| 06 Février 2013
150 years of humanitarian action: On 17 February, the ICRC will start celebrating 150 years of humanitarian action – 150 years since the founding of the organization and the beginning of its efforts to bring relief to millions and improve the lives of countless people adversely affected by armed conflict. Media are encouraged to consult and use a wide range of online resources ahead of the actual date.
On 7 February, a selection of over 500 digital public-archive documents – photos, and sound and video excerpts covering the history of the ICRC – will be available through a web platform. It will be possible to download high-resolution content (registration and password required).
A news release and video news cut will be published on 11 February. In the video, ICRC President Peter Maurer reflects on the organization’s history and on four main contemporary challenges: reaching people in need, ensuring that the law of war does what it’s meant to do, empowering people and communities, and improving coordination of humanitarian aid efforts.
A new website dedicated to the 150th anniversary will go live on the same date. It will contain a timeline with a selection of key dates and periods in the ICRC’s history, each illustrated with archive material. The website will also focus on current humanitarian challenges and will be regularly refreshed with new video clips and photo galleries.
AFRICA
South Sudan: Despite some improvement in the lives of refugees in camps close to the border with Sudan, there are still important humanitarian needs all over South Sudan. The ICRC continues its work in a country affected by communal fighting and a lack of basic infrastructure. An operational update will be published in mid-February with web clips on the ICRC's work to restore contact between family members and to spread knowledge of international humanitarian law among weapon bearers. For further information, please contact Jean-Yves Clémenzo, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 22 71 or +41 79 217 32 17.
Somalia: Since the onset of the conflict in 1987, many people have lost contact with their loved ones. News footage with stories of Somalis who have used ICRC tracing services will be available in the course of the month on www.icrcvideonewsroom.org and on www.icrc.org. An update on ICRC tracing activities in the country will also be distributed. The ICRC and national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies work together around the world to locate people and put them back in touch with their relatives. This work involves looking for family members, restoring contact, reuniting families and seeking to clarify what happened to those who remain missing. Looking for a family member? Go to the new website, familylinks.icrc.org. For further information, please contact Jean-Yves Clémenzo, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 22 71 or +41 79 217 32 17.
Uganda: One of every five newly arrived Congolese refugees in the country used the free mobile phone service of the ICRC in 2012. In a web interview, an ICRC delegate in charge of tracing activities talks about his job. Read also the stories of children reunited with their parents after being separated from them for a year and a half (with photos). For further information, please contact Jean-Yves Clémenzo, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 22 71 or +41 79 217 32 17.
Central African Republic: New TV footage will be available on www.icrcvideonewsroom.org on 8 February. Despite a peace accord, thousands of people still live with uncertainty. Signs of recent fighting are all around the northern town of Ndélé. Difficulties obtaining access to medical care and lack of drinking water constitute the daily life of many people in the north of the country. For further information, please contact Jean-Yves Clémenzo, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 22 71 or +41 79 217 32 17.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: A film clip about sexual violence and the ICRC’s response will be available soon on www.icrc.org. For further information, please contact Marie-Servane Desjonquères, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 31 60 or +41 79 536 92 58, or Didier Revol, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 36 81.
Mali: Communities in northern Mali, displaced people and vulnerable residents are struggling to cope with the ongoing conflict. To help them, the ICRC is distributing food and other essentials, supporting medical facilities and attending to the needs of civilians and wounded and captured people. An operational update will be published on 8 February. Further updates, press releases, web interviews and AV products will be available in the course of the month on www.icrc.org. For further information, please contact Wolde-Gabriel Saugeron, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 31 49 or +41 79 244 64 05.
Nigeria: People are being affected by violence, particularly in the Niger Delta and certain states in the north. The ICRC works closely with government health facilities in these areas, providing the supplies needed to treat casualties and specialized training to boost the surgical skills of medical staff. A feature on this health programme will be published on www.icrc.org. For further information, please contact Wolde-Gabriel Saugeron, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 31 49 or +41 79 244 64 05.
Libya: An update on the ICRC's operations and an overview of its activities in 2012 will be published on www.icrc.org. For further information, please contact Wolde-Gabriel Saugeron, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 31 49 or +41 79 244 64 05.
Algeria: People disabled during the Western Sahara conflict and living in refugee camps benefit from the ICRC’s limb-fitting and rehabilitation centre near Tindouf, in the south-west of the country. On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the centre organized a "Desert Marathon." A feature story and a photo gallery will be published on www.icrc.org. For further information, please contact Wolde-Gabriel Saugeron, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 31 49 or +41 79 244 64 05.
Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Liberia and Guinea-Bissau: An overview of the ICRC's activities in 2012 will be published on www.icrc.org. For further information, please contact Wolde-Gabriel Saugeron, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 31 49 or +41 79 244 64 05.
MIDDLE EAST
Syria: Andres Kruesi, the deputy head of the ICRC delegation in Damascus, returning from opposition-held Houleh and Talkalakh, explains in a video interview available on www.icrc.org on 6 February how the conflict is affecting people and how the ICRC, together with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, is responding to the most urgent needs. Updates on the humanitarian situation in the country and on the ICRC's activities there will be posted on www.icrc.org. For further information, please contact Dibeh Fakhr, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 37 23 or +41 79 447 37 26.
Jordan: A story about the reunification of a Syrian refugee boy in Lebanon with his family in Al Zaatari camp in Jordan will be published on www.icrc.org. A news release will be issued on the occasion of a war-surgery seminar organized by the ICRC for around 40 doctors from Jordan and Syria from 11 to 13 February. For further information, please contact Dibeh Fakhr, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 37 23 or +41 79 447 37 26.
Yemen: A series of stories and photos on women supporting their families through ICRC micro-economic projects, and on a major campaign to vaccinate the livestock on which thousands of families depend to survive, will be published in February on the Yemen web page on www.icrc.org. For further information, please contact Dibeh Fakhr, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 37 23 or +41 79 447 37 26.
Israel and the occupied territories: An update on our latest activities and on all activities carried out during 2012 will be published on www.icrc.org. For further information, please contact Dibeh Fakhr, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 37 23 or +41 79 447 37 26.
Iraq: Photos and feature stories on visits organized for families and their detained relatives in Chamchamal Prison, in the north of the country, as well as an overview of the humanitarian situation and of the ICRC's activities in the country during the year 2012 will be published on www.icrc.org in the course of the month. For further information, please contact Dibeh Fakhr, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 37 23 or +41 79 447 37 26.
Iran: A workshop to be held from 12 to 14 February in Tehran will tackle the role and responsibilities of National Societies in the delivery of health care in armed conflict and other emergencies. Further information will be published on www.icrc.org. To find out more, please contact Dibeh Fakhr, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 37 23 or +41 79 447 37 26.
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Japan: At a seminar entitled "The Importance of Provided Humanitarian Space," set to take place in Yokohama, Kanagawa, on 10 February, participants will be introduced to the ICRC's activities in conflict situations. The seminar is part of the Yokohama International Forum 2013 organized by Yokohama Cplat, which encourages young people to learn about and take part in humanitarian activities. A total of 43 organizations (NGOs, UN agencies, etc.) will organize 53 lectures/seminars during the two-day event scheduled for 9-10 February. For further information, please contact Hitomi Makabe, ICRC Tokyo, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +81 3 6459 0752, or Philippe Stoll, ICRC Geneva, at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. or on +41 22 730 31 40 or +41 79 536 92 49.