ICRC | In Action | December 2019

T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O M M I T T E E O F T H E R E D C R O S S

IN ACTION

December 2019 / Issue 08

The difference we make together

CONTENTS WORKING TOGETHER

HAVE YOUR SAY

Where do your 1.3 billion swiss francs go?

Your initiatives, your messages, your questions. Tell us what you think.

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MAKE HOPE YOUR LEGACY

HOW TO SUPPORT US Join the ICRC Circle of Friends.

Leaving a legacy gives a future back to victims of war.

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VOICES FROM THE FIELD

STORY

Myanmar, their voices straight from the field.

Children tell their stories through drawing.

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BEHIND THE SCENES

WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES

A partnership in good health.

The ICRC's budget and operations.

THE DONOR SUPPORT TEAM

ICRC

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ICRC

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CONTACT US If you have any questions or comments about an article you’ve read in this magazine, please email them to: donation@icrc.org

Cover photo: ICRC Myanmar: Ma Win, 52 years old had to flee her home with her seven children. They have received clothes from the ICRC. "I was very worried about their health.

These clothes will keep them warm at night".

International Committee of the Red Cross Supporter Care Services Avenue de la Paix 19 CH-1202 Geneva T + 41 22 730 21 71 F + 41 22 730 28 99 Email: donation@icrc.org Postal account: 12–5527–6 Website: icrc.org/supportus

The ICRC in action Edite d by: Inte r national Commit te e of the Re d Cros s I Chief e ditor: S y l v ie Pe llet I Contr ibutor s to this is su e: Katherine Roux, Jacqueline Fernandez, and colleagues in Sittwe subdelegation, Nicole Rosset, Simon Regard, Sigiriya Aebischer Perone, Pascal Nepa, Marie-Jo Girod, Audrey Brasier, Marion Liard I D e sign: Bra ndlif t G e nève I Pr int r un: 150,0 0 0 copie s (also in Fre nch, G e r ma n a nd Italia n) I Inte r national Commit te e of the Re d Cros s, Ave nu e de la Pai x 19, 1202 G e neva, Swit ze r la nd 02 | www.icrc.org/supportus | December 2019

ICRC

EDITORIAL Even wars have limits

A

nother year is drawing to a close, one that has been marked by distressing events around the world. Our 18,000 or so staff members working in the field have seen these events first hand, but we never lose hope and we continue to work day in, day out to help people affected by armed conflict, alleviating their suffering and helping them rebuild their lives.

This year, we also commemorated the 70th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, which serve as the basis for our work and set out the law of war that protects civilians, wounded people and prisoners of war, among others. Over the course of the past 70 years, these most important of conventions have saved countless lives and limited human suffering throughout hundreds of conflicts.

Unfortunately, despite being universally ratified, the conventions are not universally complied with. And when the rules of war are broken, the consequences are catastrophic, particularly for civilians, which is why the Geneva Conventions have never been more relevant or more important. In line with our mandate, we are working tirelessly with armed forces and armed groups so that they respect the law, and with authorities to integrate the conventions’ legal provisions in domestic law.

Our staff members carrying out this work – some of whom are former military officers and lawyers – see examples every day of the law being complied with and civilian lives being respected. Regrettably, these successes go virtually unnoticed and never make the news. However, we have the evidence that international humanitarian law is being respected; thousands of children associated with armed forces or armed groups have been demobilized, we have been allowed to provide emergency aid to millions of people in Syria and, every year, we are able to visit around a million prison detainees.

Your contribution allows our staff to continue their work in strengthening respect for the laws that protect civilians, wounded people and detainees, and it also provides emergency aid and longer-term support to men, women and children who are struggling to survive and get back on their feet.

I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks for the trust you have placed in our organization. Together, we are giving renewed hope to millions of people around the world.

With very best wishes to you and yours for a very happy new year.

DOMINIK STILLHART DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS www.icrc.org/supportus | December 2019 | 03

WORKING TOGETHER

Mari Aftret Mortvedt/ICRC

YOUR 2019 DONATIONS

YOUR DONATIONS ARE BRINGING HOPE

Once again, because of your generous donations, we have been able to come to the aid of millions of people caught between the crossfire of armed conflict around the world. Thank you!

While the violence in some of the countries in which our 18,000 staff members work may no longer grab the headlines, the men, women and children affected continue to suffer. Despite their tremendous tenacity, solidarity and generosity of spirit, they need us.

Whether in Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Myanmar, the fighting all too often forces civilians to flee, seeking refuge wherever they can. But far from home, they struggle to provide for themselves and their children, and even to get basic services like water and health care – the hospitals and water-supply networks often having been badly damaged, even destroyed.

October 2019, north-eastern Syria: When war broke out again on the Turkish–Syrian border, the consequences were dramatic, and civilians fled their villages and towns in the tens of thousands. Oum Ali, 38, was one of those displaced by the violence: “We had just finished our lunch when we heard an enormous explosion very close to our home. My children, who are all still small, started crying.

My husband and I got them out of the house and we got

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“WE HAD JUST FINISHED OUR LUNCH WHEN WE HEARD AN ENORMOUS EXPLOSION VERY CLOSE TO OUR HOME. MY CHILDREN, WHO ARE ALL STILL SMALL, STARTED CRYING. MY HUSBAND AND I GOT THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE AND WE GOT MOVING. WE HAD TO WALK TWO DAYS TILL WE GOT TO HASSAKEH, WHERE WE STOPPED. WE FEEL A BIT SAFER HERE, BUT IT’S HARD. WE DIDN’T MANAGE TO BRING A MATTRESS WITH US OR ANY FOOD OR WATER.” OUM ALI, 38, ONE OF THOSE DISPLACED BY THE VIOLENCE moving. We had to walk two days till we got to Hassakeh, where we stopped. We feel a bit safer here, but it’s hard.

We didn’t manage to bring a mattress with us or any food or water.”

WORKING TOGETHER

WHERE DO YOUR 1.3 BILLION SWISS FRANCS GO?

We are truly thankful for your generous response to our appeals in 2019.

Below are a few examples of what we have been able to do, thanks to your donations.

(Figures are in millions of Swiss francs.)

SYRIA

More than 870,000 people received food and 500,000 people received essential household items.

YEMEN

69.4

Nearly 4.9 million people had regular access to clean water, lowering the risks of contracting water-borne diseases.

187.6 46.7

127.4 77.3

52.2 66.4

51.3

45.4 105.0 SOUTH SUDAN

Fatehi Hamid/ICRC

Noura Oualot/ICRC

Around 420,000 people received seed, fishing nets and equipment to help them meet their own needs.

101.0 138.7

65.7

81.0

62.8

Our 15 largest operations (in decreasing order) Syria

Libya

South Sudan

Somalia

Iraq

Myanmar

Nigeria

Israel and the occupied territories

Yemen

Mali

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lebanon

Afghanistan

Central African Republic

Ukraine

Others: 5.85 million

August 2019, Aden, Yemen: After several days’ fighting, which left many dead and hundreds of people wounded, the hospitals in the city are at breaking point.

“When basic health-care services can’t be guaranteed, the results can be fatal for civilians,” says Mathias Kempf, the head of the ICRC’s mission in Aden. “Many wounded people have not been able to get to hospital. One of my colleagues was asked if he could arrange some way of getting power to an elderly neighbour, who needed electricity to keep his oxygen equipment working. These conflicts are full of stories like this that are never told, stories about people who suffer in silence.”

June 2019, South Sudan: Luka arrived in a makeshift camp after running from violent clashes that had broken out in his village. “It was war,” says the 28-year-old. “I had nowhere else to go.” Like many displaced people, Luka is afraid to go back home, preferring to stay in the camp, even if there is no real future for him there. “I eat only what I’m given. If I don’t get anything, I don’t eat.”

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HAVE YOUR SAY

YOUR MESSAGES If you have any questions or comments about the ICRC or an article you’ve read in this magazine, please write in. We will be delighted to reply in this column.

International Committee of the Red Cross Donor Magazine 19 Avenue de la Paix 1202 Geneva Switzerland Email: donation@icrc.org

Last year, almost 800 greetings cards were sent to our staff in the field. A big thank you to you, our loyal supporters and friends. You cannot imagine how touched our colleagues were by this gesture. It means a great deal to realize how much their hard work and dedication are recognized and appreciated by the people who give so generously and make their work possible.

ICRC

Your messages of hope

Charity chocolate sale to support the people of Yemen The students and teachers of the Lycée Cantonal de Porrentruy, in the Jura, were deeply shocked by the humanitarian impact of the conflict in Yemen and decided to sell handmade chocolate hearts to raise funds to help the people of Yemen.

As the ICRC is one of the few humanitarian organizations present on the ground, the school decided to donate all the proceeds from the charity chocolate sale to our organization.

We are extremely grateful for their support.

If you would like to raise money for the ICRC, please see our web page, where you will find information on organizing a fundraising event: www.icrc.org/en/support-us/fundraising-event

Your questions Why is the donor magazine wrapped in plastic?

We looked into alternative packaging options for the donor magazine. However, several studies recently published in France and Switzerland have indicated that plastic is actually the most environmentally friendly packaging solution (as long as the plastic is disposed of in the waste bin and subsequently incinerated). Other organizations striving to protect the environment have chosen a similar solution.

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vlad Kutepov

We at the ICRC are working to be environmentally responsible and to ensure that all of our activities are as sustainable as possible, while maximizing the impact of humanitarian aid.

MAKE HOPE YOUR LEGACY THEY DID IT, SO WHY NOT YOU TOO? Giulio’s story also comes to mind. When he was a boy (he’s 87 now!), he and his father were conscripted from Italy to build planes in Nazi Germany. Giulio watched helplessly as his father wasted away from hunger and illness.

To honour his father’s memory – still fresh in his mind – Giulio wanted to leave a legacy to aid operations on behalf of people at risk of starving in South Sudan.

ICRC

As the programme manager for gifts and legacies, I regularly have the opportunity to meet people who have decided to leave a gift in their will. So when someone asks me how important bequests are to the ICRC, it’s their stories that come to mind, stories of generous, caring people who deserve to be recognized.

CICR Ibrahim Sherkhan/ICRC

Nuala’s story is unforgettable too. She was an ICRC delegate for 15 years and devoted her entire life to other people. Even after she was gone, she continued helping victims of armed conflict: her gift funded physical rehabilitation work in Gaza for an entire year. She never breathed a word about it to the ICRC, and her family was very supportive of her decision.

For example, last month Thierry got in touch with me about leaving a bequest to the ICRC. In his career as a journalist, he had seen ICRC delegates working in the field, and even thought about becoming one himself. But then he met his wife and decided to settle down and start a family in Switzerland. Although he doesn’t plan on dying anytime soon, he wanted to take action right away to be sure that when the time came, he wouldn’t miss another opportunity to save lives.

Leaving a legacy gives a future back to victims of war.

Remembering the ICRC in your will is one of the most wonderful ways you can help people caught up in armed conflict. We will still be on hand to help them years from now, thanks to your kindness.

ICRC

Marie-Jo Girod, Bequests and Donations Manager

If you would like to talk about anything to do with leaving a gift to the ICRC, please get in touch with me, Marie-Jo Girod, by phone at 022 730 33 76 or by email at mgirodblanc@icrc.org. I would be very happy to help. www.icrc.org/legacy

YOUR WILL, OUR ACTION, THEIR LIFE BEYOND ARMED CONFLICT. www.icrc.org/supportus cicr.org/souteneznous | Décembre | December 2019 | 07

Paulin Bashengezi/ICRC

BECOME A FRIEND OF THE ICRC AND BE AT THE HEART OF THE ACTION. HELP US HELP THE VICTIMS OF ARMED CONFLICTS

Eva Pilipp/ICRC

The Circle of Friends of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) brings together our most loyal donors. By becoming a Friend, you will join forces with the greatest humanitarian movement of our time and help to bring hope and dignity to millions of victims of conflict. Together, we can help those who might otherwise be forgotten.

As a Friend, you will enjoy certain privileges like invitations to our conferences and events throughout the year, and regular information on our activities, including reports from the field.

“I made the decision to provide financial support to the ICRC early on, when I was just 20 and starting my career as a nurse.

Rouge (CICR)

LES AMIS DU CI CR

INVITATION DES AMIS DU UELLE DU CERCLE CONFÉRENCE ANN RE 2019, GENÈVE MARDI 19 NOVEMB

The Circle of Friends is very close to my heart. As a Friend, I have become more aware of the horrific nature of war and, as a result, deeply grateful and conscious of how privileged we are.

CICR

Mari Aftret Mortvedt/ICRC

Particularly memorable moments have included the live telephone call with the team in Aleppo, Syria, during the most recent annual conference of the Circle of Friends in Zurich, and a visit to view paediatric prosthetics in the logistics warehouse in Geneva.

I view my support for the ICRC’s work as part of my duty towards my fellow human beings.”

A Zurich-based Friend.

The Circle of Friends currently has over 100 members. Become a Friend today.

For further information, please contact Audrey Brasier, Friends of the ICRC Community Manager, either by telephone on +41 22 730 34 70 or by email at abrasier@icrc.org, or visit our website: icrc.org/friends 08 | www.icrc.org/supportus || December 08 | www.icrc.org/supportus December 2019 2019

THE ICRC IN ACTION

THEIR VOICES

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STRAIGHT FROM THE FIELD

Myanmar – In August 2017, coordinated attacks in Rakhine State and the ensuing violence resulted in one of the largest humanitarian crises in recent history, with more than 700,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh and thousands of others displaced internally. A new crisis emerged in December 2018 after fighting broke out between the Myanmar military – known as the Tatmadaw – and the local Arakan Army. Tens of thousands more people were displaced, compounding an already fragile humanitarian situation.

While numerous other humanitarian organizations are on the ground in Rakhine, the ICRC and its Movement partners have unparalleled access to affected communities, providing a wide range of support throughout the region.

The ICRC’s assistance programmes are designed to help communities become self-sufficient in a dignified and sustainable way. In Rakhine, as elsewhere, we adapt our response to people’s specific requirements, taking into account their culture and local conditions. In some cases, our teams focus on meeting families’ essential needs: food, water, shelter and hygiene. In others, we provide grants so that people can start a small business and earn an income. Whether we’re helping a community get through an emergency or supporting its long-term sustainability, we plan each and every activity carefully. We also take a holistic approach to our work, drawing on the input of all our technical teams to develop the most effective programme possible.

ICRC

We asked our colleagues in our Sittwe subdelegation to tell us about their day-to-day work. Their comments are both revealing and inspiring.

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THE ICRC IN ACTION

Charlie-Jil Zuercher,

from the Philippines, started working for the ICRC after Super Typhoon Haiyan hit his hometown in 2014.

He is now the ICRC’s economic security (EcoSec) delegate in Sittwe.

I oversee our EcoSec programme in Sittwe. We work closely with other teams to identify the most pressing needs. Our logistics colleagues help ensure we order quality products and that the items we need are available in our warehouses.

We face many challenges in these rural areas, where the roads are poor and public facilities are nearly non-existent. The unpredictable weather can also hamper our distributions. But we work around these obstacles in order to quickly deliver our assistance.

ICRC

We plan our activities meticulously, taking the security situation into account too. Our staff’s safety is our number one priority. And before any trip to the field, the subdelegation’s teams come together to set up an action plan. The success of our efforts depends on the support of our logistics and administrative teams, which ensure that the required products are in stock and that the necessary means of transportation are available – in this region, emergency aid is very often delivered by boat. I only give the final green light when I’m sure we’re ready, when the security situation is acceptable and when we have received authorization from the authorities. The teams keep me regularly updated on how their field trips are going.

Joel Ogsimer,

ICRC

ICRC

As the deputy head of subdelegation, I make sure that all assistance activities are carried out in a smooth and coordinated way, guided by the needs of the people we are here to help. In order to be as effective and efficient as possible, we send multidisciplinary teams into the field. They consult with the communities to learn about their needs and prepare an allencompassing assessment report.

We then decide, together with the communities, on the specific forms of support that we should deliver.

Minzayar Oo/ICRC

a Swiss national, is the deputy head of our Sittwe office. She’s been with the ICRC since 2016 and is happy and proud to work for an organization that is deeply rooted in her home country.

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THE ICRC IN ACTION

Bhanu Adhikari,

ICRC

from Bhutan, is a logistics delegate.

Our team here is quite new, but it’s an amazing group of people! There are ten of us now, and I’m proud of the way we are learning and growing together.

ICRC

My team is currently delivering assistance to 6,000 families living in six camps for displaced people. Depending on what’s needed, we give them food and other essential items, such as cooking utensils, blankets, tarpaulins, mats, mosquito nets and hygiene kits. We also try to help communities develop income-generating activities by providing them with seeds, fertilizers and tools. Finally, we give cash grants in order to boost families’ income and help revive the local economy.

My team works in close partnership with the Myanmar Red Cross Society. We could not do our work without these colleagues.

I’m really proud to work for the ICRC. I firmly believe in its mandate, its impartiality and neutrality, and its way of working – because it follows its own standards and procedures. Our teams come from different backgrounds and cultures and we have unique experiences, and this means we can all learn from each other.

The logistics team is in charge of product supply and transportation for the subdelegation.

We try to buy from local providers as much as possible, as long as the quality meets our standards. This helps boost the local economy. Inventory management is always a challenge given the lack of space, the humidity and so on. We therefore need to monitor all items closely to avoid product losses.

ICRC

Ye Win Chit,

from Rakhine State, is on our EcoSec team.

In emergency situations, we work around the clock, mobilizing our suppliers and transporters, and making sure our trucks and boats are ready and loaded for the distributions. We need to be flexible, because things don’t always go as planned and we often need to make lastminute changes.

Every distribution involves many hours of both planning and follow-up work: negotiations, calls for tender, preparing contracts, defining processes, calculations, thousands of phone calls and, of course, meticulous report writing and record keeping.

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ICRC

ICRC

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THE ICRC IN ACTION

from Sittwe, works as one of the ICRC’s boat captains.

ICRC

My responsibility is to transport our teams wherever they need to go.

My top priority is my passengers’ safety. The main challenge of water transportation is the weather. We have to pay constant attention to tides, wind speed and general weather conditions. I really feel that local communities trust and respect the ICRC because of the good job that we do.

Anaïs Pagot,

from France, is one of the ICRC’s protection delegates.

The protection work we do here is complex. We participate in assessment missions with our EcoSec, water and habitat and health colleagues. My team’s job is to talk to the community in order to understand the risks they face so that we can find ways to mitigate them. We pay special attention to groups exposed to specific risks, such as women and children, as well as elderly, handicapped and displaced people.

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My team is very often in the field, talking to as many people as we can in order to better understand their stories and needs. We can then evaluate and follow up on the assistance that the ICRC has already provided and adjust it if necessary. We also speak with the authorities and local leaders about many issues such as security, access, civilian protection and so forth.

Another of the main aims of the ICRC’s protection teams is to make sure that the rights of civilians, detainees and wounded people are respected. The first-hand accounts we gather – and keep strictly confidential – help the ICRC to better understand the challenges faced by communities and identify the most suitable response.

The protection team is often the first to assess a situation. We serve as the link between civilians affected by a conflict and the authorities. Our analysis feeds into the ICRC’s bilateral and confidential dialogue with the authorities and with other relevant parties that can influence the situation.

ICRC

Kyaw Myo Thu,

THE ICRC IN ACTION

Myaint Naing,

Raphael Boreham,

from the United Kingdom, has been with the ICRC for six years.

Cho Maung,

from Myanmar, is a Movement cooperation officer.

I am in charge of day-to-day relations with the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), coordinating volunteers’ involvement in our field activities. We have provided training in various programmes, such as first aid, EcoSec and water and habitat. Since the 2018 clashes, people's needs have increased, and I was involved in recruiting and training hundreds of volunteers.

Since they come from the communities we work with and for, they often have very good relations with the authorities and can gain access to otherwise hard-to-reach places.

Depending on the type of project, between 10 and 15 volunteers, on average, take turns working alongside us.

In some instances, when ICRC teams may not have easy access, the volunteers carry out the activities on their own so that much-needed aid can still be delivered.

The last two years with the ICRC have been exciting and busy, and I’m very proud to be part of this team. What I’m most proud of is helping to build a better relationship with the MRCS, training more volunteers and generally increasing the community’s acceptance of the Movement.

My job is to monitor the political, economic and social environment. I scan the local media – including traditional sources such as newspapers, radio and television – and social media too, of course. I also keep track of trends, incidents and statements, and I let our teams know what’s happening and what to watch out for. The ICRC engages with communities in person, as my colleagues mentioned, but also through social media, which is necessary in today’s increasingly digital world. Those are great channels to not only provide information to people, but also to listen and start a conversation.

ICRC

I love my work at the ICRC! It’s so varied – every day is different. I have had the opportunity to work in various parts of my country and have been given increasing responsibilities. It’s such a privilege for me to be able to help my own people, who have gone through such hardships.

It takes compassion to help people in their time of need.

Basically, I help the ICRC understand the local culture and get a sense of what’s happening in this country. It’s also my job to properly brief colleagues on key factors of the environment they are working in, and to try and anticipate risks to our work as much as possible.

Overall, I feel that the perception of the ICRC has become more positive and that the communities accept and know us better now than ever before.

Shane Wilkes,

from Australia, is the subdelegation’s water and habitat (WatHab) delegate.

There are many facets to my job and to my team’s work.

As my colleagues mentioned, we all contribute to needs assessments. We try to engage with communities as much as possible, organizing visits to villages, face-to-face interviews and focus groups. We need to make sure we deliver the right services to the right people at the right time.

ICRC

from Myanmar, is a protection officer who works with Anaïs.

ICRC

In short, my responsibility as a WatHab delegate is to make sure that people affected by the conflict have access to clean water, sanitation and shelter. We also provide shelters in emergency situations, and we build bridges and jetties in order to improve access to health and educational facilities, which facilitates local trade as well.

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THE ICRC IN ACTION

ICRC

THE COMMUNITIES WE HELP

ICRC

ICRC

As the conflict continues in Rakhine, host communities provide valuable support to people who have been displaced or affected in other ways. U Ba Win is the headmaster from Auk Myat Hle village. He expresses his main concern in these terms: “What’s crucial here is drinking water, because many people have to walk 30 minutes every day during the dry season just to get water. If the clashes go on too long, things will be difficult for everyone.”

While watching her daughter put on her new winter jacket, Ma Win, 52 years old, describes fleeing the conflict in Rakhine State: “We came here by boat, which took us two hours. I have seven children. I was very worried about their health when we had to flee. These clothes will keep them warm at night, and long trousers will keep away the mosquitoes.” Her family is being sheltered at War Taung Camp, where the ICRC recently provided winter clothes.

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Hla Yamin Eain/ICRC

“WHAT’S CRUCIAL HERE IS DRINKING WATER, BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO WALK 30 MINUTES EVERY DAY DURING THE DRY SEASON JUST TO GET WATER.” U BA WIN, HEADMASTER FROM AUK MYAT HLE VILLAGE

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STORY

CHILDREN TELL THEIR STORIES THROUGH DRAWING The ICRC office in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo organized a drawing competition to mark the International Day of the African Child on 16 June. In total, 56 children at the BVES1 transit centre took part, along with around one hundred disabled children receiving treatment at the Heri Kwetu physical rehabilitation centre.

The children ended up in the centres because they experienced violence and other traumatic events. We asked them to draw pictures to explain how they got there.

The outcome exceeded all of our expectations. And as all of the pictures told such moving and difficult stories, it was not easy to pick out the best ones. We have, however, selected a handful to show you.

1. Bureau pour le volontariat au service de l'enfance et de la santé (Bureau for volunteer work for children and health care – http://www.bves-rdc.org/) * Not their real names

“ONE DAY OUR VILLAGE WAS ATTACKED BY ARMED MEN WHO TOOK ME AWAY. I HAVEN'T SEEN MY MOTHER SINCE. I'M SURE SHE CRIES ALL THE TIME”, SAYS CLAUDINE*. TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE’RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT CLAUDINE GETS TO SEE HER MOTHER AGAIN SOON.

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Information The BVES transit centre looks after very vulnerable children, many of whom have spent time in the forces or an armed group. The ICRC helps them to reintegrate into society and to find their families.

We also support the Heri Kwetu centre, where patients receive orthopaedic devices and physical rehabilitation to help them regain their independence and find their place in society.

STORY

David* is just 12 years old.

He's currently living at the BVES transit centre. His drawing tells the story of how he became separated from his parents.

But, thanks to the ICRC, he'll soon be reunited with his family.

Jeanne* is a young girl receiving care at the Heri Kwetu physical rehabilitation centre. Her drawing explains how she was shot in the foot by a stray bullet when her village came under attack.

By the time she reached the hospital, it was already too late – her leg could not be saved and had to be amputated.

Now she's learning how to walk with a prosthetic leg.

Louis* drew some of the different ways in which people can become disabled. “Out of all of these situations, I've already seen road traffic accidents, machete attacks and other violent clashes. It’s not easy to see those things.”

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BEHIND THE SCENES

A PARTNERSHIP IN GOOD HEALTH Wassy Kambale/ICRC

For millions of people living in war-torn countries, access to health care is a matter of life and death.

But unfortunately, many people can’t get the care they need because their hospital or health centre is only partially operational, because of the dire lack of supplies, or because, for many health workers, certain areas of a country are simply too dangerous for them to get to.

To tackle these challenges, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is continually on the lookout for new ways of bringing humanitarian assistance to those in need.

Our partnership with the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), which began in 1999 and was renewed in 2015, has helped us provide first-class care to victims of armed conflict and other violence.

This partnership brings together the expertise of our two institutions. The HUG offer their research skills, train health workers and provide experienced staff, while the ICRC brings its know-how in providing medical care in dangerous and unstable environments, particularly war zones.

Since 1999, the HUG have made their staff of skilled doctors, nurses and paramedics available to the ICRC; and the HUG’s specialists, including surgeons, physiotherapists, psychiatrists and experienced nurses, have trained their peers in ICRC-supported hospitals all over the world.

Simon Regard, a doctor of emergency medicine at the HUG, has just returned from a humanitarian assignment in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he worked with the Swedish Red Cross to assess the ICRC’s first-aid programme.

Baron Nkoy/ICRC

“For me, providing first aid is the most direct humanitarian action there is. Like Henry Dunant in Solferino, it’s directly about saving lives and relieving suffering. First-aid workers send a powerful message of hope, unity and solidarity to communities caught up in armed conflict. It’s about so much more than life-saving techniques; it’s about fostering a spirit of helping one another and training up local people.

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“A good first-aid programme can also be a way to get more access to people who need help and provide an opportunity for dialogue with certain armed groups.

It’s also a practical means of encouraging respect for international humanitarian law. A first-aid trainer can bring up the rights of wounded people, for example, and the obligation of armed groups to help them.

BEHIND THE SCENES “My experience with the ICRC has led me to incorporate their broader perspective on first aid – as a way of encouraging people to spontaneously help others – into the Canton of Geneva’s plan for promoting better health and preventing disease.

“And on a practical level, the HUG–ICRC partnership pushes health professionals out of their usual environment: to experience other cultures, learn different skills and focus on what needs to get done instead of on having all the right tools. You learn all of that in the field.”

Mari Aftret Mortvedt/ICRC

The HUG and the ICRC, together with Médecins Sans Frontières and Swiss Humanitarian Aid, have launched a training course for HUG staff going on humanitarian assignments. The course aims to familiarize them with humanitarian principles and organizations and how to manage security.

Nicole Rosset, who coordinates humanitarian assignments for HUG staff, says that the course helps prepare staff for important security constraints they will face in the field, such as restrictions on work-related and personal travel and possible curfews. “Our staff are very good at adapting to new things, but the field is a whole new ballgame. When they come back, it’s obvious that they feel very proud to have contributed to the ICRC’s mission. They seem even more open and socially engaged. We have the resources and state-ofthe-art technology at our hospitals. We feel that we have a responsibility to help people who aren’t as fortunate, and to live out the humanitarian values of Geneva and the whole of Switzerland.”

For more than 15 years, the HUG’s tropical and humanitarian medicine centre has provided medical care to employees of humanitarian organizations, including the ICRC, before and after they go on field assignments.

The centre has tropical disease specialists who are experienced in recognizing signs of psychological trauma – which can often be linked to working in unstable and dangerous environments like the ones in which the ICRC is present.

The centre keeps us abreast of epidemics and health concerns in other parts of the world and advises us on how our staff can protect themselves. For example, it

recently vaccinated first responders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo against the Ebola virus – the only centre in Switzerland to provide the vaccine.

The ICRC, the HUG and the University of Geneva have also created continuing-education and distance-learning programmes, in addition to topical seminars.

Together with the World Health Organization, the HUG and the university, we have developed the Health Emergencies in Large Populations (HELP) course for humanitarian emergency workers, which aims to develop their professionalism by promoting ethical action and humanitarian principles.

www.icrc.org/supportus www.icrc.org/supportus || December December 2019 | 19 2019 | 19

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