ICRC News 31 / 13.08.97

ICRC News 31 / 13.08.97

** SHORT MENU....

TAJIKISTAN: ICRC ASSISTS VICTIMS OF FIGHTING IN DUSHANBE:
When clashes broke out in the Tajik capital Dushanbe on 9 August, the 
ICRC responded immediately by distributing medical assistance to four 
hospitals (two military and two civilian) in the city and to a military 
dispensary.

Ethiopia: THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN WITH A Red Cross MESSAGE:
For two days at the end of July, about 18,000 inhabitants of the eastern 
Ethiopian city of Harar gathered at the main stadium, a football field 
and a downtown square near the historic mosque to enjoy performances of 
Circus Dire Dawa, one of five groups making up the "Circus in Ethiopia" 
movement. A youth circus group of the Harar branch of the Ethiopian Red 
Cross Society (ERCS) was also taking part. 


** STORIES IN FULL...

TAJIKISTAN
ICRC ASSISTS VICTIMS OF FIGHTING IN DUSHANBE

When clashes broke out in the Tajik capital Dushanbe on 9 August, the 
ICRC responded immediately by distributing medical assistance to four 
hospitals (two military and two civilian) in the city and to a military 
dispensary. These facilities had admitted an estimated 50 casualties. The 
ICRC aid provided was sufficient to treat 150 wounded.

The two days of fighting between different factions belonging to the 
Tajik armed forces could threaten the fragile peace agreement signed by 
the Tajik government and the Islamist opposition at the end of June, and 
highlight the volatile nature of the situation.

On 12 August an ICRC team travelled to Tursunzade, west of Dushanbe, and 
another went to the south of the country to deliver medical supplies and 
assess the situation in medical facilities. Delegates are also evaluating 
the extent of the destruction caused since July by sporadic clashes 
between the same factions of the government armed forces.

Further information: Suzanne Berger, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2307



Ethiopia
THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN WITH A Red Cross MESSAGE

For two days at the end of July, about 18,000 inhabitants of the eastern 
Ethiopian city of Harar gathered at the main stadium, a football field 
and a downtown square near the historic mosque to enjoy performances of 
Circus Dire Dawa, one of five groups making up the "Circus in Ethiopia" 
movement. A youth circus group of the Harar branch of the Ethiopian Red 
Cross Society (ERCS) was also taking part. 

The circus programmes offer a unique combination of performances 
featuring traditional music and dance and humanitarian messages devised 
by the ERCS and the ICRC. For this particular occasion, Circus Dire Dawa 
had prepared, in cooperation with the ICRC and the National Society, a 
short play on the evacuation of the wounded in a conflict situation and 
assistance to displaced civilians, and a sketch illustrating the dangers 
of dependence on outside aid and the struggle for self-reliance. The 
latter is a major issue not only for the Red Cross network but also for 
the "Circus in Ethiopia" project, which expresses the aspirations of a 
young generation emerging from years of war and disaster.

Relations between the growing circus movement and the ERCS at branch and 
national levels will be further strengthened by a cooperation agreement 
on joint initiatives to promote humanitarian values and principles. While 
actively supporting this cooperation, the ICRC is also continuing to work 
with the different circus groups in organizing events relating to its own 
specific fields of activity.

Further information: Peter Iseli, ICRC Addis Ababa, tel. ++2511 51 83 66



During the weekend of 16 - 17 August 1997, for all information please 
call the press officer on duty, Amanda Williamson, on (mobile)
41 79 217 32 01