ICRC News 47 / 07-Dec-00

** SHORT MENU....

Côte d'Ivoire: Red Cross assists victims of violence
After violence broke out in Abidjan on 4 December, the Red Cross mobilized
its first-aid teams and delivered medical supplies to the five main
hospitals of the economic capital of Côte d'Ivoire.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Red Cross brings aid to bombing victims
The opposition-held town of Kalemie in the north-east of Katanga province
came under several aerial bombing raids on 1 and 4 December.

Sierra Leone: ICRC completes major distribution
Working in cooperation with the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, the ICRC
has recently completed a major distribution of relief supplies to nearly
11,600 displaced and resident farming families in Pujehun, Kenema, and
Tonkolili districts.

Angola: More than 300,000 people benefit from ICRC aid
The ICRC has recently carried out a major seed distribution for 71,612
displaced and resident families living on the central Planalto, thus
completing its assistance programme for the year 2000.

International humanitarian law on small-arms agenda 
Two major regional organizations, the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU),
have adopted plans for combatting the spread of small arms and light
weapons and have committed themselves to integrating into them measures to
ensure respect for international humanitarian law.


** STORIES IN FULL...

Côte d'Ivoire
Red Cross assists victims of violence

After violence broke out in Abidjan on 4 December, the Red Cross mobilized
its first-aid teams and delivered medical supplies to the five main
hospitals of the economic capital of Côte d'Ivoire.

With the help of the ICRC and the International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies, the Red Cross Society of Côte d'Ivoire deployed 124
first-aid workers to provide emergency relief in the country's main cities
(Abidjan, Bouaké, Gagnoa, Divo and Odienné) until the legislative elections
are held. In Abidjan, where most of the clashes took place, eight teams
gave first aid to the wounded and evacuated them to hospitals. According to
initial estimates, a total  of 256 wounded were treated on 4, 5 and
6December.

On 4 and 5 December the ICRC also distributed medical supplies to Cocody,
Treichville, Abobo and Yopougon hospitals. According to Catherine Delaisse,
the ICRC doctor in Abidjan, these supplies should make it possible to treat
350 wounded. The ICRC medical team is closely monitoring the situation in
Abidjan's medical facilities with a view to providing assistance for as
long as it is needed. 

After having approached the authorities, on 6December the ICRC was given
access to the people arrested during the violence. It has thus been able to
visit 328 people detained in Abidjan. 

Further information: Clovis Sewa, ICRC Abidjan, tel.:  ++ 225 20 22 24 59 /
60


Democratic Republic of the Congo 
Red Cross brings aid to bombing victims

The opposition-held town of Kalemie in the north-east of Katanga province
came under several aerial bombing raids on 1 and 4 December. There were
heavy civilian casualties: one dead and 20 wounded in the first raid, and
two dead and 12 wounded in the second. ICRC employees working with
volunteers from the National Red Cross Society evacuated the wounded to the
local hospital.

The ICRC, which regularly delivers medicines to the hospital, provided it
with sufficient emergency supplies to treat 20 war-wounded. This morning,
an ICRC aircraft  was able to land in Kalemie with medical supplies for a
further 40 casualties.

Further information: Hanna Mollan, ICRC Goma, tel. ++ 250 083 00461


Sierra Leone
ICRC completes major distribution

Working in cooperation with the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, the ICRC
has recently completed a major distribution of relief supplies to nearly
11,600 displaced and resident farming families in Pujehun, Kenema, and
Tonkolili districts. An estimated 65,000 people received shelter material,
sleeping mats, blankets, buckets, kitchen sets and soap.

In May and June the same farmers were given seed and tools as part of the
ICRC's agricultural support programme, which has benefited about 36,000
families this year. Initial monitoring by the Ministry of Agriculture and
the ICRC shows that the programme has had encouraging results.

Further information, Florian Westphal, ICRC Freetown, tel. ++232 22 23 09
54


Angola
More than 300,000 people benefit from ICRC aid

The ICRC has recently carried out a major seed distribution for 71,612
displaced and resident families living on the central Planalto, thus
completing its assistance programme for the year 2000. Altogether, more
than 300,000 people received maize, bean, sorghum and groundnut seed, along
with fertilizer. They were also given enough food to ensure that the seed
would not be eaten up.

Major logistical means were used for the operation, which had to be
completed before the rainy season. Two ICRC-chartered B-727s made up to
eight flights per day to bring food, seed and farming tools to Huambo and
Kuito. The seed was immediately planted by the families, who should be able
to harvest the lavras crop between April and July 2001. 

Since economic self-sufficiency has now been restored for most villagers
living around Kuito and Huambo, the ICRC plans significant cuts in its
emergency food aid next year. However, it will increase its support for
agricultural production.

Further information: Gianni Volpin, ICRC Luanda, tel. ++2442 36 44 54


International humanitarian law 
on small-arms agenda 

Two major regional organizations, the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU),
have adopted plans for combatting the spread of small arms and light
weapons and have committed themselves to integrating into them measures to
ensure respect for international humanitarian law. The 55 countries of the
OSCE (all European countries, Canada, the United States, and five Central
Asian countries) have adopted the "OSCE Document on Small Arms and Light
Weapons", which will take into account a country's record of compliance
with international norms on the conduct of hostilities before allowing
small arms to be exported to it. At a ministerial meeting held in Mali on 1
December, the 53 member States of the OAU adopted an "African Common
Position" on small arms and light weapons. This stressed the importance for
compliance with humanitarian law of the struggle against the illicit
proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small arms.

"We are very encouraged that both the OSCE and the OAU have now made
commitments to address humanitarian concerns arising from small arms
exports, and specifically to focus on compliance with international
humanitarian law" said ICRC Mines-Arms Unit coordinator Peter Herby. "We
hope that steps will now be taken to implement such measures at the
national level, and that norms based on respect for humanitarian law will
be among the results of the UN global conference on small arms next year." 

The ICRC had previously urged the OSCE, OAU, and other regional
organizations to consider the implications in humanitarian terms of the
proliferation and availability of small arms. According to a study entitled
"Arms availability and the situation of civilians in armed conflict",
published by the ICRC last year, unregulated arms availability can
facilitate violations of international humanitarian law, increase civilian
suffering and impede assistance to victims.

Further information: Lena Eskeland, ICRC Mines-Arms Unit, tel. ++41 22 730
2488
Peter Herby, ICRC Mines-Arms Unit, tel. ++41 22 730 2667


During the weekend of 9 - 10 December 2000, for all information please call
the press officer on duty Antonella Notari, on (mobile) 41 79 217 32 80