ICRC

Washington, DC, April 8, 2009 -- Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher and U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Robert Blake met with several U.S.-based organizations representing members of the Tamil diaspora to discuss the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.    » read more »

Kabul/Geneva (ICRC) – The protracted armed conflict in Afghanistan is causing great suffering for ordinary people across the country, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) told the International Conference in Support of Afghanistan, meeting today in Paris.

Afghan child waiting to see doctor: DOD photo.    » read more »

4-06-2008 -- Geneva (ICRC) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is significantly stepping up its humanitarian relief work in Somalia to respond to the deepening crisis there.

Hundreds of thousands of Somalis face life-threatening food and water shortages due to the escalating armed conflict and the effects of the recent severe drought in central Somalia.

Somalia, April 2008: Photo by Feinstein International Center (CC)

High inflation and the worldwide rise in commodity prices, especially for key imports such as food and fuel, are aggravating the situation.    » read more »

Jerusalem / Tel Aviv (ICRC) – The Israeli authorities must take immediate measures to allow Palestinian families from Gaza to resume visits to their relatives detained in Israel, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said today.

The family visits organized by the ICRC since 1967 had to be suspended on 6 June 2007 following a decision by the Israeli authorities. As a result, the parents, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers and children of more than 900 detainees have been deprived of direct contact with their detained relatives for almost one year. Detainees depend on these visits not only for psychological support but also for material assistance such as clothes and blankets.    » read more »

17-03-2008 -- Geneva (ICRC) – Five years after the outbreak of the war in Iraq, the humanitarian situation in most of the country is among the most critical in the world, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a report issued today.

Because of the conflict, millions of Iraqis have insufficient access to clean water, sanitation and health care. The current crisis is exacerbated by the lasting effects of previous armed conflicts and years of sanctions.    » read more »

06 December 2007 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross has launched a record appeal for nearly $1 billion for lifesaving activities in some 80 countries next year. Iraq will constitute the ICRC's largest humanitarian operation, with the Horn of Africa running a close second. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from ICRC headquarters in Geneva.

The International Committee of the Red Cross plans to increase its humanitarian budget for Iraq to nearly $95 million next year. That is a 20 percent increase over the previous year.    » read more »

9-10-2007 -- The level of food security in central and southern Somalia has deteriorated dramatically since June owing to an inadequate rainy season, ending in May. Because of the poor harvest, many farmers have been unable to set aside seed for the planting season, which usually begins in October. This problem has been compounded by the disruption in trade in the capital, Mogadishu, where the price of basic consumer goods has risen sharply.    » read more »

Critical humanitarian situation in Gaza

21-09-2007 -- "After three month of almost complete closure, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is critical,” says Angelo Gnaedinger, Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) after his recent visit to the Gaza Strip. The current situation has had a serious impact on the water and sewerage systems, on hospitals and on the economic situation of Gaza's inhabitants.

Water and sewerage    » read more »

Latest report on ICRC activities in the field

3-09-2007 -- The ICRC agreed to extend its presence at the Omanthai crossing point in the district of Vavuniya to five days a week, beginning 27 August. This was done at the request of the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The Omanthai crossing point, which is on the A9 highway is the main source of access to Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts and the northern areas of Vavuniya.    » read more »

17-08-2007 -- Baghdad (ICRC) – The ICRC is currently dispatching surgical and medical supplies to Telaafar General Hospital which is receiving an influx of casualties resulting from the four explosions that rocked the Sinjar district in the north west of Iraq late on Tuesday evening.

Similar supplies for the treatment of over 400 wounded have also been dispatched to Sinjar General Hospital and Dohuk Emergency Hospital.    » read more »

13-08-2007 -- Geneva (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the release of two South Korean hostages in Afghanistan today. The two women had been held by an armed opposition group in Ghazni Province for more than three weeks. ICRC personnel handed them over to a South Korean delegation in the town of Ghazni.    » read more »

Latest report on ICRC activities in the field

Despite the volatility of the security situation in Darfur and the comparative inaccessibility of civilians living in remote rural areas, the ICRC stepped up its presence in the field to assist people in advance of the onset of heavy rains in July.    » read more »

28 June 2007 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross has strongly denounced the government of Burma for major and repeated violations of human rights committed against civilians and detainees. The group is asking Burma to end the infringements of international humanitarian law.

ICRC spokeswoman for Asia and the Pacific, Carla Haddad, tells VOA the organization has run out of patience with the government's stonewalling. Therefore, she says, the ICRC is taking the rare step of publicly condemning the abusive treatment of citizens by Burma, which it calls Myanmar.    » read more »

Latest report on ICRC activities in the field; First group of critically injured patients evacuated to Israeli hospitals

19-06-2007 -- Today the ICRC helped to evacuate six critically injured patients from Gaza to hospitals in Israel for urgently needed treatment not available in Gaza. So far the ICRC has identified about 50 other injured patients who may have to be evacuated in the near future.    » read more »

Latest report on ICRC activities in the field; Situation remains very tense

Over the past few days fighting has erupted at various times in all sectors of the Gaza Strip. In Gaza City, clashes were continuing in some locations on 14 June, including the area around Shifa Hospital and around Al Quds Hospital, run by the Palestine Red Crescent Society. In the southern towns of Khan Younis and Rafah, heavy fighting was reported late on 13 June, with militants occupying positions at European Hospital and Nassar Hospital.    » read more »