ICRC News 10 / 15-Mar-01


** SHORT MENU....

Afghanistan: Responding to the crisis
A recent update on ICRC operations in Afghanistan describes the deepening
humanitarian crisis in the country after two decades of war, a series of
droughts and a deadly winter.

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Detainees released under amnesty act
return home
On 10 March, ICRC delegates arranged for the successful transfer of nearly
100 ex-detainees from Serbia proper to their homes in Kosovo - the third
such group to be released following the passing of an amnesty act by the
Yugoslav parliament.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Emergency relief for internally
displaced
In the last few days, ICRC and Macedonian Red Cross teams have distributed
emergency relief to around 500 of the estimated 800 villagers who fled the
fighting between security forces and ethnic Albanian armed groups in the
Crna Gora region of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Relief distribution in the Presevo valley
The ICRC has just completed a distribution of emergency relief for the
civilians most severely affected by the ongoing tension in southern Serbia.

Brazil: Training course for police officers
The ICRC delegation in Brasilia has just finished training 22 police
officers from Latin America as instructors in human rights norms and
international humanitarian law, with a particular emphasis on those aspects
which relate to their duties.


** STORIES IN FULL...

Afghanistan
Responding to the crisis

A recent update on ICRC operations in Afghanistan describes the deepening
humanitarian crisis in the country after two decades of war, a series of
droughts and a deadly winter.

In the past 12 months, some 600,000 people have fled the country's central
regions, where they were exposed to drought and sporadic fighting, but
tens of thousands of others were too poor to travel and have had to remain
on the spot.

Before winter set in and snowfall cut the population off from the outside
world, the ICRC, together with the Afghan Red Crescent Society, the
International Federation and the World Food Programme, distributed food
and other supplies to a total of 200,000 people in the drought-stricken
region of Ghor. In Herat, Kandahar and Helmand, some 80,000 displaced
people received ICRC assistance comprising food and basic shelter
material.

-240With winter ending and their food reserves now depleted, the displaced
and resident population of central Afghanistan still have no seed for
growing their own crops. In order to ensure the survival of 40,000
families (240,000 people) until harvest time, the ICRC is planning to
distribute food rations and seed in the Ghor, Badakhshan and Dar-e-Suf
areas starting in late March.

The update stresses that almost 50 million Swiss francs are still urgently
needed from the donor community to cover the ICRC's 2001 emergency
operations in the country.

Further information: Martin Amacher, ICRC Kabul, tel. ++873 761242811
Macarena Aguilar, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++41227302678



Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Detainees released under amnesty act return home

On 10 March, ICRC delegates arranged for the successful transfer of nearly
100 ex-detainees from Serbia proper to their homes in Kosovo - the third
such group to be released following the passing of an amnesty act by the
Yugoslav parliament.

The first of three ICRC teams involved in the carefully planned operation
set off at dawn from Belgrade and travelled 75 km north to a place of
detention in Zrenjanin, where 10 people were eagerly waiting to recover
their freedom. They were brought back to Belgrade where a second team had
meanwhile collected 64 people released from the city's central prison. En
route they were joined by a third team with 21 former inmates of Smederevo
prison. From Belgrade, all three parties travelled in a convoy to the
Medare crossing point on the Kosovo border, where the released detainees
were handed over to staff from the ICRC delegation in Pristina. Shortly
afterwards, they were reunited with their relatives.

Detention delegate Micha Wedekind, who took part in the operation, says
emotions were running high: "First they looked a bit confused, as they
were not used to the experience of being free. Then they relaxed, started
chatting and paying attention to the outside world. At the last crossing
point they became anxious once more, in anticipation of seeing their
families again - it's always like that."

Since June 1999, the ICRC has made arrangements for around 1,400 Kosovo
Albanian released detainees to return to their homes, including some 150
freed as a direct result of the new amnesty measure. It will continue such
operations as more detainees are released. Approximately 480 of the
detainees registered and visited by the ICRC remain in captivity.

Further information: Daniela Cavini, ICRC Belgrade, tel. ++381 11 450 590
Amanda Williamson, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++41 22 730 26 78, or mobile ++41 79
217 32 16


The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Emergency relief for internally displaced

In the last few days, ICRC and Macedonian Red Cross teams have distributed
emergency relief to around 500 of the estimated 800 villagers who fled the
fighting between security forces and ethnic Albanian armed groups in the
Crna Gora region of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Most of the villagers arrived in Aracinovo, near the capital Skopje, last
week after the fighting broke out. Others also fled to the town of
Lipkovo, near Kumanovo. The arrivals had reportedly stopped over the
weekend as tensions eased. The ICRC will continue to monitor the
situation, especially in view of the fighting reported yesterday in and
around the town of Tetovo.

On-the-spot assessments carried out immediately by the ICRC and the MRC
showed that most of the displaced were women and children, many in a state
of exhaustion. Most appeared to be seeking refuge with relatives.
Distributions of individual food parcels and baby kits have already
started in Aracinovo, with more to follow in the Kumanovo area. The ICRC
is the only organization currently delivering such assistance.

Further information: Amanda Williamson, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 41 22 730 2678
/ ++ 41 79 217 3216.


Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Relief distribution in the Presevo valley

The ICRC has just completed a distribution of emergency relief for the
civilians most severely affected by the ongoing tension in southern
Serbia.

Earlier assessments in Serbian and Albanian villages inside and outside
the ground safety zone showed that some families were having trouble
reaching places where food and other items, especially those needed for
their children, were available. Over 120 of the approximately 450 people
assisted received baby kits or clothing for youngsters.

The civilian population at large was supplied with salt and sugar, which
are not produced locally, and wheat flour. People living in remote
villages in the Bujanovac and Medvedja areas beyond the town of Presevo
will receive similar aid in the near future. Medical assistance was also
provided in remote villages in the ground safety zone.

Following a blackout in Bujanovac on Friday evening after a pylon was hit,
the Red Cross handed out candles in the affected areas.

Earlier this year, more than 100 tonnes of food were delivered to some
25,000 people in 70 villages in the troubled area.

Further information, Daniela Cavini, ICRC Belgrade, tel. ++381 11 450 590
Amanda Williamson, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2678 / ++4179 217 3216


Brazil
Training course for police officers

The ICRC delegation in Brasilia has just finished training 22 police
officers from Latin America as instructors in human rights norms and
international humanitarian law, with a particular emphasis on those
aspects which relate to their duties.

The theoretical part of the course covered the following topics:
international and inter-American implementation mechanisms, violations,
police powers, crisis management and teaching techniques. More practical
aspects of the training focused on firearms and the use of force.

Some of the newly trained police officers, who come from Brazil, Ecuador,
Mexico, Panama and Venezuela, will now be able to serve as instructors in
similar courses held by the ICRC for security forces throughout the
region.

The training was carried out by ICRC experts and by instructors from the
foundation Equity International.

Further infomation: Macarena Aguilar, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2101


During the weekend of 17 - 18 March 2001, for all information please call
the press officer on duty Vincent Lusser, on (mobile) 41 79 217 32 24