ICRC | In Action | December 2018 by ICRC

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 2018 / Issue 06

The difference we make together

CONTENTS 06

WORKING TOGETHER

HAVE YOUR SAY

Your gifts of hope for the people of the Middle East.

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

HOW TO SUPPORT US

THE ICRC IN ACTION

Give a gift in your will. Join the ICRC Circle of Friends.

How we help those in need.

BEHIND THE SCENES

AN EYE ON THE WORLD

Meet Ibrahim, our communication officer in Iraq.

Between armed conflict and extreme weather conditions: how we work with breeders.

WHAT’S NEW?

AN EYE ON THE WORLD

Innovation, the watchword of the ICRC.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent, everywhere, for everyone.

20 WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES The ICRC's budget and operations.

THE DONOR SUPPORT TEAM

ICRC

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: Mari Mortvedt/ICRC South Sudan: Monika and her brother Victor were abducted for more than a year. They have now been reunited with their father, Frederiko: “When I heard the ICRC had found my children, I couldn’t believe it. Today, they are again the source of my happiness.“

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: Silvia Burisch, Ibrahim Sherkhan, Elsa Ragasa, 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 2018

André Liohn/ICRC

EDITORIAL The heavy toll of protracted conflict

year has passed since my last message to you, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you personally for your generosity and encouragement in that time. It is thanks to loyal donors like you that the ICRC’s 18,000 field staff are able to help millions of people affected by armed conflict and other violence. This year, wars have continued to cause great suffering throughout the world; some have even had a global, destabilizing impact. As a result, people are finding it harder to meet their essential needs and are more vulnerable to crises. Many have been forced to flee their homes, with long-term consequences for them and their communities. Further complicating matters, many conflicts now take place in urban areas or online, making them more difficult to detect and delineate than those in remote rural areas. What’s more, these conflicts tend to drag on and on. For many years, health care, nutrition, shelter, water and sanitation have been the key priorities for humanitarians seeking to mitigate the direct impact of war and violence on people and their livelihoods. But the way that conflicts affect people is constantly changing, and we need to keep pace with the wide range of new needs created by indirect and longer-term disruptions. Faced with these challenges, our teams are seeking to improve our services, work more closely with communities

“Without your support, we could never make such a big difference to the lives of people in war-torn countries.” and test new working methods, so that we can better operate in these dangerous environments. Besides providing urgent, life-saving relief, we are also finding ways to make a longer-term impact. For example, we work with local authorities to repair and improve essential infrastructure, like water-supply systems, that people depend on to survive. We also try to prevent violations of the law of war by persuading arms bearers to change their conduct. That translates into lives saved every day. Without your support and trust in our work, we could never make such a big difference to the lives of people in war-torn countries. I wish you and your family a happy holiday season, and I hope that we can count on your support again next year.

DOMINIK STILLHART DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS www.icrc.org/supportus | December 2018 | 03

WORKING TOGETHER

Ali Yousef/ICRC

YOUR 2018 DONATIONS

YOUR DONATIONS ARE BRINGING HOPE

Humanitarian crisis in the Middle East In 2017 the ICRC published I Saw My City Die, a report showing the dreadful impact of urban warfare on people’s lives. Urban battles injure and kill many civilians in a short time, and have devastating effects on the cities themselves. Another study, carried out in Syria and Iraq in 2018, found that wars in urban areas killed eight times more civilians than those in rural areas. Mosul (Iraq), Idlib (Syria), and Hodeida (Yemen) are just a few of the cities that have been in the headlines recently. We’ve all heard about the suffering of their inhabitants – caught in the crossfire between the various armed groups and forces in the

“I SAW MY CITY DIE; I SAW MY PEOPLE PERISH; I SAW MYSELF BREAK. I DON’T KNOW IF I’LL EVER BE OKAY, BUT I WANT THAT.” SAMI, A 29-YEAR-OLD WHO FLED ALEPPO FOR

DAMASCUS AND THEN BEIRUT

Middle East. In these areas, small children have known nothing but war in their short lives. In 2018, we called on the people of Switzerland to help us come to their aid and alleviate their suffering. You heard our call. Thanks to your generous donations, we’ve been able to keep distributing food and essential household items to people who’ve lost everything, and to improve their access to clean water

“PEOPLE ARE EATING FROM THE GARBAGE BECAUSE THEY CAN’T GET FOOD. WE’VE SEEN WOMEN BOILING TREE LEAVES JUST TO GIVE CHILDREN SOME HOT SOUP.” NANCY HAMAD, HEAD OF THE ICRC’S SUBDELEGATION IN TAIZ, YEMEN

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and proper health care – all things we take for granted here in Switzerland. Together we are giving a glimmer of hope to millions of men, women and children in the Middle East. Thank you for support – we couldn’t do it without you.

“BOMBS, MORTAR SHELLS AND BULLETS WERE WHIZZING ABOVE OUR HEADS. EVERYONE IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WAS FLEEING. IT WAS HORRIBLE.” MOSUL RESIDENT DESCRIBING HIS AND HIS FAMILY’S ESCAPE FROM THEIR NEIGHBOURHOOD

WORKING TOGETHER

Figures

Thanks to the ICRC, between January and June 2018:

IRAQ Nearly 2 million people had regular access to clean water and better living conditions after improvements to key infrastructure.19 hospitals received medicines and medical supplies and their staff received training. Nearly 44,000 detainees received visits.

SYRIA Nearly 1.9 million people in Syria received food, and just under 1 million people received essential household items to improve their quality of life. Nearly 16 million people had regular access to clean water.

ISRAEL and THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

YEMEN

An ICRC therapist treats a child suffering from cerebral palsy in Najaf, Iraq.

Salih Mahdi/ICRC

A girl waits in line at a water point set up by the ICRC in Hodeida, Yemen.

Abduljabbar Zaid/ICRC

Iraq. A woman who had fled her home receives aid from the ICRC upon her return.

Ali Yousef/ICRC

A man sells tomatoes amongst the destruction in the streets of Aleppo, Syria.

More than 350,000 people received food, and nearly 4 million people had regular access to clean water. 29 health centres received medicine and medical supplies.

Hussein Amal/ICRC

Nearly 13,000 detainees received visits. More than 1 million people had regular access to clean water. 7 hospitals received medicines and medical supplies.

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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 Avenue de la Paix 19 1202 Geneva Switzerland Email: donation@icrc.org

YOUR MESSAGES OF HOPE Almost 800 greetings cards have been 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. This is what Zalmai, our colleague in Kabul, had to say: “It really gives us strength and motivation to hear such appreciation, as we realize that what we’re doing is valued.”

What you asked How can I be sure that my donations will go directly towards the ICRC’s operations on the ground?

The ICRC’s accounts are reviewed by internationally renowned auditors Ernst & Young (EY). The accounts are prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards. EY checks that the ICRC meets those standards, produces its audit report and issues its opinion. The ICRC presents its budgets and expenditure in its annual activity report, where it also reports on the activities carried out in the field worldwide. This report is available in English on our website.

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Corinne Ambler/ICRC

The ICRC promises to use your donation for the operation you choose, minus the 6.5% to cover the costs related to operational support. So if you give 100 Swiss francs, for example, 93.50 francs will go directly to finance our work on the ground.

YOUR WILL, OUR ACTION, A LIFE BEYOND ARMED CONFLICT.

ICRC

Help us give back a future to children who are innocent victims of conflict. A gift in your will can help us be there for future generations.

The ICRC's physical rehabilitation centre in Kabul, Afghanistan.

For more information, please contact: Marie-Jo Girod

Programme Manager, Gifts and Legacies International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Avenue de la Paix 19, 1202 Geneva / Switzerland T +41 22 730 33 76 Email: mgirodblanc@icrc.org www.icrc.org/legacy

YES, please send me more information about including a gift to the ICRC in my will. Ms

MAKE HO PE YOUR LEGA CY NAME TH E ICRC IN YOUR WILL

Yazdi / ICRC

OR COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS COUPON. YOUR INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.

Last name:

First name:

Address: Postcode:

Town/city:

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Paulin Bashengezi/ICRC

BECOME A MEMBER AND PUT YOURSELF AT THE HEART OF THE ACTION HELP US HELP THE VICTIMS OF ARMED CONFLICTS The Circle of Friends of the ICRC includes some of our most loyal donors. By becoming a Friend of the ICRC, you will be contributing to the largest humanitarian movement of our time, strengthening our capacity to deploy teams in the field and help those most in need around the world. With your support, we can bring hope to thousands of victims of armed conflict and help restore their dignity. At the end of June 1859, Henry Dunant wrote to a friend in Geneva from Solferino about the horrors he had witnessed on the battlefield. "The needs are huge," he wrote, referring to the wounded he had started to treat with the help of local

villagers. In his letter, published in the Journal de Genève newspaper on 9 July 1859, he appealed to the generosity of the Swiss people to collect funds to help "the unfortunate". Almost 160 years later, the need for humanitarian assistance in areas stricken by armed conflict and other violence is greater than ever. To take just one example: in 2017, the ICRC distributed food to over 10 million people in Syria. The ICRC’s Circle of Friends has over one hundred members. Why not join them and help us make a difference?

Extracts from the letter Henry Dunant wrote from Sollferino

For further information, please contact Audrey Brasier, Friends of the ICRC Community Manager, on +41 22 730 34 70 or at abrasier@icrc.org

BECOME A FRIEND OF THE ICRC AND HELP US KEEP THE SPIRIT OF SOLFERINO ALIVE

YES,

I would like to receive a brochure about the Friends of the ICRC.

First name :

Last name :

Address :

Postcode :

Telephone :

Email :

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I would like to donate today by making a transfer in Swiss francs to post office account no. 12-5527-69 (please include the following reference number : 831818).

THE ICRC IN ACTION

COME WITH US Many of the people we help have been driven from their homes by armed conflict or violence. They often had to flee in haste, leaving everything behind. They end up in makeshift camps where getting hold of basic goods and services – water, food, health care – is a struggle. In such dire circumstances, they are wholly reliant on the

We regularly update you on our assistance efforts, but did you know about all the groundwork that happens before they can go ahead? Let’s look at the example of a food distribution that the ICRC is planning for a community that has been suddenly displaced by fighting.

GAINING ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE AFFECTED

First, the ICRC has to make sure that our teams have safe access to the community. Our protection and communication staff talk to the displaced families and the community and religious leaders. The aim is to familiarize as many people as possible with the ICRC, so they understand and respect our way of working. Thanks to this two-way communication, our staff get a better understanding of the environment and can, if necessary, take steps to improve people’s acceptance and perception of us. These conversations also allow us to learn more about the community’s situation, challenges, priorities and expectations. We make sure that they know exactly what services the ICRC does and does not provide, and we try to answer their questions and address any frustrations they may have. The impact of our work on the ground depends very much on the closeness of the relationships that we build with the people whom we are dedicated to helping.

Tesfai Zecarias/ICRC

Ingy Sedky/ICRC

humanitarian aid provided by the ICRC.

Our staff are also in almost daily contact with armed forces and groups in the regions where they work. Part of our mandate is to protect the victims of armed conflict by promoting the implementation of the law of war and humanitarian principles. To do so, we establish a bilateral, confidential dialogue with weapon bearers to better understand their motivations and to assess how much they know about the rules that apply to them and how those rules work. We have a similar dialogue with any peacekeeping forces operating in the country. This contact is essential to understand the causes of violations of the law of war (also known as international humanitarian law) and to try to address them. Our objective in this is twofold: to alleviate the suffering of people not or no longer participating in the fighting, and to ensure the security of our teams on the ground to maximize their access to communities affected by armed conflict and violence.

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THE ICRC IN ACTION

going and what we’re doing. We wait to get the green light from all those concerned before we send our teams into the field. To come back to our example, we have a duty to meet the displaced community’s most pressing needs. A multidisciplinary team of staff will assess those needs to make our response as comprehensive as possible.

The 1949 Geneva Conventions, which protect the victims of war, have been universally ratified; these are the treaties that give the ICRC a specific mandate to act in armed conflict. So, as part of our efforts to strengthen the law and its implementation, we work with governments to help them assume their responsibilities by adopting domestic legislation, improving training for members of the armed forces and police, and teaching international humanitarian law in schools and universities. Improving people’s acceptance and knowledge of the ICRC and its role, and strengthening compliance with the law of war, are vital to reduce the foreseeable risks we face, maintain a close relationship with communities and achieve meaningful, lasting humanitarian results with and for them.

ASSESSING NEEDS

Hla Yamin Eain/ICRC

Our regular contact and close relationships with influential figures and groups means that we can contact them before each of our trips into conflict zones to tell them where we’re

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These assessments are part of our dialogue with affected communities. To understand exactly what they need, we ask them questions such as: Are their usual sources of food available? Are they able to meet their basic needs? Do they have shelter from the elements? Do they have access to clean water and sanitation?

Based on this assessment, we draw up a list of priorities, the list of beneficiaries determined by our criteria, and the list of goods that they will receive.

DISTRIBUTING AID

Kristof Walgrave/ICRC

ICRC

We will of course coordinate with other humanitarian agencies working in the area to avoid overlapping or duplicating our activities and to ensure that the majority of the needs identified are addressed.

Aid distributions take different forms depending on the situation. The usual scenario is that beneficiaries are called forward one by one to receive their goods. But we also organize fairs or markets where the beneficiaries are given vouchers to buy what they need from local producers and suppliers selected by the ICRC. And when the local economy is still running, we distribute cash for people to buy from markets and traders directly.

THE ICRC IN ACTION

The ICRC’s assistance work requires meticulous preparation and mobilizes resources from across the organization. The task of the assistance teams is only possible because of the support of our teams working in the areas of protection, prevention, logistics, administration and cooperation with the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. In terms of protection and prevention, for example, as people often have to travel to collect the goods being distributed by the ICRC, we make sure that the armed forces or groups operating in the area are notified in advance and do not obstruct their movements.

the communities’ longer-term needs, the idea being to help them regain their self-reliance and provide for themselves. Our livelihood support initiatives include income-generating activities (vocational training, grants or microloans), cash donations, donations of farming equipment, seed distributions, training for farmers and livestock vaccination campaigns.

A few weeks later, our staff return to talk to members of the community to evaluate the impact of the aid distribution. This gives them a chance to tell us if the products were good quality and suitable, and if they need anything else. Their feedback helps us improve the range and quality of the goods, and to adapt the arrangements for distributions to the communities and their needs. This post-distribution evaluation is an integral part of the commitment we make to our beneficiaries. Local Red Cross or Red Crescent volunteers are involved every step of the way. Once our life-saving emergency relief operations are successfully completed, our teams turn their attention to

QUALITY PRODUCTS Our ICRC delegations around the world try to be one step ahead and to anticipate people’s needs; in every country we keep major stocks of food, seed and essential goods (e.g. sleeping mats, tarpaulins, cooking utensils, buckets, clothing and blankets). We also have major logistical warehouses strategically located around the world to restock delegations as required, especially in emergencies. The ICRC makes a commitment to provide beneficiaries with good quality products. Our specialized buyers test the quality of the goods we distribute and check they meet international standards. We buy from local suppliers wherever we can, while taking care not to destabilize the local market.

Virginie Nguyen Hoang/ICRC

EVALUATING OUR IMPACT

Your support and your trust in us are what enable us to keep offering a multidisciplinary response that is shaped by people’s needs, in a safe and secure environment.

FINANCIAL SAFETY NETS The ICRC seeks to adapt its humanitarian approach to situations of protracted conflict and economic recession, which erode people’s resilience and resources. These financial safety nets take the form of regular, predictable distributions of cash or goods to households before or during armed violence. The aim is to prevent them falling below a minimum standard-of-living threshold or resorting to action that could have harmful or irreversible effects. Instead, these households are encouraged to invest in activities that will help them make ends meet and strengthen their resilience to future shocks.

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THE ICRC BEHIND AROUND THE SCENES THE WORLD

ICRC

INTERVIEW FROM THE FIELD

Ibrahim was born in Baghdad to an Iraqi father and an Algerian mother. His childhood was that of any other Iraqi child – torn between the innocence of youth and the harsh realities of war. When he was 18, he began studying English at the University of Baghdad. In his free time, he was a volunteer, helping orphans around the city, all the while honing his skills as a photographer. To pay for his studies, he turned professional, and after graduating pursued a career in photography. But he never stopped volunteering to help those displaced by the ongoing conflict. Since 2016, Ibrahim has been working for the ICRC as a digital communication officer. What motivated you to work for the ICRC? As a volunteer, I had the chance to see the ICRC’s work up close, and I liked what I saw. I was working as a documentary filmmaker for local and international news channels, but I was having trouble finding time for both volunteering and work. So I decided to join the ICRC fulltime, as it would allow me to continue helping people and take photos and make films at the same time. Even more now than before, I follow the ICRC’s principles in my life. Could you tell us about your work?

How do you feel about working for the ICRC? I feel comfortable and safe, and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved these last couple of years. However, it’s sometimes really difficult to witness so much suffering, destruction and death. My heart aches when I think of some of the stories I’ve heard from the people I’ve met. But I’m also impressed at the hope I see in people’s eyes, their strength and their desire for a better future.

ICRC

I manage the ICRC’s social media accounts in Iraq and respond to the messages we get. I spend a lot of time in the field – in Mosul, Ramadi and Fallujah for example. I talk to people, but most importantly I listen to them. They have been through such difficult times. I feel responsible

for relaying their stories to the world. I take photographs as a witness of the devastation of the war, but also as a testament to the amazing resilience of the people.

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BEHIND THE SCENES What has been your biggest challenge as a humanitarian worker in your own country? When I started, it was remaining neutral and impartial. But I soon realized just how important it was – it’s what allows us to continue helping people affected by the fighting. Now I’m able to focus only on the humanitarian work. How have the years of war affected the people of Iraq? Iraq has been beset by war since the 1990s, and the repercussions will be felt long after the guns have fallen silent. Many people have been injured, and most families have lost homes, livelihoods or loved ones. The damage to the infrastructure, such as the water supply and health-care services, creates additional worries. And the psychological toll should not be underestimated either: even if things look better today, it will be a long time before people resume normal life and can make sense of what happened to them. Yesterday I met a family in the old city of Mosul. Their sole breadwinner had been injured and was bedridden. Everything had been destroyed, even their love for life. The challenge for people today is finding enough food for tomorrow.

What story has affected you the most? Because of what happened to me and my family, I sometimes feel like what I see on the ground no longer affects me the way it used to. But if you ask me what story sticks out in my mind, my answer is always “the last one”. Two days ago in Mosul, I met a man who’d been wounded when his house was hit by three rocket blasts. But even so, he retold the story enthusiastically, laughing and telling jokes. What is your wish for Iraq? I just hope that everyone in Iraq thinks long term and that we’ll never have to live through war again. Even though the situation has stabilized, we still need aid. Sometimes people aren’t fully aware of the long-term consequences of war. So many Iraqis have lost family members or are still looking for missing loved ones. Their houses are in ruins, their jobs no longer exist, and their future remains uncertain. I see hopelessness in their eyes. More than once people have told me they wish they’d died during the war rather than face its aftermath. It’s our job to give them a glimmer of hope and help them rebuild their lives.

After the battle for Mosul

But in March of last year, his house was hit by rocket blasts and collapsed on him. Saleh suffered multiple injuries, mainly to his abdomen and leg. His neighbours rushed him to the hospital, where he was hastily diagnosed and treated. He was discharged just four days later, before he’d really healed. Saleh couldn’t work anymore and didn’t have money for food: “I was all skin and bones,” he remembers.

Ibrahim Adnan Sherkhan/ICRC

Saleh is a baker who has lived his whole life in Mosul. Even at the height of the fighting, he kept on baking bread for the people who stayed in the city and were struggling to find food.

Saleh moved to a camp outside the city, where he regained some of his strength. The situation in Mosul was stabilizing by then, but Saleh was still not well enough to walk or work. One of his friends told the ICRC about Saleh’s condition. When we first examined him, we realized that the bone in his injured leg was necrotic and that urgent surgery was needed to save it.

Lebanon, for a hip joint replacement. The centre was established in 2014 to provide comprehensive treatment to wounded people. Many of the severely injured patients come from nearby countries, such as Syria or Iraq.

In September 2018, the ICRC arranged for Saleh to be admitted to the Weapon Traumatology Centre in Tripoli,

“Once I can walk, I’ll start baking again and providing food and a roof for my family,” Saleh said.

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AN EYE ON THE WORLD

BUFFETED BY ARMED

Mackenzie Knowles-Coursin/ICRC

VIOLENCE AND EXTREME WEATHER

For people living in the Sahel region and around Lake Chad, the combined impact of armed conflict and extreme weather conditions – including droughts and flooding – has been devastating.

The conflict in the Lake Chad region has affected four countries – Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Since the violence began in 2009, more than 2.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes, in some cases on multiple occasions. As if that was not enough, the water level in Lake Chad, which sustains the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, has fallen by more than 90% since the 1960s, plunging the inhabitants of the countries surrounding the lake into extreme poverty; food is hard to come by and chronic malnutrition is rife.

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Moussa Abdourahamane/ICRC

Even though the crisis in this corner of sub-Saharan Africa is one the most complex and severe emergencies the region has seen this century, it has garnered little media coverage. Likewise, people are barely aware that violence between armed groups and international and government forces in Mali has been spilling over into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

AN EYE ON THE WORLD

In recent years, the rainy season has brought precious little rainfall, leading to a significant drop in crop yields and shortages of animal fodder. To make matters worse, disease outbreaks have further weakened livestock and reduced meat and dairy production. The impact on local communities has been devastating: food is scarce and people are struggling to make ends meet.

ICRC

The ICRC is working to ensure that communities can meet their basic needs – in a sustainable way that preserves people’s dignity – and to strengthen their resilience to recurring crises. Our teams are distributing seed and farming tools and conducting extensive livestock vaccination and treatment campaigns, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and contain epidemics. We are also investing in community infrastructure and training for veterinary assistants, in cooperation with local authorities, as well as providing feed and cattle fodder and helping to set up grain banks.

In Niger, for example, we have built 22 grain banks; farmers can buy cheap grain to feed their animals, to compensate for the shortage of pasture. During the first eight months of 2018, 32,000 people bought more than 1,300 tonnes of grain for their cattle, which are their primary asset.

ICRC

“A grain bank for cattle feed was recently set up in our village. And since the arrival of the young veterinary assistant trained by the ICRC, the health of our herds has greatly improved. This gives us courage," said Ihya Ahmoudou, one of the herders. Between January and September 2018, ICRC teams vaccinated, treated and removed parasites from nearly two million head of cattle, sheep and goats in Niger.

ICRC

Sylvain Cherkaoui/ICRC

In a region where more than 70% of the population grow crops and rear livestock for a living, the socioeconomic environment is extremely fragile and at the mercy of the climate.

“Since finishing my training with the ICRC, I’ve been helping livestock farmers who need my services. I vaccinate and treat animals in the commune of Agadez, especially on the outskirts of the city, where a large number of animals are kept,” says Abdoulahi Ghali, a veterinary assistant, who assists the local livestock farming authorities with the vaccination programme run by the government and its partners. In 2018, our teams vaccinated just over a million head of cattle, sheep and goats in Chad, almost a million in Cameroon and just under three million in Mali. Vaccines protect livestock from diseases such as contagious pleuropneumonia or small ruminant plague, which can severely deplete herds. If necessary, we also treat animals for parasites; this helps them to grow and breed, and reduces the risk of contagious disease. “There’s clear difference between the animals that have been treated by animal health services and those that have not. Thanks to the ICRC’s veterinary support, our animals are much healthier. We’re able to get a good price for our livestock, as well as for their meat and milk.”

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WHAT’S NEW?

INNOVATION, THE WATCHWORD OF THE ICRC Throughout its history, spanning 155 years, the ICRC has always shown an ability to adapt to the constantly changing humanitarian landscape, ceaselessly innovating to enable it to respond more effectively and rapidly to the needs of people affected by armed conflicts. The ICRC also works tirelessly, in concert with governments, to develop law to take into account new weapons and methods of warfare. In today’s world, the growing number of drawn-out conflicts and armed actors and the uncontrolled proliferation of ever more deadly weapons in conflict areas have devastating effects on the population. The increasingly complex challenges posed by unstable situations mean that the ICRC must be continually devising new ways to assist people in need if it is to remain relevant.

we aim to serve across the globe. We always go the extra mile, looking beyond emergency aid and anticipating longterm needs to find viable, long-lasting solutions. Continually testing potential solutions and choosing those that prove effective is the key to success. Our priority is therefore to find ways to engage in a constructive dialogue with people needing assistance so that they can be directly involved in designing solutions that work for them.

This is why the ICRC constantly strives to develop solutions specifically adapted to the needs of the people

There are many avenues to explore: energy, water, construction, logistics, the environment, information and communication technologies and biomedical technologies.

Putting science at the service of the humanitarian sector in Switzerland In Switzerland, the ICRC is taking steps to harness science, establishing and developing partnerships with the private sector and academia in order to draw on their complementary areas of expertise.

Since then, an ICRC delegate has been working closely with EPFL researchers to translate the needs of humanitarian actors into scientific challenges. We are working together to find leading-edge technologies that are not only easy to use and sustainable, but also meet energy, environmental and human requirements in the countries where we work.

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Under its physical rehabilitation projects, the ICRC supports 147 centres in 52 countries. Between January and June 2018, 223,000 people received rehabilitation services and mobility aids, and 115,000 received physiotherapy treatment. No less than 11,300 prostheses, 48,700 orthoses, 3,500 wheelchairs and 11,000 pairs of crutches were also provided. ICRC

In 2016, for example, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and the ICRC signed an agreement to launch a research programme called Humanitarian Tech Hub, which aims to use existing approaches to develop and deliver innovative solutions adapted to the humanitarian sector.

WHAT’S NEW?

In August of this year, a joint ICRC/EPFL team travelled to Vietnam to test the prototype at a rehabilitation centre that works with the ICRC. There are still some adjustments to be made before moving on to the next stage, which is the large-scale production of this unique prosthetic foot.

More than light In armed conflicts, people are often forced to flee their homes and have to take refuge in the bush or in makeshift camps. And even when they are able to stay in their homes, essential infrastructure is often damaged or completely destroyed. In such situations, having a source of power and light makes people feel safer. It enables children to read and do their homework and gives people access to means of communication, such as mobile phones. The ICRC’s logistics centre has developed a solar-powered lamp with a USB port. It has certain advantages over older technologies: it does not pose the fire risk that oil lamps do and has none of the environmental disadvantages that the generators required to power electric lamps have or the problem of obtaining fuel to run them. Our logistics experts are engaged in research aimed at finding the technology best adapted to needs on the ground. The lamp must be sufficiently bright and have a runtime that allows it to provide light all night. It must be easy to carry and designed for hanging or standing on the ground. It must also have a port for charging phones and a good price-quality-lifespan ratio. Several prototypes have been tested in six countries where we work in order to ensure that the specifications of the final product are in accordance with the needs of the people we help.

A familiar face Putting members of families separated by crisis situations back in touch with each other is one of the flagship activities of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Over the years, the ICRC has adapted the tools it uses to restore family links. In 2018, we decided to test a new technology along migration routes in Europe. In November, digital kiosks, a kind of interactive computer terminal, were installed in Germany, Italy and France to enable refugees and migrants to access the ICRC website “Trace the face”. This service, created in 2013, allows people who have lost touch with their loved ones to check if their family is looking for them or to post their photo on the website so that their family can contact them.

Danish RC

As the users of ICRC prostheses are mostly active young people, the new artificial foot is specifically designed for young amputees who need to be particularly mobile. It will improve their social and economic integration so that they can, in time, regain their independence.

Four laboratories, ten EPFL researchers, ICRC orthotics and prosthetics specialists and a manufacturing partner were involved in the project.

ICRC

Today, there is no shortage of new technologies, but they are often incompatible with what is needed in the countries where we carry out our activities in terms of affordability, aesthetics and terrain conditions. EPFL researchers and the ICRC have pooled their expertise to develop a prosthetic foot that has advanced biomechanical performance functions and enables users to walk with as natural a gait as possible.

Researchers must work with a flexible approach to solve issues that crop up as the project advances, for example, tuning the stiffness of the prosthesis, taking into account the wearer’s weight and the size of the non-amputated foot. They have also realized that this high-performance prosthetic foot would be a solution for diabetic amputees, helping to restore their mobility.

ICRC

Over the years, the ICRC has striven to constantly develop the processes and technologies used in the field of physical rehabilitation. In 2016, in partnership with EPFL, we launched the Agilis project, which aimed to develop a prosthetic foot with advanced features and adapted to conditions in the countries where we work.

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AN EYE ON THE WORLD

TOGETHER. EVERYWHERE, FOR EVERYONE The ICRC is part of the biggest humanitarian family in the world: the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Movement is made up of the ICRC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The ICRC works closely with the other members of the Movement to act swiftly and deliver coordinated, well-planned humanitarian relief in armed conflict and other situations of violence. Some National Societies wish to come to the aid of people outside their countries, in places where the ICRC is already working. Their cooperation may take several forms: a financial contribution to the ICRC’s operations, donations in kind or secondment of their qualified staff. The ICRC may also delegate projects completely to be run by National Societies.

The project was first set up Maiwut, but was relocated to Udier in July 2017 for security reasons. Then, in July 2018, when internally displaced people and refugees started returning to Maiwut, the ICRC decided to reopen the health centre there. It is the only medical facility in the area. Since 2018, Elsa, from the Swiss Red Cross, has been the health delegate in charge of the projects. Elsa, what does your work and the work of your team in Udier and Maiwut involve? I was hired by the Swiss Red Cross to coordinate the support the ICRC provides to the primary health-care centres in Udier and Maiwut. One of our priorities is to improve the professional skills of the centres’ 23 local medical staff. We also treat patients with complicated conditions ourselves, and donate medications, supplies and equipment. I also work with the ICRC’s water and sanitation team to improve hygiene in the facilities and carry out repairs.

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ICRC

Take South Sudan, for example: a country plagued by conflict since it was created in 2011, with serious humanitarian consequences. State infrastructure is scarce or even non-existent, and people depend on the aid provided by humanitarian organizations to meet their basic needs. This includes health care. The Swiss Red Cross helps finance two health centres run by the ICRC in Maiwut and Udier.

What are the main conditions that you come across? We treat a whole range of conditions, but the most common are malaria (which is endemic in the region), diarrhoeal disease and respiratory infections. We also treat a lot of eye infections. We offer prenatal and postnatal care, family planning appointments, and vaccinations for children under five in collaboration with the health ministry. What are the main challenges that you face? There are several factors that hinder our work. For example, during the rainy season it is difficult for people to reach the health centres. The roads from Malakal are impassable and the dirt landing strip is often unfit to land our planes.

AN EYE ON THE WORLD solutions that will be effective and suitable for their communities. We also work with the South Sudan Red Cross to raise people’s awareness of how to safeguard and improve their health, such as through good hygiene practices.

ICRC

How is the collaboration between the ICRC and the Swiss Red Cross?

How do you work with communities? The Swiss Red Cross, like the ICRC, firmly believes that we must work hand in hand with communities. We involve community leaders to help us find practical, well-informed

It’s very good. I live with the ICRC staff and work out of the ICRC subdelegation in Malakal. But I spend most of my time out in the field, when weather conditions allow! Before coming to South Sudan, I was briefed by the Swiss Red Cross in Bern and by the ICRC in Geneva. I’m in regular contact with my counterparts in both organizations. Swiss Red Cross members regularly visit us. We have extremely good collaboration – we’re all part of the same family! Since the beginning of the year, some 16,000 patients have been treated in the health centres in Maiwut and Udier.

“I stumbled across a little boy, just three years old, in Bagghona camp. He was lost. I took him with me and we spent two hours walking from door to door, looking for his family. Someone led me to his house, but his mother was out looking for him. I waited for her to come back, and I only left once I was sure she was his mother.”

In the Central African Republic, volunteers are given first-aid training by the ICRC, which they then teach to their communities. This could keep victims alive until the emergency services arrive. Rosalie is a paramedic and midwife at Paoua health post. “I was trained by the Red Cross. As a midwife, I treat mothers and their babies. When there’s too much bleeding, I often have to resuscitate the mother. If the case is too serious, we take them to hospital.”

Ali Yousef/ICRC

Will Baxter/ICRC

Sheikh Mehedi Morshed/ICRC

In countries affected by armed conflict, it makes sense for the ICRC to enter into partnership with National Societies. By working together to carry out our humanitarian operations, we can better help the people most in need. The ICRC relies on the millions of National Society volunteers worldwide to carry out its relief work. For example, they play a key role in tracing and reuniting members of families separated by armed conflict.

In Syria, the ICRC could not have worked without the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. Together, between January and October 2018, we have provided clean water to 13 million people, food to 6.7 million and household essentials to 1.1 million, including in hard-to-reach and even besieged parts of the country.

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THE ICRC'S BUDGET AND OPERATIONS

More than 93% of all gifts

from individuals are allocated to ICRC operations in the field

Your donation’s journey BECAUSE THE ICRC IS PRESENT IN 80 COUNTRIES, WE CAN START HELPING RIGHT AWAY.

OUR EXPERTS EVALUATE THE SITUATION IN EACH COUNTRY, DETERMINE WHAT THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE NEED, AND BRING THAT AID TO THEM,

+70%

budget increase

OUR TEAMS SUPPLY ESSENTIAL GOODS AND SERVICES – FOOD, WATER, BLANKETS, HYGIENE KITS, KITCHEN USTENSILS, MEDICINES, HEALTH CARE – WHICH SAVE MANY LIVES.

in 10 years

The ICRC’s budget is financed entirely by voluntary contributions

BEING SAFE AND SURROUNDED BY LOVED ONES IS A GIFT. WE HELP PEOPLE FIND FAMILY AND FRIENDS THEY HAVE LOST TRACK OF DURING A CRISIS.

YOUR DONATION CAN OFFER WHOLE COMMUNITIES A BETTER FUTURE BY ENABLING US TO REBUILD ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS HOSPITALS OR WATER SYSTEMS.

YOU ARE HELPING TO GIVE PEOPLE A NEW START BY FINANCING THE PURCHASE OF AGRICULTURAL OR FISHING EQUIPMENT.

WITH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, WE CAN HELP GIVE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CONFLICT A BETTER FUTURE