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AT THE DAWN OF THE YEAR 2000, ARMED CONFLICT AND OUTBREAKS OF VIOLENCE ARE ON THE INCREASE WORLDWIDE
The current year has been marked by a series of crises which, although mostly foreseeable, were nonetheless surprising on account of their magnitude or timing. One can now speak of the "globalization of warfare".
SENEGAL: FOOD AID FOR MORE THAN 4,6OO DISPLACED IN CASAMANCE: On 13 December, in cooperation with the regional branch of the Senegalese Red Cross in Ziguinchor (Casamance), the ICRC began distributing food aid to 4,614 displaced people (435 families) from nine villages in the region.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: RED CROSS/RED CRESCENT AIDS FLOOD VICTIMS IN KINSHASA: Owing to heavy rainfall, the river Congo and one of its tributaries, the Ndjili, have burst their banks, causing extensive flooding in Kinshasa. According to the government, around 40,000people have had to be displaced and gathered in 20 different locations situated mainly in the north-eastern part of the city. It is possible that new flooding may occur in the coming weeks.
BOLIVIA: SUPREME COURT HOLDS SPECIAL SESSION IN HONOUR OF GENEVA CONVENTIONS: The Bolivian Supreme Court, which sits in the capital, Sucre, recently held a special session to mark the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. This solemn event brought together all the members of the Court, representatives of the lower courts and of the local civilian and military authorities and the members of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate representing the department of Chuquisaca.
NEW BOOK ON ICRC'S ROLE DURING SECOND WORLD WAR: The ICRC welcomes the publication of Serge Klarsfeld's latest book, Recueil de documents des archives du Comite international de la Croix-Rouge sur le sort de Juifs de France internes et deportes (1939-1945) - a collection of documents from the ICRC archives detailing the internment of Jews in France during the Second World War.
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AT THE DAWN OF THE YEAR 2000, ARMED CONFLICT AND OUTBREAKS OF VIOLENCE ARE ON THE INCREASE WORLDWIDE
The current year has been marked by a series of crises which, although mostly foreseeable, were nonetheless surprising on account of their magnitude or timing. One can now speak of the "globalization of warfare".
This observation was made by Jean-Daniel Tauxe, ICRC Director of Operations, during a presentation to the press of the ICRC's budget for its operations in the year 2000. The press conference, which followed a similar session held for representatives of the permanent missions in Geneva, offered the opportunity to give a comprehensive overview of humanitarian problems worldwide. Today's conflict situations exhibit certain specific characteristics, as shown by the examples outlined below:
- Their unpredictable nature: the explosion of violence in the northern Caucasus region, for instance, and the extreme difficulty for the ICRC to bring protection and assistance to the victims. Then there are the very severe consequences of the conflict which sporadically flares up in the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), amid the general indifference of the international community. - Escalation of crises: the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia/Kosovo has seen a mass exodus of civilians and NATO's first offensive mission. In East Timor too, violence which had been anticipated reached unforeseen levels. The war between Ethiopia and Eritrea has also taken a heavy toll among the military. - Resurgence of fighting: the most striking example is Angola, where armed violence has once again given rise to vast needs among the civilian population. - Stagnation: as in Somalia, where the warlords are still locked in combat; Iraq, where the population is suffering increasingly severe hardship from the effects of the embargo; Colombia, where the civil war has become almost an accepted fact of life for a population with no memory of peace; and Afghanistan, where 20 years of war have left the international community discouraged.
This list, which is far from exhaustive, means that the ICRC had to be present in some 60 countries in 1999. Of these, 21 were in a state of open conflict, that is, conflict that obliged the organization to deploy the full range of its protection and assistance programmes. As the year draws to an end, there is no reason to believe that this tide of violence will recede in the year 2000.
Given the number and complexity of conflict situations, the ICRC has defined the following strategic priorities to guide its work next year.
- The general deterioration of security conditions for humanitarian personnel as well as for the victims of violence represents a constant challenge for the ICRC, which reaffirms its determination to remain close to the victims whom it is its duty to protect and assist. There is every indication that this challenge will remain a major factor in the conduct of operations next year. - the ICRC intends to maintain and develop contacts with all the players involved in situations of violence. This entails seeking a dialogue also with players whom part of the international community considers to be paramilitaries, terrorists, or even criminals. - In the context of operations encompassing military, political and humanitarian action, such as the NATO intervention in Kosovo, the ICRC wants to pursue independent humanitarian activities. It will endeavour increasingly to emphasize its specific mandate based on the principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality. In operational terms, fulfilling this specific mandate means, among other things, developing activities aimed at protecting displaced persons and detainees and at restoring family links. - In a world marked by a proliferation of humanitarian players, the ICRC undertakes to pursue a policy of openness towards all of them. Consultation and coordination must be strengthened at all levels; first of all with the members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement but also with United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations.
The total amount requested in the ICRC's appeal for its operations in the year 2000 comes to 837,722,576 Swiss francs. Of this sum, Sfr 347,918,616 are destined for Africa, the top priorities being Central Africa (Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Uganda), Angola, the Horn of Africa and West Africa (Sierra Leone in particular). The budget for Europe (mainly the Balkans) amounts to Sfr 209,288,679. In Asia, Sfr102,234,963 are earmarked for operations in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Myanmar and others. Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, in particular Iraq and Algeria, will account for Sfr 59,467,472. Finally, the budget for Latin America (priority being given to Colombia and Peru) amounts to Sfr 52,596,771.
It should be pointed out that this appeal does not include the funds needed for operations conducted by the Moscow and Jakarta regional delegations, nor by the new delegation in East Timor. These will be the subject of an additional appeal of about 70 million Swiss francs to be launched early next year. Finally, the total requested in the appeal, that is, over 837 million Swiss francs, may seem very large in comparison with the initial appeal for 1999, which amounted to Sfr660,169,500. However, the successive crises that occurred during the year obliged the ICRC to revise its budget on 11 occasions, and the final revised budget for 1999 finally totalled more than 911 million Swiss francs.
Further information: Francoise Derron, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2915
SENEGAL FOOD AID FOR MORE THAN 4,6OO DISPLACED IN CASAMANCE
On 13 December, in cooperation with the regional branch of the Senegalese Red Cross in Ziguinchor (Casamance), the ICRC began distributing food aid to 4,614 displaced people (435 families) from nine villages in the region.
This is the fourth emergency distribution that has been made this year to people displaced on account of poor security conditions. In 1999 the Red Cross has distributed 237 tonnes of food aid in the Ziguinchor region. The ICRC launched this programme in the summer of 1997.
The current distribution began 10 days after the outskirts of Ziguinchor were attacked by around a hundred armed men who (according to a communique issued by the Senegalese army) belonged to the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC). The last distribution of the year, it is being carried out at a time when the whole population has placed its hopes in the negotiations scheduled to open on 26 December between the MFDC and the government.
Further information: Gilbert Delechat, ICRC Dakar, tel. ++221 8 241 293 Juan Martinez, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2281
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO RED CROSS/RED CRESCENT AIDS FLOOD VICTIMS IN KINSHASA
Owing to heavy rainfall, the river Congo and one of its tributaries, the Ndjili, have burst their banks, causing extensive flooding in Kinshasa. According to the government, around 40,000people have had to be displaced and gathered in 20 different locations situated mainly in the north-eastern part of the city. It is possible that new flooding may occur in the coming weeks.
The International Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement (comprising the ICRC, which is coordinating the relief operation, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Congolese and Belgian National Societies) immediately mobilized to assist the flood victims.
Material assistance is being provided in the form of pumps, spare parts and chemical products for the water authority. However, the bulk of the work involves clearing the silt out of three water intake systems so as to ensure that the city has drinking water, rebuilding an urgently needed dyke on the Ndjili that has been destroyed by erosion and rehabilitating a ward in which to treat cholera patients at the Kinshasa general hospital. In addition, the ICRC has installed showers, toilets and water points in four camps for the displaced and distributed hygiene items (containers, soap, etc.).
Most of the flood victims are currently repairing the damage to their homes but have not gone back to live in them yet for fear of further flooding. About a third of them have found temporary shelter in nearby camps, most of which have been set up in abandoned buildings (factories, covered markets). The other two thirds have been taken in by host families.
Further information: ICRC Kinshasa, tel. ++243 12 34 191/2 Juan Martinez, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2281
BOLIVIA SUPREME COURT HOLDS SPECIAL SESSION IN HONOUR OF GENEVA CONVENTIONS
The Bolivian Supreme Court, which sits in the capital, Sucre, recently held a special session to mark the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. This solemn event brought together all the members of the Court, representatives of the lower courts and of the local civilian and military authorities and the members of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate representing the department of Chuquisaca.
The representative of the President of the Supreme Court, the President of the Bolivian Red Cross and the ICRC regional delegate in Buenos Aires each spoke in turn. The representative of the President of the Court praised the role of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement regarding the application of international humanitarian law, the President of the National Society explained the main conclusions of the 27th International Conference and the regional delegate stressed the special responsibility of national and international courts in implementing the law.
The session was followed by the inauguration of a travelling photo exhibition called "Man in a War-Torn World". The exhibition, which was produced by the ICRC regional delegation, has already been presented in several countries in the region. It will travel to half a dozen Bolivian cities in the coming months, thus enabling local Red Cross branches to make themselves better known in their communities by organizing special events.
Further information: Gerard Peytrignet, ICRC Buenos Aires, tel. ++ 5411 4312 1713 Corinne Adam, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2224
NEW BOOK ON ICRC'S ROLE DURING SECOND WORLD WAR
The ICRC welcomes the publication of Serge Klarsfeld's latest book, Recueil de documents des archives du Comite international de la Croix-Rouge sur le sort de Juifs de France internes et deportes (1939-1945) - a collection of documents from the ICRC archives detailing the internment of Jews in France during the Second World War.
Mr Klarsfeld and the association which he heads, Sons and Daughters of Jews Deported from France, were among the first to express interest in conducting extensive research in the ICRC archives after the organization decided to open its files in 1996. The ICRC and MrKlarsfeld's association have since developed a close working relationship.
This new publication launched on 15 December is part of Mr Klarsfeld's life work of providing a comprehensive record of what happened to Jews in France during the war. More than 76,000 French Jews were deported to Nazi concentration camps and the vast majority of them were killed.
ICRC delegates made numerous visits to internment camps in France between 1939 and 1945, and their reports, published in this book for the first time, provide a valuable insight into the conditions in which Jews were held. After repeated approaches to the French authorities, the ICRC was able to provide the internees with food, medicine and clothing, undoubtedly saving many lives.
The ICRC is grateful for the research which Sons and Daughters of Jews Deported from France has conducted in its archives and looks forward to further collaborative work with MrKlarsfeld, his associates and other researchers.
Further information: Chris Bowers, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++4122 730 2061
During the weekend of 18 - 19 December 1999, for all information please call the press officer on duty Juan Martinez, on (mobile) 41 79 217 32 17