Victims Of Conflict Research Articles

Presidential Missions

The missions which took ICRC President Cornelio Sommaruga to Great Britain, France, Jordan and the United States in February and early March 1991 were part of the effort to mobilize humanitarian aid to meet the immediate needs of the victims of the Middle East conflict and its aftermath.During the same period the President also carried out official visits in Switzerland, Italy and Brazil.

Post‐conflict Behaviour in Long‐tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

AbstractAfter being the victim of an agonistic conflict, long‐tailed macaques increased the rate of tension‐related activities such as scratching, body‐shake and selfgrooming. This increase indicates that they experienced physiological changes preparing them to cope with the uncertainty of the post‐conflict situation. Indeed, victims of agonistic conflict experienced a higher risk of renewed attacks. However, victims were also involved in social interactions characteristic of post‐conflict situations, namely reconciliation and redirection. These two post‐conflict social events reduced the rate of scratching, body‐shake and selfgrooming. This suggests a faster termination of the stress response. Indeed, the two social events also decreased the likelihood of renewed attacks, one of the causes of the state of uncertainty. Reconciliation is more effective than redirection in this process probably because the restoration of the relationship with the former aggressor allows the victim to resume control of the situation.

Post‐conflict Behaviour in Long‐tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

AbstractWe studied the occurrence of social interactions characterizing post‐conflict situations in a group of long‐tailed macaques. Victims of agonistic conflicts showed reconciliation: they had more affiliative contacts with the former aggressor after a conflict than in control periods. There was no evidence for consolation: victims did not contact other groups members than the former aggressor, or specific subsets of group members, earlier after a conflict than in control periods. Victims did not exchange more affiliative contacts with either their own kin or the aggressor's kin during post‐conflict periods. Even though the time spent in allogrooming did not increase after agonistic conflicts, former aggressors were the only group members with which the victim increased the grooming exchange relative to other group members. The victim characteristically showed an increase of agonistic behaviour in post‐conflict situations, a phenomenon labelled redirection. This increase was most pronounced in the first minute after a conflict. The aggressor's kin were targets of post‐conflict aggression relatively more often than other group members. We also examined the interdependence between the only two post‐conflict social events that we could operationally define, namely reconciliation and redirection. Reconciliation occurred more frequently after redirection had taken place, whereas redirection was less likely after reconciliation had taken place. These results indicate that (1) achieving reconciliation has the highest priority for the victim, and (2) aggressors are more likely to grant reconciliation after the victim redirected aggression.

Visibility of the distinctive emblem on medical establishments, units, and transports

The Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 provide that medical personnel and equipment shall in general be identified by the distinctive emblem of the red cross or red crescent. The Second Geneva Convention, applicable to the victims of conflict at sea, specifies that the exterior surfaces of hospital ships and smaller craft used for medical purposes shall be white and recommends that the parties to the conflict use “the most modern methods” to facilitate identification of medical transports at sea (Art. 43).

Africa—Asia—Latin America—Middle East

At the beginning of June the ICRC was compelled to put an end to its protection and assistance operations in aid of the victims of drought and conflict in the provinces of Eritrea, Tigray, Gondar and Wollo. In the interest of these victims, the ICRC sought agreement from the donor governments to transfer its foodstocks and logistic means in Ethiopia to other organizations. This was done after the Ethiopian authorities had confirmed the decisions conveyed to the ICRC in April and May and forced the ICRC to withdraw all its expatriate staff involved in the assistance operation. The ICRC nevertheless maintained a presence in Ethiopia to continue its activities on behalf of Somali prisoners of war. This aspect of its work, which falls within the Geneva Conventions, had not been called in question by the Ethiopian Government.

The International Committee of the Red Cross and Health

The ICRC Medical Division, established in November 1977, works for the war wounded, for prisoners, for the civilian population and for the war disabled. Its essential purpose is to keep the victims alive, alleviate their suffering and prevent their sicknesses or wounds from ruining the rest of their lives.In his summary of ICRC activities during his term of office, (1976–1987) President Alexandre Hay said last May, “The medical sector, completely embryonic when I arrived, has developed considerably and has now achieved a highly praiseworthy quality and dimension. The ICRC and the victims of conflicts owe a great deal to the spirit of initiative, devotion and competence of its doctors”.The Review is particularly pleased to publish the following article by Dr. Remi Russbach, Chief Medical Officer of the ICRC, who traces the evolution of the Medical Division in the past ten years, emphasizing not only the progress achieved in the execution of its programmes but dealing as well with the problems which the ICRC has had to face in this domain.

Getting Access to the Victims: Role and Activities of the ICRC

In fulfilling its humanitarian obligations, the ICRC is often faced with political, technical and financial obstacles. Since its foundation in 1863, it has none the less been able gradually to develop its protection and assistance activities for the victims of armed conflicts: the wounded and sick in the field, prisoners of war, civilians in occupied territories and all those affected by hostilities. For several years now, it has also visited political detainees, providing strict conditions are met (repeated visits and interviews without witnesses, access to all detainees in all places of detention). Moreover, in its large-scale relief operations the ICRC insists on being allowed to make on-site assessments of the needs of conflict victims and to carry out all distribution operations itself It closely monitors the implementation of international humanitarian law, but cannot replace States in settling the political differences underlying the conflicts.

Missions by the President of the ICRC

Mr. Alexandra Hay, President of the ICRC, accompanied by Mr. Michel Amiguet, deputy delegate-general of the ICRC for Asia and the Pacific, visited Pakistan between 11 and 17 November 1985.In Islamabad, Mr. Hay had discussions with the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr. Mohamad Kahn Junejo, and thanked him for the support provided by Pakistan for the ICRC's humanitarian work for the victims of the Afghan conflict. The discussions also provided an opportunity to make an overall examination of the ICRC's main activities throughout the world and highlight the difficulties the institution encounters principally because of the internal and lengthy nature of most present-day conflicts. The ratification of the Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions was also discussed during this meeting.

The medical profession and international humanitarian law

International humanitarian law, whose purpose is to attenuate the evils of war, has been intimately bound from its earliest days to doctors and all others whose mission in life is to heal—the noblest of all professions. The fact is that this law originated from the need to make up for the deficiencies of military medical services and protect those wounded in war. Since then, the law has gone far beyond that framerwork and has extended its protection and solicitude to many other victims of conflicts and also, in peacetime, to victims of day-to-day life—sick people. An essentially medical element was the basis of the law, and continues to be a major element, referred to by some as “medical law”.

Children as Victims of Parental Conflict

To the Editor.— The article by Nelson1 included particularly vivid examples of the manner in which children may become victims of parental conflict. In the experience of University of California Davis Medical Center's Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Team, similar cases (although less severe) account for approximately 2% of the physical abuse cases reviewed. Social services agencies tend to view such occurrences as "accidents," and are reticent to provide services to such families. Physicians must take an active role in advocating that the families and children receive appropriate services.

Burns caused by napalm bombs

Summary The special features associated with burns caused by the explosion of napalm bombs and the general management of our cases are presented and discussed. All the patients were victims of the military conflict in Cyprus in 1974.

Burns caused by napalm bombs

Summary The special features associated with burns caused by the explosion of napalm bombs and the general management of our cases are presented and discussed. All the patients were victims of the military conflict in Cyprus in 1974.

The Geneva Humanitarian Law Conference 1975

The second session of the Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law applicable to Armed Conflicts met in Geneva from February 3 until April 18, 1975. The purpose of this session of the Conference was the adoption — or perhaps more correctly the successful drafting — of two Protocols to be added to the Geneva Red Cross Conventions of 1949, in order to protect further the victims of international and non-international conflicts respectively; it was also to consider proposals directed to the humanization of methods of warfare, including the prohibition or restriction of conventional weapons considered to be purely indiscriminate or likely to cause an amount of suffering disproportionate to the purpose of the armed conflict.

Africa — Latin America — Asia — Europe – Middle East

The delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross who have been in Addis Ababa for several weeks have not yet been authorized to go to Asmara. To the ICRC's offers to provide the victims of the conflict in Eritrea with assistance and protection, the Ethiopian Minister for Foreign Affairs has replied that the Government has the situation in hand and that there is no emergency. The ICRC is still prepared to play its traditional humanitarian role on behalf of the victims of the present conflict: the wounded and the sick, prisoners, and the civilian population.

The Pestalozzi Children's Village in Trogen, Switerland.

The author, who spent more than 26 years working at the Pestalozzi Children's Village in Trogen, Switzerland, first as a housefather and later as director, describes the history and operation of the village. Established for World War II orphans, the village now cares for victims of unfortunate social conditions or new international conflicts. The children are educated and receive vocational training in the village so they can support themselves and promote the ideas of international cooperation in their home countries.

Spain

At the inauguration of the Spanish Red Cross radio transmitter, H.R.H. Don Juan Carlos de Bourbon, Prince of Spain, addressed a message to the ICRC in which he recalled the work of the Red Cross on behalf of the victims of conflicts, the essential meaning of the humanitarian idea at the present time, and the importance of the Red Cross as a link between peoples and as a peace factor. The Red Cross should have the support of one and all because its endeavours were based on the ideal of human dignity.

For the Benefit of the Indo-Pakistan Conflict Victims

A further operation for the repatriation of wounded prisoners of war was conducted between India and Pakistan on 10 April 1972. The ICRC's DC-6 aircraft brought thirty-five Pakistani prisoners of war from New Delhi to Rawalpindi and, conversely, repatriated one Indian prisoner of war.

For the Benefit of the Indo-Pakistan Conflict Victims

ICRC delegates in India and in Pakistan are working to help prisoners of war in accordance with the provisions of the Third Geneva Convention.

For the Benefit of the Indo-Pakistan Conflict Victims

It will be recalled that the ICRC delegates in India—Mr. R. Du Pasquier, head of the delegation, and Dr. R. Marti, ICRC head physician—visited wounded Pakistani prisoners of war in December 1971, and that they subsequently visited other wounded prisoners. The ICRC delegates started visiting the prisoners of war held in Indian camps—and, as we mentioned in last month's issue, there are a great many of them—early in February. They are now carrying on the job by visiting other camps. More than 30,000 Pakistani prisoners were visited by the delegates while still in the Dacca area.

For the Benefit of the Indo-Pakistan Conflict Victims

Since March 1971, the International Committee of the Red Cross had been watching the situation on the Indian sub-continent and had given particular attention to the development of its contacts with the Governments and Red Cross Societies of India and Pakistan with a view to carrying out its humanitarian mission for the benefit of the victims of events.