The International Committee of the Red Cross in Afghanistan: reasserting the neutrality of humanitarian action

2011 ◽  
Vol 93 (881) ◽  
pp. 173-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Terry
Keyword(s):  
International Committee ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
The Other ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Guiding Principle ◽  
Humanitarian Action ◽  
Cast Doubt

AbstractNeutrality as a guiding principle of humanitarian action was roundly rejected by most actors in Afghanistan's latest conflict. One party to the conflict commandeered assistance and aid organizations into a counter-insurgency campaign, and the other rejected Western aid organizations as agents of an imperialist West. The murder in 2003 of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) water engineer Ricardo Munguia, because of what he symbolized, cast doubt on whether the ICRC could be perceived as neutral in this highly polarized context. Rather than abandon a neutral stance, however, as so many aid organizations did, the ICRC persevered and, through some innovative and sometimes risky initiatives, managed to show both sides the benefits of having a neutral intermediary in conflict. Today, the ICRC continues to expand its reach to Afghans in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

The ICRC Library goes digital

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Keyword(s):  
International Committee ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
International Humanitarian Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Reference Library ◽  
Parallel Development ◽  
Humanitarian Action ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Past

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.

Hacking humanitarians: Defining the cyber perimeter and developing a cyber security strategy for international humanitarian organizations in digital transformation

2020 ◽  
Vol 102 (913) ◽  
pp. 367-387
Author(s):  
Massimo Marelli
Keyword(s):  
Cyber Security ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
International Committee ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Security Strategy ◽  
Humanitarian Action ◽  
Humanitarian Organizations

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.

The International Committee of the Red Cross and humanitarian assistance: A policy analysis

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (314) ◽  
pp. 512-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Forsythe
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
World History ◽  
International Committee ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Emergency Relief ◽  
Complex Emergencies ◽  
The Cold War

In today's armed conflicts and complex emergencies more civilians suffer than combatants. After the Cold War one could identify a zone of turmoil in which civilian suffering was acute. But one could also identify a zone of stability from which operated a complicated system of humanitarian assistance designed to respond to civilian suffering. Media coverage emphasized the suffering, but never before in world history had such a kaleidoscope of humanitarian actors tried to provide emergency relief during armed conflicts and complex emergencies. Inevitably calls were heard for better organization and coordination, and in 1991–92 the United Nations created a Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA).

scholarly journals THE ROLE OF THE HUMANITARIAN ACTION INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE RED CROSS (ICRC) IN THE 2011 LIBYA REVOLUTION

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-54
Author(s):  
Fitri Adi Setyorini
Keyword(s):  
International Committee ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Government Organizations ◽  
Humanitarian Action ◽  
Humanitarian Mission ◽  
Medical Supplies ◽  
East Region ◽  
One Step ◽  
The Arab Spring

This study discusses the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) role in protecting and assisting victims of the Libyan revolution in 2011. The purpose of this study is to explore more about the role of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) in protecting and assisting victims of war as one step on a humanitarian mission. The author used the non-government organizations (NGOs) and humanitarian action concepts. The author's research method to analyze this study was a descriptive method through a literature review. Based on research done, the author found that the revolution in Libya in 2011 was one of the effects of the Arab Spring in the Middle East region. The author also found that the ICRC carried out its humanitarian missions by providing food, water, medical supplies, medical equipment, and clothing.

Part IV Activities of Organizations, Ch.14 Humanitarian Action

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiss Thomas G
Keyword(s):  
World War I ◽  
International Committee ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Humanitarian Action ◽  
War Zone ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
History Of ◽  
Humanitarian Space ◽  
The Cold War

This chapter begins by defining some key terms, including humanitarian action, humanitarianism, humanitarian space, and humanitarian intervention. It then examines the history of humanitarian action in wars through the lenses of three historical periods: the 19th century until World War I; the early 20th century through the end of the Cold War; and the last quarter-century. Next, it describes the entities that exert influence on the ground from outside a war zone: international NGOs, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the UN system, bilateral aid agencies, external military forces, for-profit firms, and the media. Operating alongside, and sometimes in opposition to, external agents in a particular war zone are local actors, which include NGOs and businesses as well as the armed belligerents. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the coordination of the various moving parts of the international humanitarian system.

The International Committee in Algeria

1962 ◽  
Vol 2 (16) ◽  
pp. 362-365 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Committee ◽  
Surgical Instruments ◽  
The Other ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Medical Team ◽  
Powdered Milk ◽  
New Born ◽  
Concentrated Milk ◽  
French Red Cross

The ICRC actively developed its relief operation in Algeria in June. Acute medical and sanitary problems are facing its delegates, especially in Oran. As reported earlier the ICRC has sent a medical team of three to the Moslem city of Oran, where medicines, surgical instruments and equipment, and dietetic milk for new-born children, are most urgently needed. Following urgent requests by its delegates on the spot the ICRC immediately despatched by air two tons of dietetic powdered milk: Two further shipments were also sent by the French Red Cross, one of eight crates of sugared concentrated milk, the other of one and a half tons of standardised milk.

Chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear events: The humanitarian response framework of the International Committee of the Red Cross

2015 ◽  
Vol 97 (899) ◽  
pp. 647-661
Author(s):  
Gregor Malich ◽  
Robin Coupland ◽  
Steve Donnelly ◽  
Johnny Nehme
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
International Committee ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Humanitarian Response ◽  
Nuclear Events ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Operational Activities

AbstractMounting an effective international humanitarian response to a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) event, especially if the response is undertaken on an ad hoc basis, would be extremely difficult and would pose many risks to the responders. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has created a competency-based capacity to respond to at least small-scale CBRN events, including a deployable capability to undertake operational activities. This involves informed assessments of CBRN risks, timely and competent decisions on how to respond, and effectively mobilizing appropriate resources to implement these decisions, through the creation of an emergency roster. In addition to the acquisition of technical expertise and material resources, the creation of such capacity requires the application of central processes, ensuring systematic management of CBRN response (including risk-based decision-making), standing operational procedures, and availability of and access to the necessary resources. Implementation of the ICRC's CBRN response framework as described in this article should be considered by any agency or other stakeholder preparing for international humanitarian assistance in CBRN events – especially if such events are related to armed conflict.

Detention by armed groups: overcoming challenges to humanitarian action

2011 ◽  
Vol 93 (883) ◽  
pp. 759-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Tuck
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
International Committee ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Unique Role ◽  
Humanitarian Action ◽  
International Character

AbstractArmed conflict and deprivation of liberty are inexorably linked. Deprivation of liberty by non-state armed groups is a consequence of the predominantly non-international character of contemporary armed conflicts. Regardless of the nature of the detaining authority or the overarching legality of its detention operations, deprivation of liberty may nonetheless have serious humanitarian implications for the individuals detained. Despite a need for humanitarian action, effective engagement is hampered by certain threshold obstacles, such as the perceived risk of the group's legitimization. Since the formative work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)'s founder, Henry Dunant, the ICRC has sought to overcome these obstacles. In doing so it draws upon its experience of humanitarian action in state detention, adapting it to the exigencies of armed groups and the peculiarities of their detention practice. Although not without setbacks, the ICRC retains a unique role in this regard and strives to ameliorate the treatment and conditions of detention of persons deprived of liberty by armed groups.

Looking back over 150 years of humanitarian action: the photographic archives of the ICRC

2012 ◽  
Vol 94 (888) ◽  
pp. 1349-1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérie Gorin
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
International Committee ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Humanitarian Action ◽  
Preservation Policy ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Looking Back

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to suggest some historical milestones for a retrospective reflection on the photographic archives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This collection is little used by researchers, although the 120,000 photographs which it contains have helped to forge the symbolism and identity of the institution and to document its operations in accordance with a memory preservation policy which gradually emerged in the course of the 20th century. The photographs shown in this article are divided into three main themes (the ICRC delegate, the context of action, suffering and the victims), in order to make it easier to discuss the key aspects of this tremendous visual heritage which looks at humanitarian action, its protagonists and its beneficiaries from an anthropological and ethnological point of view.

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