ICRC News 49 / 21-Dec-00

** SHORT MENU....

Colombia: Large-scale assistance programme
Tens of thousands of displaced people in the rural areas of Colombia have
so little freedom of movement that they no longer know what to do.

Philippines: ICRC and Philippine Red Cross assist 1,000 displaced families
in Jolo
The island of Jolo, in the south-western Philippines, made international
headlines in April when Abu Sayyaf rebels abducted a group of western
tourists who were eventually released.

Yugoslavia: Humanitarian assistance in the Presevo Valley
Ever since tension began to mount in the Presevo Valley of southern Serbia,
ICRC teams have been present in the Gjilan-Gnilane and Nis areas and kept
in close contact with the authorities and the civilian population there in
order to assess and respond to humanitarian needs.

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Single Red Cross Society set up
The Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina held its constitutive
assembly in Sarajevo on 15 December, paving the way for formal recognition
by the ICRC and subsequent admission to the International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement.

Rwanda: Humanitarian law seminar held at Gako Military Academy
On 8 and 9 December the ICRC held a seminar on international humanitarian
law, in cooperation with the Gako Military Academy in Rwanda, which enabled
144 future company commanders, staff officers and military instructors to
acquire a basic knowledge of the law and to learn the rules of behaviour in
combat.


** STORIES IN FULL...

Colombia
Large-scale assistance programme

Tens of thousands of displaced people in the rural areas of Colombia have
so little freedom of movement that they no longer know what to do. The
conflict has been raging for nearly 50 years, and so far every attempt to
find a peaceful solution has met with failure. Because of the security
situation, these vulnerable people have no outlet for their produce –
anyone who travels to an area under the control of the enemy to sell fruit,
vegetables or the wood they have cut may be branded as a collaborator.

The ICRC regularly visits these people, spending many hours on foot, on
horseback or in small boats to reach them. Part of the ICRC's assistance
programme consists in organizing vaccination campaigns and providing
medical care. The displaced are also made aware of hygiene problems so as
to reduce the risk of epidemics.

In addition, the ICRC distributes basic food supplies (rice, beans, oil and
salt) and the tools and seed the displaced need to grow their own crops.
Many of these people are separated from their families and can only keep in
touch with them by means of Red Cross messages.

Approximately 50 expatriates and more than 200 local employees are
currently striving to assist this population in distress. Besides the
delegation in Bogotá, the ICRC has 12sub-delegations and three offices in
Colombia.

Further information : Roland Sidler, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 41 22 730 20 45


Philippines
ICRC and Philippine Red Cross assist 1,000 displaced families in Jolo

The island of Jolo, in the south-western Philippines, made international
headlines in April when Abu Sayyaf rebels abducted a group of western
tourists who were eventually released. In mid-September the Philippine
armed forces launched a major offensive on the island, causing a massive
displacement of the population. It was not until mid-November, however,
that a joint ICRC/Philippine National Red Cross team was able to carry out
a survey of needs, after the armed forces allowed it to move about
unescorted. 

The team found that approximately 1,000 displaced families were still
living in 19 evacuation centres, in tents or school buildings, most of them
in deplorable conditions. It immediately started to distribute relief items
(plastic sheeting and mosquito nets for babies), carry out water and
sanitation activities (disinfection, construction of latrines, digging of
garbage disposal pits) and organize information sessions on international
humanitarian law. 

ICRC and National Society medical staff also provided emergency care for
displaced persons, in particular children suffering from measles as the
result of an outbreak that threatened to reach epidemic proportions, and
the ICRC treated four surgical patients (civilians with gunshot and
shrapnel wounds). The ICRC is now considering the possibility of
strengthening the medical infrastructure in Jolo, where there is no
resident surgeon and the lack of basic medicines, disinfection materials
and dressings is chronic. 

The Philippine armed forces have recently stepped up their operations in
the towns of Patikul and Talipao. As a result, two evacuation centres
housing 244 displaced families have been declared off limits. The ICRC and
the National Society nevertheless expect to be able to provide assistance
there by January.

Further information: Darcy Christen, ICRC Geneva, tel.: ++ 4122 730 27 50


Yugoslavia
Humanitarian assistance in the Presevo Valley

Ever since tension began to mount in the Presevo Valley of southern Serbia,
ICRC teams have been present in the Gjilan-Gnilane and Nis areas and kept
in close contact with the authorities and the civilian population there in
order to assess and respond to humanitarian needs. 

Joint ICRC and Yugoslav Red Cross teams from Nis started providing
assistance in the Bujanovac area on 11 December. So far about 70 tonnes of
food have been distributed in 13 villages to some 20,000 people of both
Serb and Albanian origin. Emergency surgical supplies have also been
furnished to the Bujanovac health centre and the Vranje hospital.

In the Gjilan-Gnilane area, food aid has been provided for displaced
persons since late November. To date an average of 120 people sheltering in
collective centres have received two hot meals a day in a soup kitchen run
by the Netherlands Red Cross, and 75 tonnes of food have been distributed
by the local Red Cross to displaced persons living with host families.
Medical supplies have been provided for the Gjilan-Gnilane hospital in
cooperation with the Finnish Red Cross.

An ICRC team has been present in the so-called Ground Safety Zone since 16
December, carrying out surveys so as to be able to meet emergency
humanitarian needs. In addition, the ICRC continues to monitor the
situation of persons arrested or captured in the area.

Further information: Vincent Lusser, ICRC Geneva, tel.: ++ 4122 730 24 58


Bosnia-Herzegovina
Single Red Cross Society set up

The Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina held its constitutive
assembly in Sarajevo on 15 December, paving the way for formal recognition
by the ICRC and subsequent admission to the International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement. During the historic meeting, DrMidhat Haracic, head of
the Sarajevo Blood Transfusion Institute, was elected to chair the National
Society on a rotating basis. His two co-chairmen will be MrBrano Dursan, a
lawyer from Trebinje, and Ms Adela Skaro, a social worker from
Tomislavgrad.

This move towards recognition is the outcome of a long process during which
representatives of the Red Cross organizations of the country's two
entities met regularly for 30 months, through a contact group. The decision
taken by the Bosnia-Herzegovina Council of Ministers in September to
recognize a single Red Cross Society in the country, combining the entity
organizations, was a milestone.

-240"The lengthy but fruitful dialogue has finally achieved its aim" said
Balthasar Staehelin, head of the ICRC delegation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as
the assembly came to a close. "This is all the more remarkable in the
present circumstances as it was brought about by local people, rather than
being imposed from the outside."

Further information: Jessica Barry, ICRC Sarajevo, tel.: ++ 387 33 652 407


Rwanda
Humanitarian law seminar held at Gako Military Academy

On 8 and 9 December the ICRC held a seminar on international humanitarian
law, in cooperation with the Gako Military Academy in Rwanda, which enabled
144 future company commanders, staff officers and military instructors to
acquire a basic knowledge of the law and to learn the rules of behaviour in
combat. The seminar included an overview of the ICRC's role, mandate and
activities in the country and throughout the world.

The training received by the participants, who are to serve as commanders
in their respective fields, is part of a programme developed by Kenyan
military advisers working in Rwanda. The advisers, who arrived in the
country in October, were invited by the authorities to share their
expertise in the field of training with members of the Rwandan Patriotic
Army.

A seminar on the same subject was held at the Gako Military Academy on 11
and 12 December for 116 participants in courses for non-commissioned
officers.

Further information: Patrick Mégevand, ICRC Kigali, tel.: ++250 77 344/5


As 2000 draws to a close...
We send season's greetings to all our readers and our very best wishes for
2001.


During the weekend of 23 - 26 December, for all information please call the
press officer on duty, Roland Sidler, on (mobile) ++ 41 79 217 32 58,
or from the 30 December to the 3 January, please call duty press officer
Darcy Christen on (mobile) ++ 41 79 217 32 31.