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AFGHANISTAN: 140 DETAINEES RELEASED UNDER ICRC AUSPICES: On 21 July 140 detainees were released in Afghanistan under the auspices of the ICRC. A team of ICRC delegates accompanied by representatives of the Taliban authorities and Commander Massoud's Northern Coalition went to the no-man's-land north of Kabul to take part in the operation.
ICRC SHOCKED BY MURDER OF FOUR UN STAFF MEMBERS IN TAJIKISTAN: Extremely shocked by the murder of four UN staff members by unknown individuals who ambushed them on 20 July as they were driving from Tavildara to the Garm valley, in central Tajikistan, the ICRC wishes to extend its deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the victims and to their colleagues at the UN.
GUINEA-BISSAU: ICRC RENEWS ITS APPEAL: Following increased exchanges of artillery fire in the capital city of Bissau from 15 to 17July, the ICRC once again called on all the parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law, urging them to distinguish between civilians and combatants and take every measure to ensure that the population is not exposed to the dangers resulting from military operations.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION / NORTHERN CAUCASUS: INTERNAL CLASHES IN CHECHNYA: Many people were reportedly killed and wounded in the clashes that pitted Chechen forces against an armed fundamentalist faction on 14 and 15 July in Gudermes.
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: UPDATED LIST OF MISSING PERSONS: The fourth edition of the list of persons reported missing in Bosnia-Herzegovina was released in Sarajevo this week as part of the ICRC's ongoing efforts to tackle a crucial humanitarian problem that continues to bring untold suffering to thousands of families throughout the country.
SENEGAL: FOOD AID FOR DISPLACED PERSONS AND VISITS TO DETAINEES IN CASAMANCE: On 22 July, in cooperation with the Senegalese Red Cross, the ICRC began a fourth series of food distributions (140 tonnes) for 20,000 displaced persons in the Ziguinchor area, in Casamance (southern Senegal)
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AFGHANISTAN 140 DETAINEES RELEASED UNDER ICRC AUSPICES
On 21 July 140 detainees were released in Afghanistan under the auspices of the ICRC. A team of ICRC delegates accompanied by representatives of the Taliban authorities and Commander Massoud's Northern Coalition went to the no-man's-land north of Kabul to take part in the operation. Half of the detainees were being held by the Taliban authorities in Kandahar and the other half by the authorities of the Northern Coalition in Panshir.
The ICRC has been working in Afghanistan since 1980 and conducts regular visits throughout the country to people detained by all the parties to the conflict.
Further information: Corinne Adam, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 4122 730 22 24
ICRC SHOCKED BY MURDER OF FOUR UN STAFF MEMBERS IN TAJIKISTAN
Extremely shocked by the murder of four UN staff members by unknown individuals who ambushed them on 20 July as they were driving from Tavildara to the Garm valley, in central Tajikistan, the ICRC wishes to extend its deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the victims and to their colleagues at the UN. The ICRC strongly condemns this act of cold-blooded murder.
Following this tragic incident, the ICRC decided to suspend its activities in the Garm and Tavildara area until further notice and called its staff back to Dushanbe.
Joining the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in a gesture of solidarity with the colleagues and friends of the victims, the ICRC delegation in Dushanbe has instructed its staff to work exclusively on the premises of its office until 24 July.
GUINEA-BISSAU ICRC RENEWS ITS APPEAL
Following increased exchanges of artillery fire in the capital city of Bissau from 15 to 17July, the ICRC once again called on all the parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law, urging them to distinguish between civilians and combatants and take every measure to ensure that the population is not exposed to the dangers resulting from military operations. Meanwhile, the fighting has slowed down the humanitarian assistance operations which ICRC delegates are carrying out with the help of volunteers from the Red Cross Society of Guinea-Bissau.
The shelling in Bissau claimed a number of civilian victims as some people had taken advantage of a temporary lull in the fighting to attempt to return to their homes, which they had fled when the fighting broke out on 7 June. Among other things destroyed in the artillery fire was the market place, where people had begun to buy and sell goods again. These events have reversed the flow of people back to the capital, and the displaced are once again seeking refuge on the city outskirts.
In mid-July, in Bafata, the country's second largest city, ICRC delegates took delivery of two convoys of food sent by the World Food Programme via the Republic of Guinea. Distributions were carried out by local Red Cross volunteers and by religious missions and other organizations present on the spot. In all, some 56 tonnes of grain, oil, salt and sugar were handed out to over 4,000 displaced persons in the Mansoa area and to hospital patients.
Further information: Gilbert DelCchat, ICRC Dakar, tel. ++221 8 24 1293
RUSSIAN FEDERATION / NORTHERN CAUCASUS INTERNAL CLASHES IN CHECHNYA
Many people were reportedly killed and wounded in the clashes that pitted Chechen forces against an armed fundamentalist faction on 14 and 15 July in Gudermes. On 17 July the ICRC delegation in Nalchik (Kabardino-Balkaria) arranged for emergency medical supplies to be sent to Chechnya. Local ICRC staff in Grozny later distributed these supplies to five hospitals in Argun, Grozny, Gudermes, Kurt Chaloi and Urus Martan that had taken in people wounded during the clashes. The assistance delivered should cover the medical needs of about 60 people.
Since late 1996, for security reasons, the ICRC has been using Nalchik as the base for its operations in Chechnya, Daghestan and Ingushetia. Local ICRC and Russian Red Cross staff members are in charge of carrying out ICRC projects on the spot.
Further information: Corinne Adam, ICRC Geneva: ++ 4122 730 22 24
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA UPDATED LIST OF MISSING PERSONS
The fourth edition of the list of persons reported missing in Bosnia-Herzegovina was released in Sarajevo this week as part of the ICRC's ongoing efforts to tackle a crucial humanitarian problem that continues to bring untold suffering to thousands of families throughout the country.
The list, also referred to as the "book of missing persons", contains the most recent information (personal details and date and place of disappearance) on 18,014 people still unaccounted for in connection with the war. The latest edition also includes the names of people who have been reported dead but whose families are still waiting to recover their bodies so that they can be given a decent burial.
The book will be distributed widely throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina in police stations, municipal buildings, medical facilities and other places in an effort to encourage people to come forth with any information that might help elucidate the fate of those reported missing and could be passed on to their families. It will also be sent to more than 30 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in countries where refugees have settled.
The ICRC believes that it is primarily up to the authorities of Bosnia-Herzegovina to persuade people to provide it with information that could help ease the anguish felt by the families of missing persons. These families cannot recover their peace of mind until they learn what has become of their relatives and anyone who can help is requested to come forward for their sake.
The updated list of missing persons is posted on the ICRC's public server on the Internet under the heading "Special Web Operation: Unaccounted for in Bosnia and Herzegovina" (Website address: http://www.icrc.org).
Further information: Jon-Hans Coetzer, ICRC Sarajevo, tel. ++387 71 652 407
SENEGAL FOOD AID FOR DISPLACED PERSONS AND VISITS TO DETAINEES IN CASAMANCE
On 22 July, in cooperation with the Senegalese Red Cross, the ICRC began a fourth series of food distributions (140 tonnes) for 20,000 displaced persons in the Ziguinchor area, in Casamance (southern Senegal). Over the past 11 months these people, who have been registered by the National Society, have fled their homes to escape from the fighting between the Senegalese armed forces and rebels from the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance.
Since 13 July an ICRC doctor and a delegate have been conducting a new round of visits to people arrested in connection with the events in Casamance. The team has already seen detainees in the Dakar prison and is currently visiting the places of detention situated in the south of the country, in Bignona, Kolda and Ziguinchor. In accordance with the ICRC's standard working procedures, the team is holding private interviews with detainees to find out about their living conditions and the treatment they receive. In Senegal, the ICRC has been conducting regular visits to detainees who come under its mandate since 1996.
Further information: Gilbert Delechat, ICRC Dakar, tel. ++ 221 8 24 1293
During the weekend of 25 - 26 July 1998, for all information please call the press officer on duty Michael Kleiner, on (mobile) 41 79 202 42 00