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ICRC HEADQUARTERS: ICRC APPROVES PLAN OF ACTION: At its meeting on 29 and 30 April, the ICRC Assembly endorsed a plan of action designed to enable the organization to give effect to the policy decisions adopted in December 1997 in the framework of the major study on the future of the ICRC
COLOMBIA: AMERICAN HOSTAGES FREED: Three United States citizens captured on 23 March 1998 by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were handed over last week to an ICRC team including Colombian Red Cross workers in the mountainous region of Los Alpes, some 100 km south-east of Bogota.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: HEALTH PROGRAMME IN ORIENTAL PROVINCE: The health programme launched eight months ago by the Belgian Red Cross, to which the ICRC delegated the project, is proving to be a success.
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ICRC HEADQUARTERS ICRC APPROVES PLAN OF ACTION
At its meeting on 29 and 30 April, the ICRC Assembly endorsed a plan of action designed to enable the organization to give effect to the policy decisions adopted in December 1997 in the framework of the major study on the future of the ICRC (see communication to the press No.97/36 of 16December1997).
The ICRC's work for conflict victims will continue along four lines: bringing humanitarian action close to the victims and redefining such action with a view to the long term; strengthening dialogue with all the players on the scene of a conflict; reassessing the nature of independent humanitarian action and promoting international humanitarian law; and improving the organization's efficiency. Some 130 specific measures have been adopted to enable the ICRC to reach its objectives in the short, medium and long terms.
The plan of action provides for structural changes to the internal organization of the ICRC. It aims to increase the autonomy of ICRC delegations, to make savings in the headquarters budget in the medium term, and to establish a highly developed self-evaluation procedure. These measures will gradually be introduced from 1 May 1998 up to the end of the first quarter of the year 2001.
Over a year ago the ICRC initiated a wide-ranging discussion and consultation process prompted by changes in the nature of current conflicts and developments anticipated in the future. This involved the entire organization both at headquarters and in the field. The plan of action sets out the practical measures stemming from this reflection process.
A document (in English and French) summarizing the main features of the plan will be available on request from Monday 4 May.
Further information: Kim Gordon Bates, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2302 Philippe Lazzarini, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2190
COLOMBIA AMERICAN HOSTAGES FREED
Three United States citizens captured on 23 March 1998 by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were handed over last week to an ICRC team including Colombian Red Cross workers in the mountainous region of Los Alpes, some 100 km south-east of Bogota. A woman hostage was freed on 24 April, and her two companions were released the next day. All three were immediately taken to Villavicencio and then flown on a Red Cross plane to Bogota, where they were handed over to United States embassy staff.
In a bid to ensure greater compliance with the basic rules of international humanitarian law, the ICRC maintains contact with nearly all irregular armed groups in Colombia, whether guerrilla forces or private self-defence organizations. In incidents involving hostage-taking, the ICRC seeks to obtain confirmation from the captors that they are indeed holding the people concerned, to enable the hostages to get in touch with their families by means of Red Cross messages, and to gain access to them to make sure that they are well treated and in good health.
At times the ICRC may step in to facilitate the hostages' release, but only if asked by the families and the abductors. Delegates never become involved in any negotiations concerning the release of the captives. The ICRC delegation in Colombia is currently following some 500cases of persons held by irregular armed groups. In 1997, it helped in the release of 270people.
Further information: Ruben Ortega, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2454
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO HEALTH PROGRAMME IN ORIENTAL PROVINCE
The health programme launched eight months ago by the Belgian Red Cross, to which the ICRC delegated the project, is proving to be a success. The aim of the programme is to carry out repairs and develop primary health care services in seven of the 18 health centres in the Kabondo health district of the Oriental province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"We have specific medical objectives", explained project leader Dr Valerie Alaluf, who is working with a team of locally recruited personnel. "Our goal is basically to attract more people to the centres by providing better treatment and preventive care."
Dr Alaluf is lending her expertise to upgrade the skills of health centre staff in the care of pregnant women and pre-school children, and is also helping to train midwives.
With the support of the local population, the team renovating the centres has finished work in two towns, Yabiso and Yetu, and in two rural areas, Madula and Wanierukula. The other three centres - Foyer, Konga-Konga and Bafwaboli - will be ready by the end of August 1998.
The results are already visible, and the nurse in charge of Yabiso health centre, Avobuma Sidomie, is overjoyed. "We used to see barely 20 people a day. Since the centre was renovated, the number of daily consultations has doubled and many young mothers are coming to us."
Further information: France Hurtubise, ICRC Kinshasa, tel. ++243 12 34 191
New on the ICRC Public Server - http://www.icrc.org : - Fact sheet on ICRC activities in Sri Lanka, dated 24.04.98
During the weekend of 2- 3 May 1998, for all information please call the press officer on duty Amanda Williamson, on (mobile) 41 79 357 15 24