| 13 Mars 2013
AFRICA
Mali: Communities in northern Mali, displaced people and vulnerable residents are struggling to cope with the ongoing conflict. Since 7 March, over 24,000 people in Gao and Gounzoureye have been receiving food aid from the Mali Red Cross and the ICRC. Read the news release at http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2013/03-08-mali-food-assistance.htm.
Somalia: An interactive map of the ICRC's main operations in the country will be published on www.icrc.org by the end of March. News footage with stories of Somalis who have used ICRC tracing services will be available mid-March on www.icrcvideonewsroom.org and on www.icrc.org. An update on ICRC tracing activities in the country will also be distributed on 13 March. 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. Looking for a family member? Go to the new website, familylinks.icrc.org.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: A film clip about sexual violence and the ICRC’s response will be available soon on www.icrc.org.
Libya: Thousands need help following recent tribal clashes in the Nafusa mountains. In cooperation with the Libyan Red Crescent, the ICRC is delivering food, medicines and other essential aid to more than 3,000 people who fled their homes to seek refuge in nearby towns. Read the news release at http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2013/03-07-libya-displaced-tribal-clashes.htm.
MIDDLE EAST
Syria: Updates on the humanitarian situation and the latest developments in the country as well as on the ICRC's activities in Syria will be posted at www.icrc.org in the course of the month. Read also our operational update, Timely access to health-care services a matter of life or death, on http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/update/2013/03-01-syria-health-care.htm and an op-ed by the ICRC's director of operations Pierre Krähenbühl on http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/feature/2013/03-05-syria-aid-krahenbuhl.htm.
Iraq: Ten years on, overview of the humanitarian situation and the ICRC's activities, photo gallery about micro-economic initiatives and other projects to be published on www.icrc.org by mid-March.
Yemen: Thousands of families rely on their cattle to earn their living. Vaccination helps keep the animals healthier. See how this is explained in a photo gallery at www.icrc.org.
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Bangladesh: Physically challenged patients from the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP) will participate in friendly cricket matches with an Indian team. The event, sponsored by the ICRC, will be hosted at BKSP (national sports education institute) in Savar from 17 to 19 March. This year, the ICRC will provide orthotic and prosthetic support to 900 patients at the CRP centres in Savar and Chittagong and help them with their social inclusion. A news release and feature will be published on www.icrc.org. A photo gallery will be published on www.facebook.com/icrc.
Philippines: A photo slideshow featuring survivors of typhoon Bopha and new audio-visual material showing how the Red Cross is responding in the worst-affected areas will be published on social media (YouTube and Facebook).
OTHER TOPICS
Arms: The ICRC will take part in the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Conference in New York from 18 to 28 March. The ICRC is calling on States to adopt a strong and effective treaty, to reduce harm that results from readily available weapons. A news release will be published on 17 March. Read also the ICRC's position on this issue and an interview with Nathalie Weizmann, the ICRC's legal adviser on arms availability at http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/interview/2013/03-05-arms-trade-treaty-conference.htm, and watch our film on http://www.icrc.org/eng/arms-trade-treaty-film. Information will be available throughout the Conference on Twitter and Facebook.
Nuclear weapons: Who will assist the victims? Read the statement by Peter Maurer, President of the ICRC, addressing the International conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons in Oslo, Norway, 4-5 March 2013 at http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/statement/2013/13-03-04-nuclear-weapons.htm, the news release at http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2013/02-28-nuclear-weapons-oslo.htm and an interview with Gregor Malich, ICRC expert on the operational response to nuclear disasters and similar events, on weapons on http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/interview/2013/03-04-nuclear-weapons-humanitarian-assistance.htm. More information, including documents from our archives on Hiroshima, can be found here: http://www.icrc.org/eng/war-and-law/weapons/nuclear-weapons/index.jsp.
World Water Day (22 March): This year, the need for water cooperation among all those concerned – communities, authorities, aid agencies, etc. – will be underscored. 2013 also marks the 30th anniversary of the ICRC's water and habitat unit. On the occasion of World Water Day, the first film of a series of 7 will be broadcast to highlight some of the activities the ICRC has been carrying out for the benefit of over 20 million people in 48 countries. A news release will also be issued on 22 March.
World Tuberculosis Day (24 March): A news release, an interview with an ICRC expert on health care in detention and a video will be published on www.icrc.org. The film, "Combating multi-drug resistant TB in detention: Azerbaijan's experience", will focus on the threat of treatment-resistant forms of the disease in the prison environment.
Women and Detention: All over the world, women and girls living behind bars often face particular hardship. Consequences can be felt within their families and communities, well beyond prison walls. Read the news release at http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2013/03-07-women-day-2013.htm. The spotlight of the TV news footage is on Paraguay, where women are supporting their families from behind bars: http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/feature/2013/03-07-paraguay-detention-women.htm.
For women detained in Yemen, having someone to share their concerns, and bring them tidings from the outside world, is a lifeline. Read Itidal's story on http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/feature/2013/03-08-yemen-itildal-women-day.htm.
150 years of humanitarian action: the new website dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the founding of the ICRC contains a timeline with a selection of key dates and periods in the organization’s history, each illustrated with archive material. The website also focuses on current humanitarian challenges and will be regularly refreshed with new video clips and photo galleries. Information on new products and events will be available on Twitter and Facebook.
