Physiotherapy in conflict zones: the expertise of the international committee of the red cross supported hospital projects

Physiotherapy ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
pp. e1263-e1264
Author(s):  
B. Rau ◽  
Vouilloz L. Blake
2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-20
Author(s):  
Chris Cramer

Commentary: On 18 May 2009, the ABC’s Ultimo Centre in Sydney, Australia, and on May 22, Massey University’s Wellington campus in New Zealand were host to twin conferences on war reporting.  Jointly organised by the global aid organisation International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Australian Centre of Independent Journalism at the University of Technology, Sydney, and Massey’s School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, the conferences were attended and contributed to by senior international and national news media people—including many who had themselves reported wars—as well as humanitarian, legal and military representatives.  The conferences addressed: the role and responsibilities of the journalist in reporting conflict; media, humanitarian and military relationships; an apparent increasing targeting of journalists in conflict zones; and the application of international humanitarian law in times of conflict. The following address by Chris Cramer was the keynote speech at both conferences.


2012 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Herzberg ◽  
Gerald M Steinberg

This article will examine the opportunities and limitations of using social media in the execution of legal duties relating to the monitoring and enforcement of IHL. The article will first provide an overview of social media. Next, it will briefly summarise the normative framework of IHL as well as the legal duties of the primary actors and promoters of IHL (for example, states, the UN, NGOs, the International Committee of the Red Cross and courts) to monitor and enforce these rules. The article will then address specific legal obligations relating to IHL monitoring and enforcement and the impact of social media on meeting these requirements.Throughout, the article will use case studies from several conflict zones, including Sudan, Uganda, Mexico, Somalia, Gaza and Libya. The article will conclude that social media can play a critical role in promoting IHL education, and monitoring for potential violations. The benefits of this technology, however, are less clear for carrying out legal obligations related to the enforcement of IHL, such as fact-finding, arrest and prosecution. It is essential, therefore, that clear guidelines for utilising this quickly evolving technology, particularly in official fact-finding and judicial frameworks, be established.


2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S1-S7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynda J. Redwood-Campbell ◽  
Louis Riddez

AbstractIntroduction:When the Tsunami struck Asia on 26 December 2004, Aceh, Indonesia suffered more damage than did any other region. After the Tsunami, many humanitarian organizations provided aid in Aceh. For example, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), along with the Indonesian and Norwegian Red Cross opened a field hospital in Banda Aceh on 16 January 2005. This study describes the illnesses seen in the out-patient department/casualty department (OPD/CD) of the ICRC hospital nine weeks after the Tsunami. It describes the percentage of people seen for problems directly related to the Tsunami, and includes a basic screening for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Methods:A prospective, five-day study was performed from 01–05 March 2005. Patients registering in the ICRC field hospital in Banda Aceh were considered for the study. Data collected included: (1) age; (2) gender; (3) diagnosis in the OPD/CD; and (4) whether or not the problem was related directly to the Tsunami. Seven basic questions were asked to screen for depression and PTSD symptoms.Results:Twelve percent of the problems seen in the OPD/CD nine weeks after the Tsunami still were related directly to the Tsunami. Sixty-three percent of patients in the study were male. The medical problems included: (1) urological (19%); (2) digestive (16%); (3) respiratory (12%); and (4) musculoskeletal (12%). Although <2% of patients were diagnosed with a mental health problem, 24% had at least four or more of the seven depression/PTSD symptoms addressed in the study.Conclusions:Post-earthquake and post-tsunami health problems and medical needs differ from those found in conflict zones. After the Tsunami, both surgical and primary healthcare teams were needed. Many problems were chronic medical problems, which may be indicative of the lack of healthcare infrastructure before the Tsunami. The findings suggest that mental health issues must be taken into consideration for future planning. The ethical issues of performing research in complex emergencies also need further development at the international level.


Author(s):  
Yu. Makhnycheva ◽  
Е. Gordienko

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an international independent organization, staff of which provides humanitarian aid to affected and needy people. The ICRC works in armed conflict zones, in areas of natural disasters, natural and technogenic accidents. In peacetime, the organization’s employees fight against physical violence, provide assistance with water supply and improving housing conditions, visit prisoners, monitor the conditions of detention and respect for their rights in addition to large-scale rescue operations. The ICRC's work includes family reunification, humanitarian diplomacy, health care, mine action, economic security and much more. The movement includes the International Committee of the Red Cross, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The management of the ICRC is represented by the Assembly, the Assembly Council, the Directorate. Peter Maurer, President of the ICRC, heads the Assembly Council and the Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross.


The ICRC Library is home to unique collections retracing the parallel development of humanitarian action and law during the past 150+ years. With the core of these collections now digitized, this reference library on international humanitarian law (IHL) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a resource available to all, anytime, anywhere.


2020 ◽  
Vol 102 (913) ◽  
pp. 367-387
Author(s):  
Massimo Marelli

AbstractDigitalization and new technologies have an increasingly important role in today's humanitarian activities. As humanitarian organizations become more active in and reliant on new and digital technologies, they evolve from being simple bystanders to being fully fledged stakeholders in cyberspace, vulnerable to adverse cyber operations that could impact on their capacity to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict or other situations of violence.This shift makes it essential for humanitarian organizations to understand and properly map their resulting cyber perimeter. Humanitarian organizations can protect themselves and their activities by devising appropriate cyber strategies for the digital environment. Clearly defining the digital boundaries within which they carry out operations lays the groundwork for humanitarian organizations to develop a strategy to support and protect humanitarian action in the digital environment, channel available resources to where they are most needed, and understand the areas in which their operational dialogue and working modalities need to be adapted for cyberspace.The purpose of this article is to identify the unique problems facing international humanitarian organizations operating in cyberspace and to suggest ways to address them. More specifically, the article identifies the key elements that an international humanitarian organization should consider in developing a cyber security strategy. Throughout, the International Committee of the Red Cross and its specificities are used as an example to illustrate the problems identified and the possible ways to address them.


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