ICRC -Caring, above the fray

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God’ (5:9) We live in a world of Violence and destruction. A world where carnage reigns supreme. Every day we see on the news some form of conflict. We live in a world of suffering and most times innocents have to pay the price. However in all this mayhem the ICRC (International committee of the Red Cross) has emerged as a powerful presence intervening on behalf of those who love Peace in this world.

It is going to be 150 years since the founding of the ICRC ( International Committee of Red Cross)which was celebrated last February on the 17th . Next year it will be 25 years of ICRC in Sri Lanka.The beginnings of the ICRC and what has now come to be known as the Red Cross Movement, can be traced back to an initiative of Henry Dunant, a Swiss businessman and philanthropist , who assisted wounded soldiers at a huge military battle in a place called Solferino in Northern Italy in 1859.

Seeing the human suffering he decided that something had to be done. This prompted him to lobby political leaders to take worldwide action to systematically protect victims of armed conflicts. He pushed for the creation of a neutral and impartial organization to protect and assist the war wounded (the ICRC). He also suggested that voluntary relief societies should be established to care for the injured – an idea that would eventually lead to the formation of National Red Cross and Red Crescent

Societies,” said Sarasi Wijeratne, Spokesperson, Press and Information Officer..

In 1862, Dunant self-published a graphic account of the aftermath of the battle, called A Memory of Solferino which he used as a campaigning book for his crusade to achieve his goal. To form a neutral and independent organization which would care for victims of conflict. This was the Embryo of ICRC.

Dunant promoted the idea of National Societies. Most countries in the world have their own red cross societies, like Sri Lanka has its Red Cross society.

Today, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, composed of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the individual National Societies, has become the largest humanitarian network in the world

The ICRC’s exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. It directs and coordinates the Movement’s international relief activities during armed conflicts. Established in 1863, it is at the origin of the Movement. To meet the evolving humanitarian challenges and constantly growing needs,the ICRC became a “large” humanitarian organization with a presence in over 90 countries all over the world, and has a workforce of almost 13,000 men and women of over 100 different nationalities.

The ICRC's humanitarian action in Sri Lanka

The ICRC has been working in Sri Lanka since 1989, cooperating with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, first during the JVP insurgency in the South, then during the conflict with the LTTE in the East and in the North, seeking to contribute to the protection and assistance of persons directly affected by the armed conflict that ended in 2009.

“During the conflict, the ICRC was actively involved in life-saving humanitarian efforts and was responsible for distribution of humanitarian supplies , the medical evacuation of nearly 14, 000 sick and wounded people and transportation of dead bodies. Today, in light of the current situation of peace and of the achievements of the relevant authorities in the period of post-conflict recovery and rehabilitation, the ICRC, through its work in Sri Lanka, aims to contribute to the endeavours of

national institutions to address the outstanding needs of Sri Lankans who continue to be affected by the direct consequences of the past conflict, including detainees, their families and families of persons unaccounted for. The ICRC also promotes essential humanitarian norms, in accordance with national and international obligations of Sri Lanka through Ministries, Sri Lanka Armed Forces, Police and Academics.”

Since 2009, the ICRC has substantively reduced and adapted its set-up and modus operandi. With due regard to the milestones provided in the recommendations of the LLRC Report, the Plan of Action of the government for their implementation as well as the National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights (NAPHR), today, the ICRC works with authorities, academics and students to further raise their awareness on current international humanitarian law (IHL) matters.

In Sri Lanka, ICRC staff, in agreement with the authorities, have been visiting places of detention since 1989. “The aim is to assist the detaining authority to ensure that inmates treatment and material conditions comply with internationally recognised norms and humanitarian standards.Throughout the world, even after conflicts end, families continue to search for their relatives who cannot be traced, coping daily with prolonged uncertainty.

The ICRC has offered its services and expertise to the Government to contribute to the implementation of the humanitarian recommendations contained in the LLRC Report, in particular as regards the plight of the families who have relatives unaccounted for following the past conflict.”

The ICRC endeavours to ensure economic security for people affected by the past conflict by supporting them to rebuild livelihoods through micro-economic initiatives which aim to strengthen income generation in households and entire communities in a sustainable manner and in a given time frame. The projects are tailored to meet individual needs as expressed by the recipients. The most commonly used micro-economic tools are productive grants, vocational training and small loans.

The ICRC's main partner in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS), which, through its wide network of branches and thousands of staff-members and volunteers, can rely on a capacity and substantial potential for addressing humanitarian needs, in particular of rural communities still coping with the effects of the past conflict. Vulnerable households have received cash grants, livestock and access to clean drinking water.