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AFGHANISTAN: ICRC FACING DIFFICULTIES : Since the town of Mazar-i-Sharif came under Taliban control, the ICRC has faced major difficulties in discharging its mandate of protection for the victims of the situation.
SIERRA LEONE: ICRC TO USE HELICOPTER TO REACH VICTIMS OF FIGHTING: >From the end of this week the ICRC will have a helicopter to enable it to go to areas in northern and eastern Sierra Leone that are difficult to reach overland.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: WATER AND WAR: This coming weekend the ICRC will charter two aircraft in Kenya to fly supplies to the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.
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AFGHANISTAN ICRC FACING DIFFICULTIES
Since the town of Mazar-i-Sharif came under Taliban control, the ICRC has faced major difficulties in discharging its mandate of protection for the victims of the situation.
Delegates arrived in Mazar-i-Sharif on Sunday 16 August, and began assessing needs shortly thereafter. They had numerous contacts with the authorities on the spot with a view to carrying out their humanitarian work, emphasizing the need to provide protection for detainees, minorities and the displaced.
Despite the dialogue it has maintained with the Taliban both in Mazar-i-Sharif and Kabul, the ICRC has not been authorized to have regular access to places of detention, and contacts with the Hazara minority in and around Mazar-i-Sharif have been restricted.
The ICRC is stepping up its representations to the Taliban authorities so as to be allowed to carry out its protection work unhindered.
Further information: Ruben Ortega, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 4122 730 24 54
SIERRA LEONE ICRC TO USE HELICOPTER TO REACH VICTIMS OF FIGHTING
>From the end of this week the ICRC will have a helicopter to enable it to go to areas in northern and eastern Sierra Leone that are difficult to reach overland. In these regions ongoing clashes between rebel groups and West African troops have forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee their villages and take refuge in the surrounding forest.
"The ICRC is very much concerned about the situation of these people in terms of food and medical care", said Jean-Luc Metzker, head of the ICRC delegation in Sierra Leone. "They have had no access to humanitarian aid, which up to now has been limited to less remote areas. With the helicopter we shall be able to reach them directly to assess their needs and set up emergency assistance programmes."
The helicopter will also allow delegates to evacuate serious casualties to medical facilities in the capital, Freetown, where they will be treated by an ICRC surgical team which has been working for several months at the Netland hospital.
Further information: Roland Sidler, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2281
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO WATER AND WAR
This coming weekend the ICRC will charter two aircraft in Kenya to fly supplies to the Congolese capital, Kinshasa. In addition to emergency medical material, the planes will carry several tonnes of chlorine for use at water treatment plants, together with salt, which after processing will also be used for water treatment. Because of the current situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stocks of chemicals needed for water purification are running out. Meanwhile the electricity supply has been only partially restored.
Priority has been given to providing the main hospitals and dispensaries with drinking water, using the existing distribution system. To compensate for water shortages resulting from lack of power at pumping stations, the water authorities in Kinshasa and the ICRC have organized the delivery of drinking water to the city's poorer neighbourhoods by tanker truck.
Further information: Roland Sidler, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2281
New on the ICRC Public Server - http://www.icrc.org : - Update 98/10 on ICRC activities in Afghanistan, dated 28.08.98
For any information you may need on Thursday 10 September (national holiday) or on the weekend of 12-13 September please call the press officer on duty Suzanne Berger, on (mobile) 41 79 217 32 05