last week before it was
cut off from the outside world by the country's harsh winter conditions.

Eritrea/Ethiopia
Ethiopians return home

Nearly 850 people of Ethiopian origin were repatriated from Eritrea on
Tuesday under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC). As in similar operations in the past, the ICRC acted as a neutral
and independent intermediary in accordance with its mandate under the
fourth Geneva Convention.


** STORIES IN FULL...

Afghanistan
A race against time

ICRC staff narrowly won a race against time when they managed to reach an
isolated community in a remote area of Afghanistan last week before it was
cut off from the outside world by the country's harsh winter conditions.

Food and cooking oil were distributed by the ICRC to some 28,000 families
in the drought-devastated district of Chagcharan, in Ghor province, to
supplement wheat previously supplied by Oxfam and the World Food Programme.
The food should cover the population's needs for the coming six months. In
addition, the beneficiaries received blankets from the ICRC while the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies provided
around 7,000 of the poorest families with warm winter clothing.

It was vital that the operation be completed as soon as possible since
heavy snowfalls invariably seal off the roads into Chagcharan, making
further aid distributions impossible. Aid organizations have combined their
efforts to enable the population to stay in their homes and thus spare them
the need to flee to the nearby city of Herat. In addition to the relief
distributions, the Afghan Red Crescent Society, supported by the
International Federation, has reinforced its district branch with newly
trained health-care volunteers to help the residents through the winter.

At the same time the ICRC is planning to foster self-sufficiency among
families who have remained and possible returnees to the area by launching
an agricultural programme, which will include seed distributions. It is due
to begin next year.

Further information: Mario Musa or Magne Barth, ICRC Kabul, tel. ++ 873 761
242 260
Amanda Williamson, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 41 22 730 2678  /  ++ 41 79 217
3216


Eritrea/Ethiopia
Ethiopians return home

Nearly 850 people of Ethiopian origin were repatriated from Eritrea on
Tuesday under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC). As in similar operations in the past, the ICRC acted as a neutral
and independent intermediary in accordance with its mandate under the
fourth Geneva Convention.

The operation enabled an initial group of 567 civilian internees, who had
been held at Ala camp (near Dekemhare, south of Asmara), to cross the Mereb
river at a point where it separates the two countries.They were followed by
a second group of 276 people who had been released from Sembel prison in
Asmara. All had expressed the desire to return to Ethiopia.

During the operation, the returnees were assisted by ICRC staff based in
Eritrea. Once on the other side of the river, they were taken into the care
of staff based in Addis Ababa, who later placed them in the charge of the
Ethiopian authorities. The ICRC was supported throughout the operation by
volunteers from the National Red Cross Societies of both Eritrea and
Ethiopia.

Further information: Franziska Aebi, ICRC Addis Ababa, tel. ++2511 51 83 66
Bruce Mokaya, ICRC Asmara, tel. ++2911 20 24 60


During the weekend of 2 - 3 December 2000, for all information please call
the press officer on duty Darcy Christen, on (mobile) 41 79 217 32 31