ICRC News 32 / 15.08.96
RUSSIAN FEDERATION / CHECHNYA ICRC CONVOY FINALLY REACHES CENTRAL GROZNY
On 10 and 13 August, the ICRC appealed to the parties for a truce in order to evacuate the wounded, bring aid to the city's trapped inhabitants and enable civilians to leave combat zones.
a FIRST CONVOY CARRYING BLANKETS AND FOOD FOR VICTIMS IN THE CENTRE OF GROZnY HAS MANAGED TO GET THROUGH TO THE ICRC OFFICE BUILDING THERE TODAY (14 AUGUST). SINCE TODAY'S LULL IN THE FIGHTING ANOTHER FOUR OR FIVE HUNDRED CIVILIANS HAVE TAKEN REFUGE IN THE ICRC PREMISES.
After fierce fighting broke out in Grozny on 6 August, the ICRC office building, which is itself situated in the centre of the city, was transformed into a makeshift hospital and shelter as hundreds of civilians sought safety and support. The red cross emblem marking the compound has so far been respected by the parties
By Monday morning (12 August) the ICRC had run out of blankets, mattresses and candles as it struggled to help the 450 civilians, mainly women and children, who had arrived over the weekend fleeing the fighting. Later in the day, delegates managed to evacuate 200 of the displaced and 30 wounded patients to the safer outskirts of the city.
The ground floor of the building was converted to care as well as possible for the sick and wounded, some of whom were transferred directly from Hospital 9 which is no longer in operation. Doctors from the hospital have been providing first aid and have performed surgery on the most critical cases. Meanwhile nurses have delivered at least four babies born inside the ICRC premises.
A water pipe discovered by chance in the cellar of the building has enabled delegates to provide the population with drinking water by installing a tap outside. For months, ICRC tanker trucks have been supplying the city of Grozny, parts of which are completely deprived of running water, with 400,000 litres a day. Conditions have been too dangerous over the past few days for this supply to continue, and the water shortage resulting from the fighting is of major concern to the ICRC.
Further information: Victoria Catliff, ICRC Moscow, tel. ++7095 926 5426 Corinne Adam, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2608
FORMER YUGOSLAVIA Facing up to the danger of mines
Every month, mines in former Yugoslavia continue to kill and maim the unwary. It is therefore crucial to warn people of the potential danger they face when moving around.
At the beginning of the year, the ICRC launched a major mine-awareness campaign to alert the largest possible number of people in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. It is now following up with a second phase which, besides a visual approach with posters and a radio and TV media campaign, also consists of community training for population groups most at risk.
These groups include displaced people who return to places from which they had fled, farmers who have no choice but to work in the fields and children who might venture into dangerous areas, even though they have been told to be careful and stay away.
To help keep the population mine-conscious in the long term, the ICRC is beginning to train mine-awareness field officers based throughout the region. In Croatia, these field officers will train local Red Cross volunteers to work within the community, whereas in Bosnia they will themselves take the message to the most vulnerable population groups.
To ascertain the actual danger that mines represent for the population, the field officers will also collect data from communities about the number of accidents, where they took place and the type of risks the victims had taken when they were injured or killed by a mine.
"Although the conflict has ended, mines will remain a very real danger for years to come", said Norman Farrell, ICRC dissemination delegate in Bosnia. "This programme is a vital step towards developing a sustainable community-based approach which, by heightening the population's awareness of mines, will help to save lives in the future."
Further information: Corinne Adam, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2608
INDIA BATTALION BRIEFED
On 8 August, the ICRC delegation in New Delhi held a briefing for the Indian Army's 16th Guards Infantry Battalion Group, which is shortly to be deployed as part of the UN peace-keeping force in Angola. It took place at the Battalion's request, which was conveyed to the ICRC via Indian Army headquarters in New Delhi, and was attended by more than 50 of the Battalion's officers.
During the briefing, the nature of the ICRC's role in general and more specifically its tasks in Angola were explained to members of one of the world's largest armed forces. Particular stress was placed on ICRC guidelines for UN peace-keeping forces and the universal obligation for armed forces to comply with the principles of international humanitarian law.
Further information: Savita Varde-Naqvi, ICRC New Delhi, tel. ++9111 469 8385 Joerg Stoecklin, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2906
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During the week-end of 17-18 August 1996, for all information please call the press officer on duty, Kim Gordon-Bates, on (mobile) 079 200 57 75
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