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Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia & Albania: restoring family links: Restoring contact between family members separated by conflict is a major Red Cross priority. With refugees transferred to various camps in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania and other countries, the number of families split up by the crisis is a problem of grave concern.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia & Albania: VISIT OF ICRC AND INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION PRESIDENTS TO THE REGION: ICRC President Cornelio Sommaruga says the crisis in the Balkans amounts to a political and social catastrophe with tremendous humanitarian consequences.
SRI LANKA: ICRC ESCORTS FOOD CONVOYS TO VANNI REGION: Following last week's military operation against positions held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Vanni region, the ICRC, acting as a neutral intermediary, escorted five government convoys bearing the red cross emblem through a newly opened checkpoint at Uyilankulam (Mannar).
AFGHANISTAN: ICRC ASSISTS IN RELEASE OF PRISONERS: On 11 April the ICRC facilitated the simultaneous release of prisoners by the Taliban and by Commander Massoud's Jamiat-i-Islami forces.
COTE D'IVOIRE: MAKING HUMANITARIAN LAW A REALITY: Last weekend 20 African, American and European experts were invited by the Paris-based International Law 90 Research Centre (IL 90) to take part in a discussion on compliance with international humanitarian law held at the University of Abidjan.
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Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia & Albania restoring family links
Restoring contact between family members separated by conflict is a major Red Cross priority. With refugees transferred to various camps in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania and other countries, the number of families split up by the crisis is a problem of grave concern. The majority of these people, after suffering the shock of having to abandon their homes, are now desperately looking for relatives of whom they have lost trace in this tragic process.
An agreement was concluded in Albania last week between the ICRC and three radio networks: Radio Tirana, Voice of America and Deutsche Welle associated with Radio France International, which have agreed to broadcast the names of refugees so that they can let their relatives know where they are. So far, 50 to 100 names are being broadcast every day. Meanwhile two Albanian newspapers have already published more than 500 names, and thanks to the Red Cross telephone link several hundred refugees have succeeded in contacting relatives living in third countries. From this week on, 44 mobile phones will be made available to the refugees.
In Macedonia, the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations have now registered over 150 unaccompanied children in the transit camps and have received more than 300applications from parents who have lost trace of their children. The Macedonian Red Cross and the ICRC are taking the necessary steps with the authorities concerned so that these families can be reunited.
To support these tracing efforts, the ICRC has deployed eight delegates in Macedonia, seven in Albania and three in Yugoslavia.
VISIT OF ICRC AND INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION PRESIDENTS TO THE REGION
ICRC President Cornelio Sommaruga says the crisis in the Balkans amounts to a political and social catastrophe with tremendous humanitarian consequences. Speaking at a meeting of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva on Tuesday, Mr Sommaruga emphasized that the Movement had to take every precaution to retain its independence from the political players in the conflict, in order to assist and protect the victims on all sides.
President Sommaruga paid tribute to the Red Cross Societies of Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which had taken action to help refugees as soon as the crisis developed. Mention was also made of the work of the Yugoslav Red Cross to assist victims of the NATO bombing.
The President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, DrAstrid Heiberg, said the situation in the Balkans was the most difficult challenge facing the Movement today, both because of its complexity and for the difficulties encountered in reaching the victims. She stressed the need for close coordination between all the Movement's members to ensure an effective and rational response.
The meeting was called to coordinate Red Cross action for the victims of the crisis. DrHeiberg and Mr Sommaruga flew yesterday afternoon to the region for talks with the authorities and the Red Cross in Albania and Macedonia.
Further information: Nic Sommer, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2678
SRI LANKA ICRC ESCORTS FOOD CONVOYS TO VANNI REGION
Following last week's military operation against positions held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Vanni region, the ICRC, acting as a neutral intermediary, escorted five government convoys bearing the red cross emblem through a newly opened checkpoint at Uyilankulam (Mannar).
The operation, conducted at the government's request, enabled 89 trucks to bring flour, sugar and kerosene to civilians living in three LTTE-held districts in the Vanni region. Their supplies had been cut off for two weeks.
The ICRC has been present in Sri Lanka since 1989. It currently has 44 expatriates and 300 local staff based at its delegation in Colombo and its 11 offices in the northern and eastern parts of the country.
Further information: Harasha Gunawardene, ICRC Colombo, tel. ++941 503 346 Corinne Adam, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2224
AFGHANISTAN ICRC ASSISTS IN RELEASE OF PRISONERS
On 11 April the ICRC facilitated the simultaneous release of prisoners by the Taliban and by Commander Massoud's Jamiat-i-Islami forces.
The prisoners, eight in all, were freed and handed over to the ICRC after an agreement was reached between the two sides. They were then flown by ICRC plane across the front line.
This is the fourth time that the ICRC has taken part in such an operation since the beginning of the year and both sides appear optimistic that more prisoners will be released.
The ICRC acts as a neutral intermediary between belligerent parties and facilitates the safe return home of prisoners.
Further information: Hilaman Mohamad Qasem, ICRC Kabul, tel. ++873 761 242 260 Corinne Adam, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 4122 730 2224
COTE D'IVOIRE MAKING HUMANITARIAN LAW A REALITY
Last weekend 20 African, American and European experts were invited by the Paris-based International Law 90 Research Centre (IL 90) to take part in a discussion on compliance with international humanitarian law held at the University of Abidjan.
Speaking before an audience of some 300 people, including many students and lawyers, Olivier Russbach, the Director of IL 90, went straight to the point: "What can humanitarian law do to contend with the horrific acts that are committed in conflicts throughout the world today? Are its rules so very difficult to abide by? Is it merely a pipe dream? Do we need a new set of rules?"
"Humanitarian law is indeed a reality - brought into being by States - and it must be put into practice as it stands", replied Professor Hubert Oulaye, Director of the Cote d'Ivoire Legal Research Centre (CIREJ). However, as pointed out by Adama Dieng, Secretary-General of the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva, "those who created the law also flout it". He added: "If humanitarian law is to carry any weight and if States are to take their obligation to comply with it seriously, then it needs political backing. For this to happen, public opinion must rally behind it".
This was also the opinion of Rene Kosirnik, ICRC Deputy Director for International Law and Communication, who stressed the importance of mobilizing average citizens, "since everyone needs the protection of humanitarian law in wartime and its rules reflect basic values that we all share".
This is where the People on War campaign, launched by the ICRC to mark the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, comes into play. By encouraging war victims, combatants and legal experts to speak out, it aims to stimulate a worldwide debate on how to ensure greater compliance with humanitarian law.
Further information: Christian Frutiger, ICRC Abidjan, tel. ++225 2224 60 / 61
During the weekend of 17 - 18 April 1999, for all information please call the press officer on duty Chris Bowers, on ++ 41 22 779 33 22 or ++ 41 79 217 32 31
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