ICRC News 40 / 08.10.97
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UGANDA: AID FOR 14,000 DISPLACED: The ICRC has just finished distributing blankets, plastic sheeting and soap to over 14,000 internally displaced people in Nyahuka, south-western Uganda. The town's original population of 3,000 increased six-fold when thousands of people sought refuge there from the surrounding hills, fleeing the clashes which broke out in the area last June.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: PRIORITY IN KIVU GIVEN TO CLEAN WATER AND MEDICAL CARE: The ICRC has completed its relief operation for displaced Congolese in the Kivu area under which 150,000 people received food, seed and other basic items, and is now endeavouring to improve the provision of drinking water and medical care.
KENYA: LOCAL RED CROSS OPERATION CONTINUES: The Kenya Red Cross Society is pursuing the operation it launched on 13 August after violence broke out in the region of Mombasa, claiming dozens of lives and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
AFRICA: MUSIC DEFIES WAR: Using music to promote greater respect and protection for war victims in Africa: that is the challenge taken up by the ICRC and six of the continent's most popular artists.
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UGANDA AID FOR 14,000 DISPLACED
The ICRC has just finished distributing blankets, plastic sheeting and soap to over 14,000 internally displaced people in Nyahuka, south-western Uganda. The town's original population of 3,000 increased six-fold when thousands of people sought refuge there from the surrounding hills, fleeing the clashes which broke out in the area last June. "Some of the displaced have found shelter in crowded churches and schools, but most of them are living in makeshift huts in the bush around Nyahuka", said Louis Grasveld, the ICRC field delegate who supervised the distribution. The operation went ahead smoothly thanks to the support of the Uganda Red Cross Society, whose volunteers first registered all the beneficiaries and then helped distribute the supplies.
The distribution is part of a vast operation launched three months ago by the ICRC and the National Red Cross Society to assist some 70,000 internally displaced people in the south-western districts of Kasese, Kabarole and Bundibugyo. To date, in the first two districts about 30,000 people have received relief supplies and monthly food rations, while in Bundibugyo roughly the same number have been given blankets, soap and plastic sheeting.
"The operation will last until December, the start of the harvest season", said Claudio Baranzini, head of ICRC operations in Uganda. "After that, we will of course continue to monitor the situation in the region, in close cooperation with the local Red Cross, so that we can step in quickly should new humanitarian needs arise."
Further information: Claudio Baranzini, ICRC Kampala, tel. ++25641 230517 Josui Anselmo, ICRC Nairobi, Tel. ++2542 716339
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO PRIORITY IN KIVU GIVEN TO CLEAN WATER AND MEDICAL CARE
The ICRC has completed its relief operation for displaced Congolese in the Kivu area under which 150,000 people received food, seed and other basic items, and is now endeavouring to improve the provision of drinking water and medical care.
In Goma, ICRC engineers have restored the sanitary installations in seven health-care centres and work is currently under way to rehabilitate three other medical facilities. Together with Regidesco, the national water company, the ICRC is extending the water-supply network in two districts of the town.
Further south, in the Bukavu area, the ICRC has set up a gravity-feed system for Nyangezi hospital. The same type of system will be used to supply densely populated areas in the suburbs. Meanwhile, a similar project is nearing completion on the island of Idjwi, where 12 kilometres of pipe have recently been laid to supply Monvu hospital and 12 small towns.
In addition to providing medicines and various other items, the ICRC is covering the running costs of the hospitals in Bukavu, Goma and Uvira. An ICRC team made up of two doctors, a nurse and a radiologist has also set up basic and advanced training courses for the staff of the 170-bed local hospital in Uvira.
Since the beginning of this year, the ICRC has supported 52 health-care centres in Kivu (10 in Bukavu, 29 in Uvira and 13 in Goma). These centres, each of which gives between 10 and 20 consultations a day, meet the medical needs of approximately 270,000 people.
Further information: Roland Sidler, ICRC Geneva, Tel. ++ 41 22 730 20 45
KENYA LOCAL RED CROSS OPERATION CONTINUES
The Kenya Red Cross Society is pursuing the operation it launched on 13 August after violence broke out in the region of Mombasa, claiming dozens of lives and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Some 4,000 displaced persons who took refuge in seven churches and mosques are receiving food and other basic necessities, a medical team is treating about 60 patients a day, and hygiene conditions are being monitored so as to prevent any outbreak of infectious diseases. Thanks to the Red Cross message network, moreover, some of the displaced have been able to get in touch with their relatives once again: so far 80 replies have been received to some 420 Red Cross messages sent around the country and abroad, giving as many victims reason to hope that they will soon be reunited with their loved ones.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Red Cross is keeping a close watch on the humanitarian situation and stands ready to take action if new needs should arise. "These population movements will probably continue until after the general elections scheduled for the end of the year", said Alex Munai, who is in charge of the Society's programmes. "We are therefore putting together a plan of action that will enable us to meet needs during the coming three months."
Further information: Josui Anselmo, ICRC Nairobi, Tel. ++ 2542 716 339
AFRICA MUSIC DEFIES WAR
Using music to promote greater respect and protection for war victims in Africa: that is the challenge taken up by the ICRC and six of the continent's most popular artists. This week marks the worldwide release of the album "So why?", recorded by Youssou N'Dour (Senegal), Papa Wemba (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Jabu of Bayete and Lucky Dube (South Africa), Lagbaja (Nigeria) and Lourdes Van-Dunem (Angola). The title song expresses the emotion they felt after meeting war victims in KwaZulu/Natal, Liberia, southern Sudan and Angola, on a trip they took with ICRC representatives to some of the worst-affected regions in Africa.
With the help of the media, record distributors and retailers, disk jockeys and street vendors, the ICRC hopes to reach people who are already or may become involved in violence, and all those who can in some way influence the conduct of conflict. The aim is to raise public awareness so that a modicum of respect will once again be shown for humanitarian values. The ICRC is relying on the musicians' talent and fame to drive the message home.
A documentary film will be broadcast by satellite throughout Africa starting on 9 October. Entitled "Music goes to war", it shows the artists on their trip and composing the song. A book about this unique experience, with a foreword by President Nelson Mandela, will come out in November.
Further information: Philippe Lazzarini, ICRC Geneva, Tel. ++4122 730 21 90
During the weekend of 11 - 12 October 1997, for all information please call the press officer on duty, Michael Kleiner, on (mobile) 41 79 202 42 00