№ 25 January—June 2010 THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, BELARUS, MOLDOVA AND UKRAINE IHL Competition Monument to International 'The Road to Peace' Henry Dunant Tracing Service Exhibition KYRGYZSTAN: ASSISTANCE FROM THE VERY FIRST DAYS In the early morning hours of 11 June 2010 interethnic tensions started in the south of Kyrgyzstan. Hundreds of people were killed, over a thousand — wounded, many houses were burned down and looted. The Kyrgyz authorities acknow ledged the deaths of almost 900 people in the clashes. About a hundred thousand people fled the violence to neighbouring Uzbekistan. Humanitarian situation in the south of Kyrgyzstan was qualified as an Ducruet © ICRC/PierreEmmanuel emergency. Provision of necessary assistance to medical facilities was the International Committee of the Red Cross's (ICRC) first task. The ICRC in conjunction with the Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan started supplying requisite medicines and medical materials to hospitals straight from the outset of clashes. The next step was delivering to the region necessary Distribution of humanitarian aid materials for the provision of emergency medical aid, foodstuffs, tents, basic Besides family reunification activity, the There is no doubt that it will be still a necessities. ICRC planes delivered aid to organization also provides to the authori long time before people are going to Kyrgyzstan and also to Uzbekistan where ties recommendations about how to get back to living as normal. The events a flood of refugees streamed. A week ensure careful handling of human left a deep mark on people, and the after the start of the clashes food distribu remains, which allows for the subsequent authorities face a very difficult task of tions already started. procedure of remains identification. handling possible indignation and eth nic disunity. Conducting humanitarian The organization also took necessary In late June the President of the ICRC activities in such conditions requires steps to gain access to all persons Jakob Kellenberger made a oneday visit acting with great delicacy. The ICRC will detained in relation to violence. Food to Kyrgyzstan where he met Rosa continue its humanitarian operations in parcels were distributed to a thousand Otunbayeva, acting as the Interim the country. At present the supply of detainees kept in detention facilities in President of the country during the tran food and hygiene items into the region Osh and Jalalabad. Another important line sition period and the representatives of is continuing. The organization will also of work of the organization is restoring the local authorities in the city of Osh. broaden its dialogue with lawenforce links between separated members of The ICRC President discussed with rep ment bodies with a view to ensuring families and clarifying the fate of the mis resentatives of the authorities humani compliance with international standards sing. Experience shows that after the end tarian consequences of past armed related to the use of force in situations of clashes many people are in the dark clashes and asked that the ICRC be of internal disturbances. about the fate of their loved ones, which granted access to all persons detained in causes enormous suffering to them. connection with the recent events. Continued on page 2 INTERVIEW KYRGYZSTAN: ASSISTANCE FROM THE VERY FIRST DAYS Continued from assistance to hospitals and to victims. A month after the beginning of the page 1 Three days later airplanes with humani clashes: tarian cargo started to arrive from our Today we talk to bases in Amman, Dubai and Kabul. All 250, 000 people — twoweek rations one of the staff in all, 15 airplanes arrived delivering to of flour and vegetable oil members of the the affected area medicines, foodstuffs 45, 000 people — household items ICRC Moscow and nonfood aid for the population of 15, 500 people — access to clean Regional Dele Kyrgyzstan. Every day the number of water gation — Pierre staff increased by 45 persons. Two 20 medical institutions — needed Emmanuel Ducruet who had left for weeks after the onset of the conflict in medicines and medical materials Kyrgyzstan virtually straight after the Osh there were already 50 representa Additional budget: US $25 mln beginning of the armed clashes. tives of the ICRC working. It was Overall budget: US $35.5 impressive. No. of staff: 120 How speedily did the ICRC react to the events in Kyrgyzstan? What was the security situation like? On the night of 11 June, when every During the first week of our work in the How do you assess the effectiveness thing started, there were only two peo region the security issue was an acute of such measures? ple in our office in Osh. The ICRC one. There was chaos reigning every It is difficult to assess the effectiveness of immediately started to take steps in where. Most of the territories in the south such measures but the fact remains that order to immediately send to the south of Kyrgyzstan were not controlled. This is during the crisis we were able to work of Kyrgyzstan its staff from other dele why it was very important to explain our without trouble. We were not held up at gations. On the 1213 of June there humanitarian mission to the population. checkpoints. We did not have a single inci were already more than ten people in The situation being what it was we had no dent related to the threat to our security. It Osh. It was already the ninth time this opportunity to act via official power struc is hard to say what exactly was the reason kind of a rapid response system ture — but to act — and act fast — what for such a situation but I think the steps we devised by the ICRC was used. The something we needed to do. In particular, took also had a role to play — everyone most important thing is the speed of in order to get access to the population got the information. Even our staff and the reaction. The quicker assistance is we needed to tell about who we are and myself received text messages. This was a provided the greater are the chances of what we do. And it goes without saying very large scale operation which helped reducing the negative consequences that it was necessary to explain the need the ICRC to work safely in the crisis zone. to a minimum. As early as two days to respect the Red Cross and Red after the onset of the crisis a structure Crescent emblems, because on 11 June What made the deepest impression was put in place on the ground which an ambulance car was attacked. We on you? enabled us to conduct fullscale activi decided to use modern means of com On the first day as we were driving from ty. We received containers with all the munication. For the first time the ICRC Bishkek to Jalalabad local residents' cars necessary equipment as well as medical used text messages as a means of getting started joining our convoy. We stopped supplies in order to provide speedier information across to the population. We two kilometres short of the city because approached two we saw that Jalalabad was on fire. During companies provi this stop I got out to speak to the people ding mobile phone who were following us. They said in so services in the many words that they were frightened region, and they but knew that with the Red Cross they agreed to assist us. were safe. It was very clear proof of the A short message was fact that the Red Cross is not a mere written and sent to emblem, that it is of great importance to all subscribers on the people who are not familiar with offi that territory. We also cial documents concerning the emblem, used the opportuni have not read articles of international ties offered by the treaties but feel that the Red Cross means television and radio — protection. It is good to read about it in short communica books but when you see it with your own tions about our eyes and hear it with your own ears, it has humanitarian mis a stronger impact and is better than any © ICRC/PierreEmmanuel Ducruet sion and the need to article of the Geneva Conventions. respect the emblems The ICRC plane delivers humanitarian aid were broadcast. Interviewed by Galina Balzamova 2 CROSSROAD № 25 ICRC IN BELARUS COMMEMORATING THE IDEA OF HUMANISM The 8th of May is celebrated all over book Humanity in War: Frontline the world as the Red Cross and Red Photography covers the period from Crescent Day. In 2010, in the 1860 to present time. The photos Republic of Belarus, several events are presenting such events of the have been held to mark this day. On world history as the First and the the 7th of May, a statue of Henry Second World Wars, ArabIsraeli con Dunant, the Founding Father of the flicts, Spanish Civil War, events in International Red Cross and Red Ethiopia, Salvador, and Iraq. During all Crescent Movement, was erected in a these conflicts, the photographer minipark in the centre of the coun was a constant presence, preserving try's capital. On the same day, the moments of courage, dignity, de Humanity in War photo exhibition was fiance and hope amidst pain and suf inaugurated. It was jointly organised fering. The exhibition also traces the © ICRC/Galina Balzamova by the International Committee of the evolution of the ICRC since its incep Red Cross (ICRC) and the Belarusian tion. Finally, it aspires to remind all of Visitors at the exhibition Red Cross Society (BRSC). us of the importance of exercising our humanity.