mag humanitaire no. 3 (english)

8/3/2019 Mag Humanitaire No. 3 (English)

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2MAG Hmanitaire ICRC |N 3October 2011

Dear readers,

This third edition oMag Humanitaire

oers you a panoramamic view o hu-

manitarian issues in dierent parts o the

continent. From West Arica to the Horn

o Arica through the Sahel, a variety o

topics have been addressed.

The ambitions o this Magazine, which

is also yours, were outlined in the previ-

ous editions: to provide a more global

perspective on humanitarian issues and

challenges acing the ICRC and its part-

ners in the International Red Cross andRed Crescent Movement.

The main story in your Mag Humanitaire

reminds us o the various dangers now

aecting health care delivery in situa-

tions o armed conict and how these

inringe on the right to lie. This is the

gruesome reality o women, children

and men dying as a result o deliberate

attacks or violence against health-care

sta and acilities.

The International Red Cross and Red Cres-

cent Movement (IRCRCM) is sounding the

alarm by launching a global campaign,

whose slogan clearly reects a determi-

nation to advocate or the protection o

health care: Violence against health care

must end. It is a matter o lie and death.

Launched on 10 August 2011 in Gene-

va, this campaign will be at the heart o

discussions with States during the 31st

IRCRCM International Conerence next

December. It will culminate in an inter-

governmental conerence scheduled or

2014 which will review and adopt propos-

als designed to ensure greater respect or

the medical mission.

The ICRC regional delegation in Dakar

will also play its part in this campaign. It

will host a conerence, in May 2012, to

ocus the attention o national and

international actors and observers on

this issue. This event will be a prelude to a

meeting o non-governemental experts,

scheduled to be held in Dakar in 2013,

ater meetings in Islamabad and Brasilia.

The Senegalese capital oers a regional

platorm or observation and humanitar-

ian action, and this conerence is testimo-ny to the ICRCs determination to place

this theme at the top o its priorities.

This is a major public campaign at the

global level, to rearm one o the unda-

mentals o humanitarian action.

Enjoy your reading!

Christophe Martin

Head o regional delegation in Dakar

SUMMARY Edtral

Regal delegat Daar

Rue 7 x B Point E

BP 5681 Dakar-Fann

T + 221 33 869 13 69F + 221 33 824 14 16

E-mail : [email protected]

Sb-delegat

Zghr

Parcelles Assainies 1372

Goumel - BP 1044T + 221 33 991 61 06


Mss Bssa

Bairro Thada, Rua 5 de Julho

Casa n 32 - BP 1028T + 245 320 36 59


Mss Bajl

B2 Calabash Residence, Palma

Rima road , Kotu - SerekundaT + 220 77 752 90


HoRn o ARicASomalia: a jorne o solidarit

HEALTH cARE in DAnGERLanch o the campaignHealth care in danger

noRTH ARicALibya: hmanitarian assistanceagainst all odds

WEST ARicALiberia: hndreds o Ivorian childrento be renited with their amilies

Guinea: assistance to victims oviolence

Niger: law enorcement and respect ohman dignit

Senegal : landmines silent victims

Strengthening legal protection orvictims o armed confict

Behind the Uniorm: train militaries onchild protection

Casamance: maintaining a healthlivestoc in a confict area

Physical rehabilitation centreo Bissau: restoring hope throghrehabilitation

Ziguinchor prison: an innovativeapproach to hgiene and health

DiD you knoW?When the Red Cross visited a prisonernamed Senghor

TABALA

news in brie

www.r.rg

Cover photo: An injured person being rushed to a clinic

rom the ambulance.

Catalina Martin-Chico / COSMOS

The opinions expressed are those o the authors and do not necessarily refect the opinion o the International Committee o the Red Cross (ICRC).


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3MAG Hmanitaire ICRC |N 3 October 2011

Somalia | HORN OF AFRICA

Smala : a journey o solidarity

But how did we get here? For Yves Van

Loo, ICRC spokesman in Somalia, the

drought is caused by a variety o actors

which calls or an immediate response.But

there are also the structural causes which

run deeper and call or an long-term re-

sponse. As a result o a twenty year crisis,

the agriculture went rom big arms that

could resist to natural disasters to smalland vulnerable individual gardens.

The crisis that this country is experienc-

ing is all the more aggravated by the

high cost o ood products and uel or

the weakness o the currency. Recurrent

droughts and the loss o cattle result in

the displacement o thousands o peo-

ple. Today, millions o Somalis depend

on humanitarian aid.

Armed t, aess dfl-

tes ad lgstal sses

Somalia is acing a widespread hu-

manitarian crisis, in an environment

o requent clashes between govern-

ment orces supported by Arican Union

troops, and armed groups are a major

obstacle in reaching victims. A neutral

dialogue with all parties, enable the ICRC

to be deployed in all parts o the country

thus having an access to assist the most

vulnerable with ood and medicine.

The ICRC ocused its eorts in areas expe-

riencing persistant armed conicts and

where basic services are non-existent.

Through its president Jakob Kellenberg-

er, the ICRC rearmed its determination

not to let down those who were most in

need o assistance.

Since the beginning o the year, over

4,000 war-wounded patients have been

treated in ICRC-supported medical acili-ties in Somalia.

Reahg the mst vlerable

20% o Somalis suer rom acute malnu-

trition according to Dr. Ahmed Moham-ed Hassan, president o the Somali Red

Crescent Society, and in southern Soma-

lia, the number o children and mothers

suering rom malnutrition is on the rise.

The ICRC supports a network o 39 clinics

in regions aected by armed conict and

drought, out o which 27 have therapeu-

tic nutritional centres run by the Somali

Red Crescent Society. In remote areas, 12

mobile teams assist patients unable to

reach a clinic.

162,000 benefciaries have been assist-

ed with 3,000 tons o oods in the eight

provinces o Southern Somalia (Bay,

Bakool, Middle Juba, Lower Juba, Gedo,

Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle). An

appeal has been launched beginning o

August in order to reach 1.1 million ben-

efciaries till the end o 2011.

In collaboration with the Somali Red Cres-

cent Society, radio campaigns were creat-

ed, promoting the principles o humani-

tarian law drawing on the biri ma gedo,

the traditional Somali code o warare.

These campaigns emphasized the need

to protect and respect civilians, wound-

ed and captured combatants as well ashealth-care personnel and acilities.

The ICRC together with the Somali Red

Crescent Society, its main operational

partner, has been able to reunite ami-

lies separated as a result o the conict

or natural disasters using the Red Cross

message system and announcements on

local radio.

A coordination mechanism involving do-

nors, international organisations, NGOsand various actors helped to improve

management o the humanitarian re-

sponse.

The ICRCs activities in Somalia date back

to 1977. Though a permanent presence

has been maintained since 1982, ICRCs

activities have been coordinated rom

Nairobi since 1994.n

Amadou Mansour Diou, ICRC Dakar

Galgadud Province, Cabudwaaq. Food distribution to internally displaced people. Tent sheltering a amily. Wild

animals are kept at a distance by bushes.

ICRC/GURE,

Nur

Devastated by twenty years o armed conict, Somalia is currently hit by a serious drought. The southern and central

regions are among the most aected. Despite logistical diculties, the ICRC has transported and distributed over

3,000 tonnes o ood aid.


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Dt sht at the amblae!

it s a matter le ad death

Over 150 years ater the battle o Sol-

erino, violence against health-care per-

sonnel, acilities, vehicles and benefci-

aries in armed conicts or situations o

violence a is still a serious humanitarian

challenge. And yet, it requently goes

unrecognized. A study the International

Committee o the Red Cross (ICRC) con-

ducted in 16 countries between 2008 and

2010 highlights this phenomenon and the

urgent need or action.

The International Red Cross and Red

Crescent Movement thereore launched

this year the Health Care in Dangercam-

paign. Its objective is to draw attention

to the impact o illegal and violent acts

that obstruct the delivery o health care

during armed conicts or other situa-

tions o violence.

Dt mstae the target!

The purpose o this campaign, which will

run rom 2011 to 2015, is to engage the

human conscience. The serious conse-

quences o illegal and sometimes violent

acts that deny access to health care will

be singled out.

Strengthening protection or the sick

and wounded through the adoption o

specifc measures designed to ensure

sae access to eective and impartial

health care is an imperative. States party

to the Geneva Conventions and other

stakeholders will be invited to devise

concrete solutions and to commit them-

selves to their implementation.

Health care is in serious danger when

health-care personnel are prevented

rom reaching their places o work be-

cause o violence, or when frst-aid work-ers are held or delayed at check points.

This is also the case when soldiers orce

their way into hospitals to look or en-

emies or shield themselves rom attack.

Or even worse, when ambulances are

targeted or used to carry out attacks.

It is becoming increasingly dicult to

deliver impartial health care during con-

icts and other situations o violence. As

a result o poor security conditions, the

wounded and sick do not receive themedical attention to which they are en-

titled.

It is surprising that despite decades o e-

ort undertaken by the ICRC through the

promotion o the basic principles o in-

ternational humanitarian law and inter-

national human rights law, these acts still

persist. The problem regrettably remains

a topical issue.

This campaign is an invitation not to

hit the wrong target and to ensure sae

health care delivery.

Hmatara

rss: jggg

memres

There is a humanitar-

ian emergency with

the need to jog the

memories o all actors

concerned. Solutionswill certainly emerge

during expert work-

shops. National Red

Cross Societies, States,

members o health-

care communities and

non-governmental

organisations (NGOs)

will be called upon to

join in the discussion.

The 31st International

Conerence o the Red

Cross and Red Cres-cent to be held at the

Front line o Misrata. A doctor looks or patients to be evacuated.

ICRC/LIOHN,

Andr

HEALTH CARE IN DANGER |

Launch o the Health are dager campaign


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Mogadishu, Medina hospital, supported by the ICRC. Doctors receive a new patient, one o the numerous civilians aected by stray bullets.

ICRC/LIOHN,

Andr

This should be understood in its broadest

sense, or the greater beneft o victims o

armed conicts or other situations o violence,and includes:

hospitals,clinics,rst-aid postsandambu-

lances;

health-carepersonnel,whetherworkingin

medical acilities, ambulances or as inde-

pendent practitioners;

all persons on the premises of a medical

acility, including the wounded and sick aswell as their relatives;

RedCrossandRedCrescentstainvolvedin

the delivery o health care, including volun-teers;

health-orientedNGOs;

militaryhealth-carefacilitiesandpersonnel.

Darour, Bir Meza. ICRC mobile surgical team, operation.

ICRC/LOUIS

,Virginie

What does health are include?

end o 2011 will be the frst important

meeting in this process.

And in 2014, all the conclusions and

recommendations will be reviewed dur-

ing an ad-hoc intergovernmental con-

erence. States will be encouraged to

endorse and implement them. Aware-

ness-raising actions will also target the

general public but also and especially

armed combatants whose endorsement

is likewise sought.

Full speed ahead with the Health Care in

Dangercampaign! n


| HEALTH CARE IN DANGER

1 The report can be consulted on the ICRC

website: http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/

publication/p4072.htm


6/20


Brega. Members o the ICRC give rst aid to a soldier injured by a bullet.

ICRC/ElShalwi,Younes

Benghazi, Al Hurria (Liberty) Square. A volunteer rom the Libyan Red Crescent

tends to a young patient.

GettyImages/ICRC/DEMOUST

IER,

Gratiane

Members o the ICRC discussing on the ront line with military commanders the organisation

o evacuations to a eld hospital.

ICRC/K.

Strugg

Lba: humanitarian assistance against all odds

NORTH AFRICA | Liba

Violent incidents erupted in Libya at the end o February 2011 and the situation deteriorated into a ull-blown armed

conict in March. The ICRC immediately dispatched medical teams and surgical equipment to towns in the eastern

part o the country aected by the fghting. It sent its frst delegates to Benghazi on 26 February. In mid-April, it also

opened an oce in Tripoli to expand its operations in the western part o the country. From the evacuation o civilians

stuck in the town o Misrata to assistance oered to displaced persons, visits to detainees or support or health-care

services, ICRC delegates were present on all ronts.

West o Tripoli, Sida Bilal. The Libyan Red Cresecent distributes hygiene kits provided by the ICRC to sub-Saharan

Arican migrant workers feeing war and persecution.

ICRC/BJRGVINSSON,

Jon


7/20


In the counties bordering the Ivory Coast,

incuding Liberia, there are over 400 un-

accompanied children and children sep-

arated rom their amilies who have been

registered by the ICRC and the LNRCS.

So ar, amily contact has been made orover 170 children and preparations are

on way or those who have accepted a

amily reunifcation.

The Red Cross Tracing Network is making

considerable eorts to reunite as many

amilies as possible,said Karin Homann,

head o the ICRC in Liberia. In doing so,

we have acilitated over 5000 phone calls

and collected over 1200 Red Cross mes-

sages to ensure communication between

reugees and their loved ones.

Ma was t srvve

The Liberian government has estimat-

ed that the total number o reugees is

around 170000. Up to the end o August

the majority o them preer to stay in

Liberia with their host amilies, who have

generously shared their scarce resources

with the reugees.

These last ew months have been very di-

cult. We hardly had any ood, because

we even ate the rice seed, says Edward

Quarowea, a Liberian rice and banana

armer who received seeds, tools and ood

rom the ICRC. I will share all o this with my

amily and the 29 Ivorians Im hosting.

In addition to assistance given by the Red

Cross and international organizations,

many reugees try to fnd income rom

arming, running motorbike taxis or tak-

ing care o water points. Ivorian brothers

Marcel and Gervais are working at the

Red Cross water distribution unit which

provides 15000 litres o clean water a day.

The unit serves both Liberians and reu-

gees. Water rom the river is purifed and

people can fll their buckets rom the taps.

The ICRC and the LNRCS continue to

assist the host and reugee populations

with water and sanitation, distributing

seeds, tools and ood rations and help-

ing to restore amily contacts in all our

counties aected: Nimba, Grand Gedeh,

River Gee and Maryland. In line with its

mandate, the ICRC also visits persons de-

prived o reedom in connection with the

conict in the Ivory Coast.n

Noora Kero, ICRC Liberia

Rice, oil and salt distributed to Liberian armers hosting reugees will help people survive the allow season. Janzon

Town, Grand Gedeh County.

ICRC/Noora

Kero

A Red Cross volunteer recording the needs o reugee populations.

ICRC/NooraKero

Lbera: hundreds o Ivorian children to be reunited

with their amilies

Liberia | WEST AFRICA

We were on the way to etch rice when the situation got tense and we had to run away to the bush,said Isabelle, holding hands

with her young twin sisters in one o the villages hosting reugees in Liberia. The three Ivorian sisters ed the conict in

the Ivory Coast with a amily riend who picked them up and brought them to Liberia. The ICRC together with the Liberia

National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) is helping them to locate their parents in their country and eventually reunite them with

their amily.


8/20


The exercise was conducted in the pres-

ence o all actors identifed in the emer-

gency plan, including the dierent heads

o surgical services as well as chie nurs-

ing ocers. Its purpose was to prepare

the hospital sta or the management o

a large inux o wounded patients that

exceeds the hospitals normal response

capacities. The simulation involved 160

GRCS volunteers rom Red Cross com-

mittees in the 5 communes o Conakry.120 o them played the role o wounded

persons and 40 that o stretcher-bearers.

Volunteers simulating the wounded

went through the entire health care

access process, namely registration at

the emergency room, sorting and then

transer to the dierent services up to

the operating room, depending on the

severity o the case. The 40 volunteer

stretcher-bearers ensured the transer o

patients to the dierent services, whichwere sometimes quite ar rom the

emergency room, as well as stretcher-

bearing rom in-patient services to the

operating room.

The slightly wounded were discharged

ater receiving frst-aid treatment at the

emergency room whereas the more seri-

ous cases were held back to continue the

tabletop exercise. The latter were then

sent to the appropriate services or more

intensive care or or surgery.

The normal unctioning o the hospital

was not disrupted by this 5-hour exer-

cise. However, patients who had come to

seek health care were sur-

prised by this inux o peo-

ple wearing the Red Cross

emblem. To them it was a

reminder o the casualties

this same hospital receivedin September 2009.

The Director o Donka na-

tional hospital, Dr. Fatou

Sikh Camara, expressed

gratitude to the ICRC or

the assistance provided to

the hospital in the manage-

ment o victims o violence

and invited the personnel

to implement a thorough

emergency plan. The head

o the trauma department,

Pro. Skou Kantarala Diak-

it, thanked the ICRC and all volunteers

o the Guinean Red Cross Society or the

organization o the tabletop exercise.

I am pleased about the partnership be-

tween the ICRC and Donka hospital. This

emergency plan or the Conakry hospital,

which is likely to receive almost all severely

wounded people i violence erupts, is o

utmost importance, explained Denise

Duran, Head o the ICRC delegation inConakry. n

Ananie K. Kashironge, ICRC Conakry

Emergency plan simulation exercise at the national hospital o Donka.

ICRC/Guinea

WEST AFRICA | Ginea Conar

Gea: assistance to victims o violence

160 volunteers participate in a tabletop exercise at Donka national hospital

The International Committee o the Red Cross (ICRC) has since 2008 been providing support to Donka national hospital

at the University teaching hospital (CHU) o Conakry to enhance provision o care to victims o violence. The emergency

plan established in 2008 was implemented, with the help o the Guinean Red Cross Society (GRCS), during the Septem-

ber 2009 crisis in the capital. The plan has since been revised and a tabletop exercise was conducted in June 2011 with

the participation o 160 GRCS volunteers.

Red Cross helps people injured in violent

demonstrations

Violent incidents took place in Conakry on 27September 2011, causing many casualties. The

Guinean Red Cross Society (GRCS) and the ICRC,implementing a contingency plan, attended tothe injured. In addition, the ICRC visited hun-

dreds o people who had been arrested.

Guinean Red Cross volunteers administered rstaid and transported those with the most serious

injuries to reerral medical acilities rapidly andwithout hindrance, said Abdoulaye Diallo, theGRCS executive secretary. Altogether, 60 vol-unteers and seven ambulances were mobilized in

various parts o the capital.


9/20


Police training session on the principles o international humanitarian law.

ICRC/NooraKero

Themes discussed during this 5-day

training session included: international

human rights law, law enorcement in

democratic States, ethical and lawul

conduct o security orces, crime preven-

tion and detection, arrest and detention,maintaining public order, use o orce

and frearms. Other presentations on the

International Red Cross and Red Cres-

cent Movement were also made.

Interesting discussions were held on the

presumption o innocence, prohibition

o arbitrary detention, torture and cruel

and degrading treatments. Discussions

also ocused on the ethical guidelines

or the use o orce, in particular the prin-

ciples o proportionality, necessity and

legality. Special attention was given to

vulnerable groups such as women, chil-

dren, reugees and internally displaced

persons due to situations o violence.

Commissioner Laouali explained: Most

instructors at the Police Academy have

never undergone training in international

humanitarian law or human rights. In anattempt to adhere to the values encom-

passing these two branches o law, it has

become necessary to raise awareness o

it and provide training to our instructors.

Trainees should be equipped with ad-

equate knowledge that will enable them,

when operational, to carry out their duties

in accordance with the law. The national

police will thereore be an institution that

adheres to the rule o law.

The opening ceremony was presided

over by the Technical Advisor to the Min-

ister o the Interior in the presence o the

Director General o Police and the Head

o the ICRC regional delegation in Niger.

The Director General o Police reiterated

the commitment o the Nigerien police to

adopt and apply the universal values o hu-

man dignity in their day-to-day practice.He also thanked the ICRC or its numer-

ous actions in the dissemination and pro-

motion o international human rights law

and international humanitarian law in

Niger in general and or the beneft o

law enorcement services in particular.

The Head o the ICRC delegation provid-

ed assurance on ICRCs continued part-

nership. n

Kadidia Abdou Djabarma, ICRC Niamey

Niger | WEST AFRICA

nger: law enorcement and respect o human dignity

The International Committee o the Red Cross (ICRC) organised, rom 15 to 19 August 2011, a training session or twenty

instructors o the National Police Academy in Niamey. It was conducted by Mr. Maxym Vladimirovich Gutov, ICRC delegate

in charge o matters relating to police and security orces, with the active support o the Commissioner Mahamane Laouali

o the National Police Academy o Niger. The objective o the training session was to incorporate aspects o international

human rights law and international humanitarian law in teaching modules o the Police Academy.


10/20


WEST AFRICA | Senegal

Boubacar BaMarietou Goudiaby

igitte Kanoudy Bacary Diedhiou


11/20


Senegal | WEST AFRICA

The frst landmine victims in the Casamance conict

appeared in 1983. According to the Senegalese as-

sociation o landmine victims (ASVM) established in

1999, 757 landmine victims were identifed in 2010.

74% o victims are civilians. Although demining

activities are underway, many felds still remain

inaccessible due to the presence o these hidden

killers. Senegal is party to the 1997 Ottawa Treaty

on the prohibition o anti-personnel mines.

These portraits illustrate the daily struggles o

some o the victims o a conict that disrupts, the

lives o people living in Casamance. It is the story

o an entire generation. In Casamance, people say

that landmines are extraordinary weapons: they

do not eat and never sleep.n

All photos : ICRC/JACOME, Felipe M.

Ladmes:

silent victims

Khadiatou Signate, 14 yearsKinta ManeArthur Bona, 25 years


12/20


Does the law governing non-internation-

al armed conicts (NIACs) suciently ad-

dress humanitarian issues that could

arise rom this type o conict? Interna-

tional armed conicts (IACs) are certainly

more regulated than non-international

armed conicts. The vulnerability o theramework applicable to this type o

conict is a consequence o the sover-

eignist claims o States with regards to

their internal aairs. As with the more

general issue o the relevance or not o

international humanitarian law (IHL) to

contemporary armed conicts, the In-

ternational Committee o the Red Cross

(ICRC) shares this concern.

Non-compliance with IHL norms is more

oten a result o the lack o willingness onthe part o actors in armed conicts than

their non-relevance. Existing IHL rules

are still relevant. Special attention must

however be paid to issues that may arise.

They should be documented and the ac-

tions to be undertaken identifed where

necessary. The ICRC initiative ollows this

approach.

Your magazine, Mag Humanitaire, has

taken a keen look at this issue and pre-

pared a concise act sheet. This ICRC ini-

tiative should contribute to greater pro-tection or victims o armed conicts.

o the wrdg Launched as an ICRC

project pertaining to the law on non-in-

ternational armed conicts (NIAC+), this

initiative is now entitled Strengthening le-

gal protection or victims o armed conicts.

o the sprt At present, existing IHLrules remain globally relevant to deter-

mine the behaviour o belligerents. The

normative ramework is appropriate or

both international and non-international

conicts. However, armed conicts are

conronted with multiple challenges as

they evolve. The nature, actors and con-

duct o armed conicts have changed.

o the methdlg Research, desk

review and study. Over two years o re-

search (2007-2009) were carried out tocomplete an inventory o humanitar-

ian issues that are not covered or inade-

quately covered by existing law. Though

the ocus was on NIACs, IACs were also

researched. Over thirty issues were ex-

amined. An internal ICRC study on the

current status o international humani-

tarian law was subsequently conducted.

o the lss the stdThe

main conclusion o the study was that

the normative ramework applicable to

armed conicts does not ully addressreal humanitarian needs at all times. The

ICRC identifed our areas where the law

could be urther developed or clarifed:

1) detention; 2) implementation o IHL

and reparation or victims o violations;

3) natural environment; 4) protection o

internally displaced persons.

The study underscores the issue o de-

tention, particularly in NIACs. The ICRC,

with its lengthy experience working in

prison environments, has pinpointed di-

fculties that are due to detention condi-

tions in general. In this regard, the lack o

legal norms applicable to NIACs compro-

mises eorts to protect lie, health and

the dignity o persons deprived o their

reedom.

Ad w The idea is to secure wide

support or the conclusions o the studyand the ensuing initiatives. Following

the publication o these conclusions,

the ICRC initiated a series o consulta-

tions during which all States were invited

to share their viewpoint. Feedback was

noted as well as diverging viewpoints on

some ICRC proposals. Detention is a sen-

sitive and priority issue or States.

The next International Conerence o the

Red Cross and Red Crescent, scheduled

rom 28 November to 1 December 2011,will provide the ICRC with an opportu-

nity or mobilization. The main fndings

o the study and the outcome o consul-

tations with States will be presented at

this conerence. A drat resolution will be

proposed to strengthen IHL with view to

improving its enorcement and provid-

ing greater protection or detainees. n

Mame Ibrahima Tounkara, ICRC Dakar

HuMANITARIAN ACTION AND LAW

Strengthening legal protection or victims

o armed conicts

From 1864 to the present

da, a continos commitment or the developmento IHL.

Signing o the Geneva Convention, 22 August 1864. (painting by Armand-Dumaresq)

PhotothqueICRC(DR)


13/20


HuMANITARIAN ACTION AND LAW

Behd the urm: train militaries on

child protection

On 22 September, at the ICRC Dakar

Espace Jeanie-Waddell Fournier or hu-

manitarian action and law, the publi-

cation Behind the Uniorm: training the

military in child rights and child protection

in Aricaedited by Save the Children Swe-

den was launched. The event, co-organ-

ised by Save the Children, ICRC and the

Oce o the Chie o Deence Sta o the

Senegalese Armed Forces, was attended

by embassies, international organisa-

tions, NGOs and several civil and military

authorities.

The publication capitalizes on Save the

Children Swedens 12-year experience

o training the military in Arica on child

rights and protection. It seeks to help a-

miliarize the military with the tools and

instruments or child protection, encour-

age dialogue between civilians and the

military and fnally to prevent violations

o child rights.

Members o the technical panel com-

posed o Gbato Soumahoro, Save the

Children Sweden Advisor on child protec-

tion matters in emergencies, Lieutenant-

Colonel Pape Mouss Ndiaye, Director o

the Military Medical School and Donat-

ien Nkurunziza, ICRC delegate in charge

o matters relating to armed orces, pre-

sented the lessons learned within their

respective institutions.n


Behd the urm: training the military in child

rights and child protection in Arica

Behind the Uniorm: training the military in child

rights and child protection in Arica, Frances Shee-

han and Sophie Joy Mosko (ed.), Save the Chil-

dren Sweden, 2010, 68 pages

This publication gives voice to the soldiers them-

selves and describes how, in 19 countries withinthe continent, the military is educated and trained

on child rights and child protection. This is con-

ducted by means o a programme initiated by Save

the Children Sweden and the ECOWAS1 in close col-laboration with national armed orces and peace-

keeping training schools.

Testimonies o the military illustrate how their per-ception o and attitude towards children in conict

situations have changed (witnesses o violence,

separated rom their parents, taken or targets orrecruited).

Children are made vulnerable by conict situations

and, oten, the frst people they come into contact

with are the military.

Today, there is a child protection unit responsible

or training in the armed orces o 11 countries in

West Arica. Child rights and protection are nowincorporated in military training programmes in

10 countries. Over 115,000 military personnel in

West Arica have received training through this

programme since 1998.

More than150 military instructors in the sub-region,including over orty trainers o trainers, are now

equipped to raise the awareness o their troops onthis issue.

Representatives o the Senegalese army, Save the Children and the International Committee o the Red Cross at the conerence.

SavetheChildrenSwe

den

1 Economic Community o West Arican States


14/20


ICRC


casamae: maintaining healthy livestock

in a conict area

How can economic activities relating to livestock production be sustained and livestock kept healthy in a climate o inse-

curity and bias against vaccines? The ICRC provides an answer through an innovative programme to support veterinary

activities in the Fogny region o Casamance.

Better traed, mble

ad efet veterar

assstats

During the past two years, the

ICRC has put in place a programme

to train and support veterinary

assistants. Clment Kaze, pro-

gramme manager at the ICRC

sub-delegation in Ziguinchor, says

he is satisfed with the result.

ICRC support includes training

sessions, veterinary equipment,

medicines, etc. But the actual

revolution occurred with the pro-

curement o motorbikes to acili-

tate travel by assistants throughout the

Fogny region. Five assistants were trained

and equipped with motorbikes in the Dji-naki, Suelle, Djibidione and Oulampane

localities.

At Djibidione, the village leader identi-

fes one o the key success actors: the

assistants are very mobile. Ismaela Man,

a veterinary assistant or whom mobility

is a real added value, adds we intervene

rapidly in the area. The ICRC investment

means complete autonomy or the vet-

erinary assistants.

They now deal ruthlessly with ticks, worms,

trypanosomiasis, dermatosis, oot-and-

mouth disease, as well as anthrax which

caused a heavy mortality, declared Sam-

cidine Coly, a veterinary assistant.

A drast redt amal

mrtalt

At Djibidione, the president o the rural

council explains: last year I lost 14 ani-

mals. This year the mortality rate is close to

zero. Veterinary assistants deserve a spe-

cial mention because they travel to wher-

ever they are called; we are very satised

with their work.

According to Ismaela Man, a veterinary

assistant, this programme helps improve

livestock production in the area. We are

delighted with this collaboration with the

ICRC. This is confrmed by MamadouDiedhiou, president o the association

o livestock breeders at Djinaki who

says that populations can actually see

the changes; there is less animal mortality

thanks to ICRC support.

Previously, the cattle suered rom epi-

demics because government workers

eared or their saety and avoided cer-

tain areas. But there were also biases. Ac-

cording to Dr. Landing Badji, a veterinary

doctor (see box), livestock breeders be-

lieved that consumption o meat originat-ing rom vaccinated animals caused steril-

ity. As the selected veterinary assistants

themselves lived in the targeted areas,

they played a key role in heightening the

awareness o populations.

These assistants are now frmly estab-

lished and their know-how recognized.

They simply hope or brighter days in the

localities were they have become real

heroes. n


Dr Landing Badji, veterinary doctor in a conict zone

Dr. Ladg Badj, a veterinary doctor estab-lished in Bignona since 1996, recalls the dicult

beginnings o his work: In the early stages, our

work was risky due to the insecurity and biases

against vaccines. There were even some rumoursthat the consumption o meat originating rom

vaccinated animals made people sterile! Govern-

ment workers did not dare go to certain areascontrolled by MFDC armed groups. Livestock werecontaminated and in poor health. We even went

to the extent o vaccinating ree o charge just toset an example.

Following the havoc wreaked by the anthrax dis-

ease, certain livestock breeders decided to crossthe line out o despair. Then there was an rush

or vaccinations. At the onset, we reached 1,000

heads per year with difculty, and now we vacci-nate up to 40,000 heads,he says with satisaction.

Today, he believes that the wager has paid o.


15/20


Midana with his amily, ater the tting o his protheses.

ICRC/DIOUF,

AmadouMansour

Bssa phsal reha-

bltat etre:

restoring hope through

rehabilitation

Upon arrival in Bissau, you will notice

the bustling streets, trac jams at cer-

tain road intersections, well-established

shops with signs in Portuguese; in short,

a normal lie.

And yet, this country is still healing rom

the eects o several armed conicts1and their toll o victims. Pay a visit to the

Dr. Ernesto Lopes Moreira national reha-

bilitation centre in Bissau and you will be

able to better understand the struggle or

normal lie led by people who, or some,

were in the wrong place at the wrong

time. A landmine and your whole lie

goes o-track. This is the story o Midana.

When you meet Midana Ntop and he

shakes your hand with a smile, you can-

not imagine the struggles that this 40-year old man o average build has gone

through to reach this

point. Today, he is a vet-

eran in a country that

has witnessed several

periods o armed con-

icts.

As a soldier, he wasdeployed in 2006 to

fght against Senegalese

armed groups present

in Bissau-Guinean ter-

ritory near the border

with Senegal.

Ater a landmine ac-

cident Midana loses

his let leg. His lie

changes drastically. His wie leaves him.

Everything collapses. He tries to get onwith crutches. Eventually, worn away by

time, they break under his weight. Since

Guinea-Bissau has not signed the United

Nations Convention on the rights o per-

sons with disabilities, he cannot hope or

any special avours.

And then, the encounter with the ICRC

and a window o hope opened or Mi-

dana2. As he couldnt walk with his crutch-

es, he was unemployed and thereore

with a double disability, physical and so-

cial. A prothesis completely changed thisby giving him back the complete use o

his two hands. Now that he is working

again, he has an income that allows him

to take care o his amily and play an eco-

nomic and social role.

Looking back, it is with wise words that

he comments on the images running

through his mind and with a broad smile

that he talks o his remarriage in 2008!

In March 2011, he was ftted with a pro-thesis o better quality and as good

things oten come in pairs, he was also

promoted at the Bissau military hospital

where he works. Could he ask or more?

He is regaining pleasure in lie and be-

coming independent. I can walk up to

9 kilometres, he says proudly. Painul

memories as well: Ater my accident, I lost

all motivation, he adds. He now lives a

normal amily lie with his wie and three

children in the Bissaque neighbourhood,

and thanks the Centre or enabling him

to look orward to a brighter uture.n


1 War o independence (1962 to 1973), civil war (June 1998

to May 1999) and armed confict in the northern part o the

country (March to April 2006).

2 With the support o the ICRC, Midana received three protheses

in 2007 (rom the NGO ANDES in Bissau), in 2010 (Ziguinchor

Rehabilitation Centre) and in 2011 at the Centre in Bissau.

3 Economic Community o West Arican States

Constructed in the 1980s and plundered

during the 1998 civil war, the Bissau reha-

bilitation centre was reurbished with thesupport o the ECOWAS3 and the commit-

ment o the Ministry o Health. It was then

equipped (urniture, machines, raw materi-

als, etc.) by the International Committee othe Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC also helps to

strengthen capacities or the management

and administration o the Centre.

This is the only Centre in the country that

specializes in the physical rehabilitation o

disabled people. The appropriate type o re-habilitation is proposed to the patient ater

consultation. The Centre produces prosthe-

ses, crutches and wheelchairs but also physi-

otherapy and psychological support services,explains Basilio Adriano, Administrator o

the Centre. A sta o 17 ensures the provi-

sion o care to patients. To date, over 100

persons with physical disabilities have re-

ceived treatment at this Centre, inaugurat-ed in April 2011.

Supporting the centre

to help other Midanas


16/20


Pbl health halleges

a prs evrmet

Situated in the city centre, Ziguinchor

prison is located between a bank, Sona-

tel and the post oce. The building was

ormerly a school run by nuns, explains anocial.

Public health is a major concern in deten-

tion centres. At Ziguinchor prison, the

main issue is the wastewater disposal

system. This is reective o the city, which

has a major wastewater disposal problem

because o poor inrastructure, explains

Charles Valentin Magendo, an ICRC en-

gineer.

Improving living conditions in detentioncentres is o primary importance to the

ICRC and these concerns are shared by

the Department o Prison Administration

(DAP). Because o the poor conditions,

rehabilitation works at Ziguinchor prison

have been undertaken in the past years

by both the DAP and the ICRC.

In 1995, aeces and urine would trickle

down to the courtyard, but there have

been major improvements, acknowl-

edges Malang Biaye, Deputy Director o

Ziguinchor prison. Samples taken and

examined by Sngalaise des Eaux (wa-

ter utility company) revealed that the

water was contaminated by aeces as a

result o the dilapidated state o pipes.

The pipes have since been replaced and

the water is now sae to drink. The sep-

tic tanks, water distribution network andpublic water taps have been rehabilitated.

And how about the issue o water sup-

ply with the requent power outages?

An independent network comprising a

5,000-litre reservoir and water ountains

was set up by the ICRC making the prison

almost completely sel-sucient.

Toilets were also reurbished and doors

put up to ensure the privacy o detain-

ees. Large dustbins with lids were placed

in the middle and in all our corners o

the courtyard. This has meant that there

are no more swarms o ies and insects

attracted to the letover ood.

A exellet llabrat

wth athrtes

With roos in certain areas containing

asbestos, the risk o cancer was serious,

explains Charles Valentin. The roo o

the central building as well as that o the

womens and juvenile quarters have since

been redone.

The renovation o these roos required

prior consultation and preparation. For

security reasons, detainees had to be

evacuated rom the premises during con-

struction works. Some were transerred

to adjacent cells, others to the Bignona

prison or to other detention centres inCasamance. Debris rom the works was

buried on land provided by the mayors

oce. Today, everyone is pleased with

the measures taken to improve the living

conditions o detainees and o the prison

sta as well.

These achievements are attributable to

the excellent collaboration between the

ICRC and the prison authorities. Each

party, in a positive spirit, tried to urther

its arguments whether on detentionconditions or security issues. In general,

they always reached an agreement.

Esre the prtet

detaees

There are some more sensitive aspects

o ICRCs work within the prison environ-

ment. In Ziguinchor, these are managed

by Marc Maurer, the delegate in charge

o protection issues, in compliance with

the ICRCs strict level o confdentialityand neutrality. A permanent and con-

structive dialogue is maintained with

authorities to ensure that the rights o

detainees are respected.

Marc says that the ICRCs good relation-

ship with the prison authorities acili-

tates his work in Ziguinchor as well as in

Bignona, Oussouye, Sdhiou or Kolda.n



To improve detention conditions and respect the rights o detainees, the ICRC visited a number o prisons in the 80 countries

in which it works. (Photo : Liberia)

ICRC/HEGER,

Boris

Zghr prs: an innovative approach

to hygiene and health

It is common knowledge that the ICRC oers protection and assistance to detainees. What is less well known is the work

done to make detention conditions better by improving the health environment in prisons. This article sheds some light

on the fght or cleanliness in Ziguinchor prison.


17/20


In 1940, a triumphant Nazi Germany de-

tained 1.8 million prisoners. They are sep-

arated based on the colour o their skin.

Among them, about 100,000 are rom the

colonies. The whites are sent to Germany

whereas those rom the colonies are in-

terned in France, most in Frontstalags1

reserved or colonial soldiers. Hitler does

not want blacks on the Reich territory.

Among these tirailleurs is a Senegalese

Associate Proessor o Grammar, Lopold

Sdar Senghor. A second class inantry-man, he is attached to the 31st inantry

regimen o the colonies and is a member

o the platoon o non-commissioned o-

fcers. Captured by the Germans in June

1940, he is transerred to several camps

beore being released in 1942 or medi-

cal reasons.

We have all heard in the media o a sev-

en-page typed document discovered

by a researcher in the French National

archives in June 2010. In this document,Senghor provides a detailed account o

his captivity and an overview o the liv-

ing conditions o the prisoners.

Senghor reveals the reality o some o

these camps, mainly Frontstalag 230

at Poitiers and Frontstalag 221 at Saint

Mdard near Bordeaux. Delegates o

the International Committee o the Red

Cross paid visits to these camps up to 17

June 1942. This was beore the escape o

General Henri Giraud which provoked

Hitlers anger and brought an end to in-

spections by the Red Cross.

At each turn o the page, Senghor tells

us o how dicult the living conditions

o the prisoners were. He complains o

hygiene, the cold weather and especially

o hunger: The most demoralizing is the

hunger.() Prisoners are actually hal-

starved.

The Red Cross, which visited these

camps, tried to improve detention condi-

tions by providing material assistance to

prisoners- clothes or ood. In Bordeaux,

according to Senghor, Red Cross suppliesseem to account or the majority o their

ood intake. However, this assistance was

sometimes diverted: the Red Cross sends

us all we need (editors note: clothes), but

they preer to give us the old items. Where

does the rest go?

Further on, Senghor implies that the Red

Cross did not only provide assistance. Its

delegates conducted, in conormity with

ICRC practices, one-on-one interviews

with prisoners to enquire about the situ-ation in the Frontstalags. In these inter-

views, prisoners condemned the arbitrary

manner in which the camps were admin-

istered:several () told me that they could

not be released on 18 December because

they could not pay money to Bel Ad (editors

note: head o the camp) (...), those released

complained to the Red Cross.

It appears that the Red Cross, with this

inormation in hand, intervened with the

authorities to make changes. Senghor

continues: ollowing which, the kom-

mandantur searched Bel Ads house where

apparently ood and several thousand-

rancs were ound.

Since the Franco-Prussian war in 1870,

the ICRC visits, among other persons,

prisoners o war detained during inter-

national armed conict. The ICRCs main

objective in this regard is to ensure that

detainees are treated humanely and with

respect or their dignity.

Even though during the Second World

War the ICRCs eorts to provide protec-

tion and assistance to war victims was

globally a ailure, the intervention o its

delegates undoubtedly made the deten-

tion conditions o Senghors companions

a little more bearable.

These two years o capitivity were cer-

tainly trying or the uture president o

the Republic o Senegal, but or the poetthey were also a source o inspiration.

A large part o Senghors second book,

Hosties noires, was written during this

period. n

Wolde-Gabriel Saugeron, ICRC Dakar

1939-1945 war. Colonial Lazaret o Saint Mdard. Potato- peeling duty.

French prisoners o war with Senegalese origins. PhotothqueICRC

| DID yOu kNOW?

When the Red Cross visited

a prisoner named Senghor

* Prisoners camp

Geneva, Central Research Agency. Visit to the International

Committee o the Red Cross by the President o Senegal.

PhotothqueICRC(DR)/KURZ,

Jean-Jacqu

es


18/20


GuINEA-BISSAu

30.09.11

Trag t ehae

veterar are

Stockbreeders in the north-west o Guin-

ea Bissau will soon have new veterinary

assistants to help care or their livestock

and reduce animal mortality. The ICRC

and the Department o Livestock o the

Ministry o Agriculture organised a train-

ing session or some Red Cross volun-

teers in Guinea Bissau. Those trained will

provide basic veterinary care. We are hope-

ul that i animals are healthier, certain

economic activities will receive a boost and

ultimately increase household income in-

dicates Ilda Pina, ICRC delegate in charge

o the programme. To help them get

started, they will each receive a completeset o veterinary supplies and medicines.

In addition, the ICRC will provide them

with a way to get around easily in order

to work eectively.

ICRC

19.10.2011

The icRc appts ts

ew presdet

At a meeting on 17 October, the Assem-

bly o the International Committee o the

Red Cross (ICRC), the organisations gov-

erning body, appointed Peter Maurer as

the next ICRC president. He succeeds Ja-

kob Kellenberger who has been in oce

since 2000. The incoming president will

take up duties on July 1st 2012 or a our-

year renewable term. Mr. Maurer is cur-

rently the Secretary o State at the Swiss

Foreign Aairs Federal Department, a

position he has held since January 2010.

He directs, rom the headquarters inBerne, the activities o the Swiss diplo-

matic service and diplomatic missions

around the world.

SyRIA

16.09.11

The icRc dems la

respet r medal servesA Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteer suc-

cumbed to his wounds ater being injured

in the course o perorming his duties,said

Batrice Mgevant-Roggo, the ICRCs

head o operations or the Middle East. It

is completely unacceptable that volunteers

who are helping to save other peoples

lives end up losing their own. Two other

volunteers were injured in the same in-

cident. Their ambulance was caught in

heavy fre while they were evacuating

an injured person to a hospital in Homs.

This is not the frst time Red Crescent

personnel and vehicles have come un-

ICRC

For Jeanie

On 1st September, collaborators o the In-

ternational Committee o the Red Cross(ICRC) commemorated the tragic deatho Jeanie Waddell-Fournier, an ICRC del-

egate. Victim o a landmine accident, she

lost her lie on September 1st 2006 in Casa-

mance, Senegal. Her colleagues in Dakarand Ziguinchor as well as the populations

o Bignona, Leueu, Djondji, Dyanaye

Inor and Sitoukne (where the health hutbears her name), paid tribute to her. In ad-

dition to observing a minute o silence,

the inhabitants o these localities held dis-

cussions on HIV, sanitation programmesand blood donationunder the supervision

o volunteers o the Senegalese Red Cross

Society.

TABALA

Tabala* ...news in brie

The ICRC has started to distribute ood

to assist some 1.1 million drought- and

war-aected people across the hardest-

hit areas o southern and central Soma-

lia. The frst round o distributions, in the

Gedo region, is providing 72,000 people

with enough beans, oil and rice to cover

their needs or one month. Several more

rounds are planned to take place be-

ore December. While ood distribution

is needed to relieve immediate suer-

ing, the ICRC also aims over the medium

term to give the population the means

to sustain their own livelihoods. It is

thereore providing seed and ertilizer

or 240,000 armers ahead o the plant-

ing season. This ongoing operation is be-

ing conducted by the ICRC with the sup-

port o volunteers rom the Somali Red

Crescent Society.

SOMALIA

05.10.11

The icRc lahes ew d dstrbts


19/20


der fre or been attacked since the onseto the recent violence in Syria. Medical

personnel, ambulances and other means

o medical transport must be respected

and protected, and their work must be

acilitated. The Red Cross and Red Cres-

cent emblems must be respected by all.

SENEGAL

14.10.11

Assstae t pplats theslated area Dad

The ICRC conducted an operation to as-

sist populations in the village o Dioka-

dou, in Casamance. This assistance is in

response to the difculties encountered by

the populations o Diokadou, who have

been isolated since the month o January

due to armed conict and insecurity in the

area, explains Ilda Pina, ICRC coordina-

tor or economic security programmes.

The ICRC provided 232 people with rice,

oil, sugar and soap. Through dialogue

with all parties to the conict and in ob-

servance o a strict level o neutrality, the

ICRC succeeded in obtaining security

guarantees or the setting up o a hu-

manitarian corridor during distribution

rounds.

IVORy COAST

21.09.11

Stdets rm reh-speag

Ara plead teratal h-

matara law (iHL)

The ICRC delegation in Abidjan organ-

ised a regional moot court competition

in IHL. Students rom nine West and

Central Arican countries (Benin, Togo,

Democratic Republic o Congo, Congo

Brazzaville, Guinea, Senegal, Cameroon,Mali and the Ivory Coast) took part in

this event. The preliminary rounds o

the competition took place during the

frst two days and were devoted to role-

playing exercises. The fnal round, on

the third day, pitted the two best teams

against each other in fctional proceed-

ings at the Abidjan-Plateau courthouse.

The team rom Congo Brazzaville was the

winner o this edition.

GuINEA-CONAkRy04.10.11

Red crss helps peple jred

vlet demstrats

Violent incidents took place in Conakry

on 27 September, causing many casual-

ties. The Guinean Red Cross Society and

the ICRC attended to the injured. 60

volunteers and seven ambulances were

mobilized in various parts o the capi-tal. Most o the casualties were taken to

Donka National Hospital and the Camp

Samory Tour military hospital. Both

acilities had recently received medical

supplies rom the ICRC enabling them to

provide better care or injured patients.

The ICRC also visited people arrested in

connection with the events in order to

assess the treatment they were receiving

and the conditions in which they were

being held.

CICR/Mrazikova,

Diana

TABALA

Stylish and meticulous, and extremely

kind, Josiane chooses her words careully.

From Switzerland, she has none the lessthe elegance o an authentic Senegalese

driank. This could sound like a tribute be-

ing paid to this sixty-year old woman walk-

ing happily towards retirement.

Josianne, regional coordinator o the HIV/

AIDS programme or the Dakar delega-tion sta, has worked with the ICRC or 20

years in several countries in Arica (Mo-

zambique, Angola, Sierra Leone, Central

Arican Republic, Niger) and elsewhere(Aghanistan, Sri Lanka). As she contem-

plates her countless memories and as

memories o Senegal come to mind, she

says: I am pleased to end my mission herein Senegal where I met a Head o delegation

who allowed me to try out the HIV/AIDS pro-

gramme, and I am happy to have extended it

to include vulnerable migrant women, trans-orming it into more than just a corporate

programme.

A nurse and trainer, she judges that the

ICRC was a ormidable opportunity to ulfl

a childhood dream: my maternal grand-

ather, imprisoned by the Germans, had re-ceived an ICRC package. In other words, the

calling to work in the humanitarian felddates back to her early childhood.

Despite her cheerulness, she revolts at the

idea that the right to health is violated at

times o war, and expresses her total satis-

action at the Health Care in Dangercam-paign.The ICRC has paid a heavy price, she

asserts, while recalling with deep emotion

the loss o Jeanie Waddell-Fournier.

Josiane, always enthusiastic, would like to

see the younger generation engage ur-

ther in humanitarian action, which accord-ing to her, leads to humility. Ater all these

years with the ICRC, the spirit o nursing is

still powerul within her.

Thank you, she says with emotion and

tears, to the ICRC amily. All the best to this

white Arican, as she defnes hersel.

ICRC Jobs

Josiane Friedrich,a kind-hearted nurse

* Drum used in West Arica

ICRC


20/20

2011.0

069/001;002;007

mag humanitaire no. 3 (english)

Documents