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YUGOSLAVIA: ICRC AID FOR CIVILIANS FLEEING KOSOVO: On 29 March the ICRC decided to withdraw its international staff from Kosovo because of the rapidly deteriorating security situation, which prevented it from pursuing its humanitarian activities.
ANGOLA: ICRC STILL IN KUITO: Over the past few days Kuito, on the Angolan Planalto, has again come under shellfire, prompting many inhabitants of Kunje and other particularly exposed areas on the outskirts of the city to converge on the centre.
TAJIKISTAN: ICRC ASSISTS TYPHOID VICTIMS IN GARM: In an effort to contain an epidemic of typhoid fever that broke out in Garm two weeks ago, the ICRC and the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan have provided assistance to medical facilities and launched a public awareness campaign throughout the area.
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YUGOSLAVIA ICRC AID FOR CIVILIANS FLEEING KOSOVO
On 29 March the ICRC decided to withdraw its international staff from Kosovo because of the rapidly deteriorating security situation, which prevented it from pursuing its humanitarian activities. The ICRC deeply regrets having had to make this decision, especially in view of growing concern about the plight of civilians in the province, and considers its return to be a matter of priority.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people have fled Kosovo and are arriving in the republic of Montenegro and neighbouring countries in a shocked and exhausted state and in urgent need of help. As it has been since the beginning of the crisis, the ICRC is striving, together with the National Red Cross Societies concerned and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to provide medical and other aid while strengthening relief teams and replenishing stocks.
ICRC teams working with the Albanian Red Cross are also attempting to put relatives back in touch with each other by broadcasting family names over the radio. In Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Red Cross teams have remained on the border, sometimes throughout the night, to distribute relief supplies to new arrivals.
Further information: Amanda Williamson, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 4122 730 2678
ANGOLA ICRC STILL IN KUITO
Over the past few days Kuito, on the Angolan Planalto, has again come under shellfire, prompting many inhabitants of Kunje and other particularly exposed areas on the outskirts of the city to converge on the centre. These displaced people have swollen the ranks of thousands of others who are already sheltering in the provincial capital. The toll taken by the shelling is as yet unknown.
The only expatriate staff of humanitarian organizations to remain in Kuito are an ICRC delegate and a surgeon and a doctor from the Belgian branch of Medecins sans frontieres. The ICRC has decided to stay on in order to pursue its assistance activities for conflict victims.
In March the ICRC provided 1,193 newly displaced families with relief consisting of 352 plastic tarpaulins, 1,660 blankets, 239 jerrycans, 263 kitchen sets and 435 bars of soap.
The Kuito-Bie prosthetic/orthotic centre, run jointly by the ICRC and the Angolan Ministry of Health, is continuing to fit amputees with artificial limbs.
Further information: Francoise Zambellini, ICRC Luanda, tel. ++2442 364 366/454
TAJIKISTAN ICRC ASSISTS TYPHOID VICTIMS IN GARM
In an effort to contain an epidemic of typhoid fever that broke out in Garm two weeks ago, the ICRC and the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan have provided assistance to medical facilities and launched a public awareness campaign throughout the area. Two-thirds of the 150 people so far infected have been hospitalized.
While encouraging the local authorities to take as much responsibility as they can, the ICRC has supplied the main hospital and several smaller ones with mattresses and blankets for 150 beds in preparation for emergency admissions, together with chlorine powder and tablets to treat the water supply, intravenous infusions and basic medicines such as antibiotics. The ICRC delegation in Dushanbe has so far sent two trucks to Garm with urgently required medical supplies and stands ready to provide further support if necessary.
An ICRC health delegate based in Garm is coordinating the response to the epidemic together with the local authorities and non-governmental organizations on the spot (Medecins sans frontieres, Pharmaciens sans frontieres and the Aga Khan Foundation).
In addition to its delegation in Dushanbe, the ICRC has an office in Garm and one in Khorog. The organization has been working in Tajikistan since 1992.
Further information: Corinne Adam, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2224
New on the ICRC Public Server - http://www.icrc.org : - Update 99/01 on ICRC activities in Afghanistan, dated 29.03.99 - Update 99/01 on ICRC activities in Sudan, dated 31.03.99
During the days 2,3,4 and 5 April1998, for all information please call the press officer on duty, Amanda Williamson, on (mobile) ++ 41 79 217 32 16