ICRC News 07 / 20.2.97
TAJIKISTAN HOSTAGE CRISIS RESOLVED
The ICRC was extremely relieved to learn that the last five hostages held in Obigarm, Tajikistan, had been released.
With regard to the gradual resumption of its activities to assist the victims of the conflict, the ICRC has contacted the other humanitarian organizations working in the country, as well as government authorities and the opposition, to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to safeguard humanitarian activities.
When its work resumes, the ICRC will give priority to food aid and medical assistance for prisoners.
Further information: Suzanne Berger, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2906
GENEVA ICRC URGENTLY APPEALS FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The ICRC last week presented its 1997 budget requests to its major donors. Director of Operations Jean de Courten urged a generous response, warning that the organization wanted to avoid being forced into a position where it had to choose between victims because it lacked the financial means to carry out its mandate in full. The previous year had seen crises in Chechnya, the Great Lakes region of Africa, the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Peru, East Timor, Colombia and Sierra Leone, dramas in which the ICRC was frequently one of the few humanitarian players present, carrying out work that was often unique. These examples illustrated the need for an independent and impartial humanitarian organization, and that organization needed the financial support of the international community.
Specific appeals for financial contributions to the ICRC's 1997 operations were first made last December. A total of 142 million Swiss francs is being requested for the headquarters budget, with 674 million francs (including a special appeal for 31.9 million francs for work in Zaire) needed for the field budget.
The largest portion of the field budget is allocated to Africa: 268.2 million francs, or 41.2%. This is followed by Eastern Europe and Central Asia with 128 million francs (20%), and Asia with 110 million (17%). At present, the operations with the highest budgets for 1997 are those in Rwanda (67 million francs) and Afghanistan (61 million).
The higher 1997 budgets for traditional ICRC activities, such as work to prevent violations of international humanitarian law and cooperation with National Societies, reflects the importance attached by the ICRC to ensuring that those who live in the areas where it works have a better understanding of the organization and its values and principles, and to strengthening the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement as a whole.
As it closed its accounts for 1996, the ICRC faced a 20-million-franc deficit for its field operations. "We are certainly concerned about the final result for 1996", said Jean-Marc Bornet, the new head of the External Resources Department, "although more than 8 million francs of the deficit are accounted for by the shortfall carried over from 1995". He nevertheless stressed that immediate steps must be taken to halt this trend. Mr Bornet said that the ICRC planned to make greater efforts to find new donors both among governments and in the private sector.
Further information: Tony Burgener, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2317
PERU ICRC MAINTAINS ASSISTANCE TO HOSTAGES
Seventy-two of the people taken hostage on 17 December 1996, when members of the Tzpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) occupied the residence of the Japanese ambassador in Lima, are still being held.
On 11 February direct preliminary discussions aimed at drawing up an agenda and procedures for subsequent talks began between representatives of the government and the MRTA group occupying the residence. The discussions are being held in an office set up by the ICRC in a building across the street. The building is marked with the ICRC emblem, which the Peruvian authorities and the MRTA have promised to respect.
The talks are taking place in the presence of the Guarantor Commission, comprising Mgr Juan Luis Cipriani, the Bishop of Ayacucho; Mr Anthony Vincent, the Canadian ambassador in Lima; ICRC representative Michel Minnig for humanitarian questions; and Ambassador Terusuke Terada of Japan as an observer.
When the armed MRTA group occupied the Japanese ambassador's residence last December, it detained over 700 people who were attending a reception held to mark the birthday of the Emperor of Japan.
Michel Minnig, head of the ICRC delegation in Lima, was among the guests. Within hours he had arranged for the release of about 300 hostages, mainly women and elderly people. Since then another 300 have been freed in various groups, under ICRC auspices.
Since the crisis began, ICRC delegates have made daily deliveries of food and drink to the residence (over 12,000 meals, 15,000 litres of drinking water and 5,000 litres of various other drinks have been supplied to date) and have monitored sanitary conditions. They have exchanged nearly 5,000 Red Cross messages between the hostages and their families. ICRC medical delegates check on the health of the 72 hostages every day, and keep the MRTA regularly informed of their findings so that the group can take the appropriate decisions. The ICRC also facilitates the work of independent medical specialists monitoring the hostages' state of health.
Further information: Rubin Ortega, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2454
During the week-end of 22 - 23 February 1997, for all information please call the press officer on duty, Tony Burgener, on (mobile) 41 79 202 36 70