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ALGERIA: ICRC COMPLETES FIRST SERIES OF VISITS TO DETAINEES: Following an agreement with the Algerian government, the ICRC carried out a first round of visits between 10 October and 15 November 1999 to all places of detention under the responsibility of the Algiers, Annaba and Oran courts of justice.
NIGERIA: ICRC and Nigerian Red Cross aid victims of clashes: 1On 25 November violent clashes erupted between Yoruba and Hausa communities in the densely populated Ketu area of Lagos over control of the market and the collection of levies.
Sri Lanka: CAPTURED SOLDIERS RELEASED UNDER ICRC auspices: On 27 November the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) released seven Sri Lankan army soldiers under the auspices of the ICRC. The soldiers were handed over to the Sri Lankan military authorities by ICRC delegates in Vavuniya the same day.
Philippines/Mindanao: more than 3,000 displaced families receive aid from Red Cross: Between 17 and 24 November the ICRC, working in cooperation with the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), provided emergency assistance for more than 3,150 families displaced by clashes between the Philippine armed forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the island of Mindanao.
EAST TIMOR: SHELTER FROM THE RAIN: Maria's temporary two-room house is 6 metres long, 4 metres wide and 2 metres high, and is made of planks of wood covered with plastic sheeting. It took the three-member ICRC team who built it as a demonstration unit for other villagers receiving the same basic materials six hours, 500 nails, three hammers, a saw, a knife and a tape measure to finish it in accordance with the plans.
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ALGERIA ICRC COMPLETES FIRST SERIES OF VISITS TO DETAINEES
Following an agreement with the Algerian government, the ICRC carried out a first round of visits between 10 October and 15 November 1999 to all places of detention under the responsibility of the Algiers, Annaba and Oran courts of justice.
The visits were conducted by five ICRC delegates, including a doctor. The delegates were given full access to all premises and all detainees in each location. During this first series of visits in Algeria they visited 11 places of detention holding a total of 6,980 inmates (figure provided by the directors of the facilities visited), and held private interviews with 457 detainees.
The ICRC's findings concerning conditions of detention and the problems raised by the detainees were discussed with the detaining authorities.
The ICRC will submit a report to the Algerian government in due course, and the dates for the next round of visits will be set by mutual agreement.
Further information: Suzanne Berger, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2307
NIGERIA ICRC and Nigerian Red Cross aid victims of clashes
On 25 November violent clashes erupted between Yoruba and Hausa communities in the densely populated Ketu area of Lagos over control of the market and the collection of levies. Many houses, shops and vehicles were burnt, paralysing the economic activity of thousands of traders and residents. According to the city police, between 80 and 90 people were killed and the toll could rise still further.
The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) was prompt to respond, mobilizing 52 volunteers to help provide first aid. They also evacuated 150 casualties to two hospitals in the area. Cooperation between the NRCS and the police has been very good, and the authorities are offering the victims of the clashes free medical treatment.
The ICRC has provided the NRCS with support by supplying eight boxes of dressing materials for two hospitals treating the wounded plus 20 jerrycans and 500 cups for the distribution of safe water to 700 displaced persons who have taken refuge at the Ketu police station.
Further information: Juan Martinez, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2281 Mobile phone: ++4179 217 3217
Sri Lanka CAPTURED SOLDIERS RELEASED UNDER ICRC auspices
On 27 November the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) released seven Sri Lankan army soldiers under the auspices of the ICRC. The soldiers were handed over to the Sri Lankan military authorities by ICRC delegates in Vavuniya the same day.
Because of this month's escalation in clashes between the LTTE and government armed forces in the northern Vanni region of the island and the subsequent closing of land routes, the delegates had to escort the soldiers in an eight-hour journey from the Vanni to the west coast, then south by fishing boat to Mannar, and finally overland to Vavuniya.
The ICRC has been present in Sri Lanka since 1989, and currently has 50 expatriate staff and 300 Sri Lankan employees working out of its delegation in Colombo and eleven other offices in the north and east of the country.
Further information: Harasha Gunawardene, ICRC Colombo, tel. ++941 503 346
Philippines/Mindanao more than 3,000 displaced families receive aid from Red Cross
Between 17 and 24 November the ICRC, working in cooperation with the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), provided emergency assistance for more than 3,150 families displaced by clashes between the Philippine armed forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the island of Mindanao.
Some 2,430 of the families are currently housed in 12 evacuation centres in Carmen and Kabacan municipalities (North Cotabato province), while more than 720 others are in eight centres in Kadingilan, Kibawe and Damulog municipalities (Bukidnon province).
Sufficient food and hygiene products for about two weeks were distributed directly to the displaced people, while some evacuation centres were provided with mats and water containers for the most needy. The ICRC and the PNRC are closely following developments in the humanitarian situation.
When fighting broke out on 7 November 1999 emergency food distributions were started immediately by the local authorities and the PNRC.
Further information: Jean Wenker, ICRC Manila, tel. ++632 892 8901
EAST TIMOR SHELTER FROM THE RAIN
Maria's temporary two-room house is 6 metres long, 4 metres wide and 2 metres high, and is made of planks of wood covered with plastic sheeting. It took the three-member ICRC team who built it as a demonstration unit for other villagers receiving the same basic materials six hours, 500 nails, three hammers, a saw, a knife and a tape measure to finish it in accordance with the plans.
The makeshift dwelling has been set up next to the charred remains of a house burned down during the violence that followed East Timor's vote for independence on 30 August 1999. In the Aileu district, high in the hills south of Dili, the rains began two weeks ago and now rain can be expected every day until the end of January.
Maria is a schoolteacher like her husband. They have three children and are also caring for Maria's younger brother. The couple have lost everything: the house they lived in was totally destroyed and all their belongings were burned. However, Maria and her husband are working again in the Aileu primary school, which recently reopened, and the ICRC shelter will protect them from the rain and help them to gradually rebuild their lives.
"We planned to supply the materials for 2,000 such shelters for the most destitute families", explains ICRC constructor Herbert Wiekenberg, the designer of the temporary house. "But requests are pouring in from communities where up to 90% of homes have been destroyed, and we are now looking at double or triple the original figure." As the rain begins to fall on the ruins all around him, Herbert watches the villagers carefully following the plans and starting to build their own shelters.
Further information: Michael Kleiner, ICRC Dili, tel. ++62 390 321 448 Satellite phone: ++872 76 184 42 95/++872 76 184 39 55
New on the ICRC Public Server - http://www.icrc.org : - Update 99/05 on ICRC activities in Indonesia/East Timor, dated 29.11.99
During the weekend of 4 - 5 December 1999, for all information please call the press officer on duty Corinne Adam, on (mobile) 41 79 202 36 80