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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: ICRC GAINS ACCESS TO FURTHER PLACE OF DETENTION IN KINSHASA On 14 September ICRC delegates conducted their first visit, in accordance with the organization's customary working procedures, to persons held at the Kinshasa Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Centre.
SUDAN: FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN THE EAST: An ICRC team comprising a water and sanitation expert, a nurse and a relief delegate is currently conducting a survey in the Kassala region to assess the most urgent needs of victims of the floods in this part of eastern Sudan, where shelling has already caused many people to flee their homes.
SUDAN: ICRC RESUMES TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR NURSING AIDES On 7 September a group of 12 enthusiastic Sudanese students from all parts of southern Sudan gathered at the ICRC Lopiding Hospital classroom in Lokichokio in northern Kenya to begin a six-month training course for nursing aides.
KENYA: SHELTER FOR RIFT VALLEY RETURNEES: The ICRC, together with the Kenya Red Cross Society, is distributing construction materials this week to families who have returned to the Laikipa District of Kenya's Rift Valley Province.
BRAZIL: MILITARY POLICE RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN LAW The first course on human rights and international humanitarian law for members of the military police, organized by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice in cooperation with the ICRC, was held from 31August to 18 September at the National Police Academy in Brasilia.
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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO ICRC GAINS ACCESS TO FURTHER PLACE OF DETENTION IN KINSHASA
On 14 September ICRC delegates conducted their first visit, in accordance with the organization's customary working procedures, to persons held at the Kinshasa Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Centre. They registered 111 detainees at the facility, formerly known as Makala prison.
Meanwhile, delegates are continuing the regular visits they began on 19 August to people detained at the Kokolo military camp in the capital. The ICRC is also pursuing its efforts to gain access to all persons throughout the country who have been deprived of their freedom in connection with the conflict.
Further information: Michael Kleiner, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2281
SUDAN FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN THE EAST
An ICRC team comprising a water and sanitation expert, a nurse and a relief delegate is currently conducting a survey in the Kassala region to assess the most urgent needs of victims of the floods in this part of eastern Sudan, where shelling has already caused many people to flee their homes.
Since March, the ICRC has regularly provided cooking sets, water bags, soap, blankets and mosquito nets to 30,000 people displaced as a result of the conflict in the area. More recently, it distributed 9,310 blankets, 3,250 tarpaulins and 10,000 sandbags to help the flood victims. The three delegates carrying out the survey are bringing in further relief supplies and medicines.
The team will be working in close cooperation with the local branch of the Sudanese Red Crescent in Kassala to provide assistance to vulnerable groups in the region.
ICRC RESUMES TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR NURSING AIDES
On 7 September a group of 12 enthusiastic Sudanese students from all parts of southern Sudan gathered at the ICRC Lopiding Hospital classroom in Lokichokio in northern Kenya to begin a six-month training course for nursing aides. "One of our objectives is to help improve local health care in southern Sudan", explained Julie Young, the ICRC nurse responsible for the programme.
Over the next six months, the students will be trained as assistants in the operating theatre, anaesthesia, ward nursing and physiotherapy. Instruction combines both lectures and practical exercises in the wards.
The ICRC launched this training programme in 1989, and a full-time ICRC teaching nurse has been assigned to the project since 1992. So far more than 170 Sudanese students have successfully completed the course at Lopiding Hospital. Several Sudanese doctors have also attended shorter refresher courses on war surgery.
Further information: France Hurtubise, ICRC Khartoum, tel. ++249 11 476 464 Michael Kleiner, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2281
KENYA SHELTER FOR RIFT VALLEY RETURNEES
The ICRC, together with the Kenya Red Cross Society, is distributing construction materials this week to families who have returned to the Laikipa District of Kenya's Rift Valley Province. These families are among those who fled in January this year to escape ethnic violence that had erupted in parts of the province. They now have no homes to go back to.
This is the third phase in a programme that so far has involved the provision of food and non-food aid, and agricultural assistance in the form of seed and basic farming tools.
The materials being distributed include roofing sheets, ridges and nails for the 69 houses under construction. More families will receive support once the houses being built reach roof level. The programme is being carried out in cooperation with the National Council of Churches of Kenya, the local diocese of the Catholic church and members of the community itself.
"These people have been living in temporary shelters for almost a year", said ICRC delegate Emmanuel Campbell. "The materials we provide will help them achieve the dream of having a permanent roof over their heads, and this will facilitate their resettlement."
At the same time, the ICRC and the Kenya Red Cross will hand over seven wells to the community elders. The wells, dug with the help of the ICRC's water and sanitation unit, are already supplying desperately needed safe water to over 20,000 people.
Further information: Nina Galbe, ICRC Nairobi, tel. ++2542 716 339
BRAZIL MILITARY POLICE RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN LAW
The first course on human rights and international humanitarian law for members of the military police, organized by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice in cooperation with the ICRC, was held from 31August to 18 September at the National Police Academy in Brasilia. It brought together 21officers who are to serve as instructors and dissemination officers within the military police force.
During the second half of this two-phase programme, scheduled from 5 October to 18December, the 21new instructors will be giving 20 similar courses to train a further 300military police instructors throughout the country.
The courses teach participants techniques to limit the use of force and firearms in carrying out police duties, one of the main objectives being to ensure protection of the public at large and the physical safety of both police officers and suspects.
Further information: Ivan Godoy, ICRC Brasilia, tel. ++5561 248 02 50 Ruben Ortega, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2454
DEADLINE FOR IRU/ICRC PHOTO COMPETITION EXTENDED
The photo competition jointly organized by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the ICRC to mark the award of the IRU's Grand Prix d'Honneur to the ICRC, in recognition of the commitment of its drivers to the humanitarian cause, has been extended to 30 September 1998. The competition comprises three categories, and in the humanitarian category entries must illustrate the importance of road transport in humanitarian operations in the field. The winner will receive a prize of 5,000 Swiss francs, which will be awarded in early November at the preview of the exhibition of the best pictures opening at the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum in Geneva. The rules of the competition may be obtained from ICRC field delegations, National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies or from ICRC headquarters in Geneva.
Further information: Tony Burgener, ICRC G eneva, tel. ++4122 730 2384 fax: ++4122 730 2899, e-mail: rex_pro.gva@icrc.org
New on the ICRC Public Server - http://www.icrc.org : - ICRC Update 98/08 on the activities of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in response to the crisis in Kosovo, dated 15.09.98
During the weekend of 19 - 20 September 1998, for all information please call the press officer on duty Urs Boegli, on (mobile) 41 79 203 94 05