Benghazi, May 2012. As he steps onto the tarmac at the airport of his hometown for the first time in 43 years, Abdussalem Al-Naji is overwhelmed by emotion. He is greeted by his brothers, cousins and friends, as well as numerous children born to his relatives in his absence. That morning, Abdussalem was still in his flat in Dattwil, a small, quiet town in the Swiss canton of Aargau.
Geneva (ICRC) - At the end of his three-day visit to Mali and Niger on Wednesday 24 October, ICRC president Peter Maurer warned that military deployments and renewed hostilities in the region would inevitably have humanitarian consequences for the population.
Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is currently visiting Niger and Mali assessing humanitarian needs. During an ICRC food distribution to around 580 displaced families in Niamey (Niger), the ICRC President met people exhausted and weakened by successive food shortages and the fighting in northern Mali.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has asked its donors for approximately 20 million euros (US $27 million) to help tens of thousands of people affected by conflict and food insecurity in northern Mali. This is the second time the ICRC has asked for more funds in 2012 as the humanitarian situation in the region further deteriorates.Login for B-Roll shotlists in English, Arabic, Spanish and French.
President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, has just returned from a three-day visit to Syria during which he held talks with the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, and the ministers of foreign affairs, the interior, health and national reconciliation. Mr Maurer also visited areas affected by the fighting in Rural Damascus to witness at first hand how civilians are coping in a context of extreme violence.
As Libya attempts to recover from the conflict last year, wounds remain raw. On the international day of the disappeared (August 30th), thousands of Libyan families still have no answers over the fate of missing family members who went missing as a consequence of the conflict and the former regime.
After a full month of difficult negotiations between States at United Nations Headquarters in New York, delegates have not reached agreement to adopt a long-awaited and much needed Arms Trade Treaty.
As South Sudan turns 1 year old (9 July 2012), an estimated 50,000 people in the country are amputees. Many of these severe injuries are a result of present and past armed conflicts. The use of landmines was common during the pre-independence armed conflict between the north and the south, and they continue to be used today.
As South Sudan celebrates its first year of independence (9 July 2012) fighting continues in parts of the country and the wounded and sick struggle to get treatment and access to basic health-care . Becoming the world''s newest country has not brought an end to years of armed conflict. An ill-defined border as well as internal ethnic tension quickly triggers fighting.
On 9th July 2012, South Sudan celebrates its first year of independence. However, becoming the world''s newest country has not brought an end to the years of armed conflict. An ill-defined border as well as internal ethnic tension can quickly trigger fighting. The wounded and sick struggle to get treatment as access to basic health care is very difficult.
For assistance and technical questions, please Contact Us