ICRC Bulletin

Issue No.8
Winter 2009

© ICRC/J. Barry
An ICRC hygiene promoter teaches hygiene awareness to women living in the poorest parts of Kabul, Afghanistan

Dear Readers,
As Head of the ICRC Regional Delegationin Kuala Lumpur, it has been my extraordinary good fortune and privilege
to have worked with the authorities
in Japan and the Japanese Red Cross
Society (JRCS) over the past four and ahalf years. However, as they say, all goodthings must come to an end. I would liketo seize this opportunity to outline briefly
the progress made in the cooperation
between the ICRC and Japan during thisperiod.
In 2004/5, Japan gave new impetus
to its ambition to lead by example inrelation to Humanitarian Law. In thecontext of the Emergency Laws, whichgovern Japan's response in case of anarmed attack on the country, the Ministryof Foreign Affairs and the ICRC had
extensive and successful exchanges on
the legal issues involved. In addition,
as JRCS has the responsibility to trace
non-Japanese civilians in emergencies,
the focus of the ICRC was to provide its
expertise to the Cabinet Secretariat andvarious Ministries on the operational

aspects of the reestablishment of links
between separated family members. Thebuilding of tracing capacity within theJRCS in emergencies will continue to be
one of the priorities for the ICRC.
Another highlight was the collaboration
with the Japanese Self Defence Forces(JSDF), in particular with the GroundForces, the Central Readiness Force, theNational Institute for Defence Studies
and the Tokyo Defence Forum. The ICRC
has contributed to the JSDF's preparation
for international emergency operations
and peace building missions abroad.
One of our main modes of operation, i.e.
neutral and independent humanitarianaction, seems to echo particularly well inJapan. Clearly, we can take pride in thefact that Japan and the ICRC enjoy shared
basic human values and interests. HumanSecurity was one of the main topics ofthe humanitarian assistance symposium
jointly organised with the Ministry ofForeign Affairs on October 30, 2009.
A significant milestone in the relationshipbetween the ICRC and Japan was theopening of our Tokyo office in February
this year. This permanent presence inJapan has led to a considerable increasein networking with civil society and themedia. We have also been able to finetune our cooperation with the authorities
a n d t h e J R C S . We re m a i n o p e n tosuggestions with regard to how we canbest meet your expectations.
My warm wishes go to every one of you,and heartfelt thanks for all your kind
support to the ICRC and me personally.
The numerous books and documents
I have read on Japan could never have
replaced the unforgettable experiences I
have had with people such as you.
Finally, I would like to wish all the best
to my successor Tobias Epprecht as well
as Yoshinobu Nagamine, Head of TokyoOffice.
Yours sincerely,

Werner Kaspar

Former Head ofRegional Delegation in Kuala Lumpur
International Committee of the Red CrossHumanitarian Assistance in Asia
Symposium on Humanitarian Assistance in Armed Conflict
On October 30, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Japan (MOFA) and the ICRC, jointly
organized the Symposium on HumanitarianAssistance in Armed Conflict. attended bymore than 150 participants representing
MOFA, the Ministry of Defence, NGOs, UN
representatives, Embassies and the media.
It was inaugurated by the opening remarks

Werner Kaspar, Head of the ICRC Regional
Delegation in Kuala Lumpur.
The Symposium dealt with three main
topics: (i) Human Security and HumanitarianAssistance; (ii) Security management ofStaff; and (iii) Humanitarian Assistance inAfghanistan.
Human Security find its roots in the 1994
UNDP's Human Development Report. In the15 years it has the concept has been adopted
by many countries in the world. Today Japanis one of strongest supporters of ensuring"freedom from want" and "freedom fromfear" for all persons is the best path to tackle
the problem of global insecurity.

© Startline Inc./ICRCThere are more than 150 participants at thesymposium. It was transmitted live on webof the Parliamentar y Vice -Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Ms. Chinami Nishimura, andIn the second session the discussion shiftedon the issue of the Security Management of
Staff. The panelists spoke on the importanceof developing a “culture of security” througha better integration of security principles anddaily activities, focusing on analysis, planningand preparedness related to security risk
management; and finally work ing foracceptance of local communities to enhance
staff security and enalbe access to victims.
I n t h e c o n c l u d i n g p a n e l , Yo s h i n o b u
N a g a m i n e , H e a d o f I C R C To k y o, h a selaborated that the ambition of the ICRC isto provide victims assistance and protection
by giving support to hospitals, orthopaedic
centres, ensuring access to drinking water,
monitoring the way the conflict has beenfought; and by visiting detention centers
to assess compliance with national andinternational laws and standards. He also
pointed out the potential constraints faced
in delivering humanitarian assistancewhen subordinated to military or politicalobjectives. Hence, Nagamine stressedthat relief actions should be exclusively
humanitarian, neutral and impartial, hereiterated that the role of ICRC is central inensuring assistance to all persons based
solely on needs.

Alain Aeschliman delivers press briefing
Following the Symposium, Alain Aeschlimann, Head of ICRC EastAsia, South-East Asia and Pacific Operations, visited the Japan
Press Club to brief the media on various humanitarian crises in
the region. The core objectivities of the ICRC in the region include
efforts to strengthen relationships with political actors and civilsociety for increased political anchorage; to multiply platforms
for dialogue on humanitarian issues; to promote International
Humanitarian Law (IHL) in government, religious or civilian circles;
and to foster the capacity of the Red Cross and Red Crescent,particularly in relation with natural disasters.

Chinese. During the Q&A session, Aeschlimann clarified somevery crucial points related to the abduction of three ICRC staff bythe Abu Sayyaf Islamist separatist group based in Jolo, southern
Philippines. He said that ICRC staff did not seem to be particularly
targeted in the region. He stressed that the ICRC has a very
strict policy on not paying money in case of staff abduction toavoid potential consequences to ICRC operations in other partsof the world. For this reason, it is crucial for the ICRC to ensurethat its mission is fully understood by everybody to guarantee
transparency and acceptance of the local community.

From the operational point of view, Aeschlimann spoke about theorganization's activities in the Philippines. The ICRC is active inthe conflict areas and regularly visits detainees in approximately
120 locations throughout the country. Another central issue isprotection and assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),some 150.000 of whom benefit from ICRC's presence.
In Thailand, the ICRC visits detainees in the south; in Cambodia it
visits detention facilities and provides orthopedic support to thegovernment; and in North Korea, the ICRC assists the orthopedic
activities of the North Korean Red Cross society. Aeschlimann
noted that the Red Cross Society in both North and South Korea
have continued to work on bringing families together. The ICRC
was encouraged to see its resumption last September, given thehigh number of separated families on both sides of the peninsula.
In China, the ICRC is active in the promotion of rehabilitation
programs and the translation of many IHL-related materials into

© Startline Inc./ICRC
Alain Aeschliman, ICRC Head of East Asia
and South East Asia and Pacific Operations

Report on Internally displaced persons
ICRC calls for more action to help IDPs outside camps
Launching the recent report, “InternalDisplacement in Armed Conflict: facing
up to the challenges”, the ICRC President
Jacob Kellenberger addressed the internallydisplaced persons (IDPs) issue as one of themost serious humanitarian consequences of
the conflicts in the 21st century.

and families. The estimated 26 million IDPs
worldwide often rely on the support ofalready extremely poor host communities.
Kellenberger argues that special attention
must be conferred, notonly to IDPs, but also to thefamilies who take them in.

The repor t ack nowledge that, due toviolations of international humanitarian law(IHL) committed by conflict parties, many
people affected by conflict are forced toflee their homes and face extreme hardship,such as direct attacks, ill-treatment, sexual
violence and the loss of their property orlivelihood.

In 2008, the ICRC assisted
some 3.77 million IDPs,
often in partnershipwith National Red Cross
and Red Cross CrescentSocieties, but a morecomprehensive approachis needed to address theIDPs emergency aid. The
findings of this repor t
aim to reach government
authorities, conflict parties,

It then stresses its focus on the peculiar
conditions of IDPs that, instead of ending up
in camps, are taken in by host communities

humanitarian organisations as well as donors
to look beyond the camps, and urges forfurther respect for IHL as a means to prevent
displacement and protect IDPs.

© ICRC/MAVER, Boris
Non food items distribution by the ICRC, supported by the Yemen
Red Crescent Society, to IDPs:September,2009

Q&A on IDPs
What causes internal displacement
and is it possible to prevent it fromoccurring?
Based on the work we do, I think there are
two major causes of forced displacement.
Firstly, people flee their homes becauseof direct threats to their lives, such as
armed conflict, violence, discrimination orintimidation. Choosing to flee your home
is an agonising decision. It exposes people
to physical harm, destitution, loss of theirregular way of life and separation from loved
ones.
Secondly, people leave their homes because
their livelihoods are threatened. Fighting andinsecurity can make it impossible for them toearn a living or to access essential services. It
can disrupt their access to health care, watersupply, education, and so on.
As to your question if it is possible to prevent
displacement from occurring, the answer
is yes and no. Displacement is, in no small
measure, a result of violations of IHL. We
believe that IHL violations are preventable,
and a considerable amount of our work
aims to do just that, which is coherent andconsistent with our mandate.
However, when the pressure for them toleave is unbearable, and the only way topreserve life and dignity is to leave, focusing
on preventing their displacement would not
make sense. Once a family or community
have decided to go, the only possible
decision for the ICRC is to alleviate theirsuffering and assist in any way possible. The
recent case of Pakistan is a good example
where the ICRC, together with the Pakistan
Red Crescent Society, provided a wide rangeof assistance to hundred of thousandsof people fleeing the fighting in variousprovinces. National Societies' knowledge ofthe local dynamics, environment and cultureis crucial.
The ICRC conducts a wide range of activities
before, during and after displacement,
tailored to the specific circumstances of
the affected communities. The needs of thepeople guide our operational choices.

Could you explain the role of hostcommunities and why they alsoneed assistance?
IDPs are likely to seek shelter among family
or friends in nearby communities so as
to minimise the disruption to their lives.
These host families and communities
take in the newcomers, sharing their own– often meagre – resources even before
international organizations or NGOs knowthat there is a problem or step in to help. In
recent years, the Democratic Republic of theCongo has experienced successive waves
of displacement of the same populations,
within the same regions. Two thirds of thedisplaced people have stayed with hostfamilies, placing an enormous strain on theresources of local communities. That is why
it is so important to ensure they receive
assistance.
By preferring to stay among family or friends
in nearby communities, many IDPs go
unnoticed by international or government
aid agencies. It is harder to reach IDPs inplaces where they find refuge than to set up
shelters, which may be more convenient oreasier for us. However if we really want tomeet the needs of displaced people we must
make it a priority to reach out to them in thecommunities that offer them shelter.
Somalia is a good example of a major
operation to help civilians in theircommunities – of ten including huge
numbers of displaced people – rather thanin camps. Since the beginning of the 1990s
together with the Somali Red CrescentSociety, we provide IDPs health services,
improve water and sanitation and distributeseeds and tools to enable people to regain
their self-sufficiency.

To learn more about the report:
http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/
htmlall/p1014/$File/ICRC_002_4014.PDFInternational RC/RC Movement
Mr. Konoe becomes the first leader of the Federation from Asia
The current President of the Japan Red
Cross Society (JRCS), Mr. Tadateru Konoe,
was elected as the 15th President of theInternational Federation of Red Cross andRed Crescent Societies (IFRC) in the General
Assembly organized on November 19 inNairobi, Kenya. The inauguration was held
on November 22.

In the election attended by the national Red
Cross and Red Crescent societies (NS) from
186 member countries and areas, 107 votes
went to Mr. Konoe, while Mr. Mario VillaroelLander (President of the Venezuela Red CrossSociety), garnered 70 votes. In the IFRC’s 90year history, Mr. Konoe is the first president
from Asia.

In his speech, the newly elected president
regarded the diversity of the NationalSocieties as strength, so long as NS canretain unity in our action. Konoe urged all
NS to share the "Spirit of Togetherness"by fostering the culture of working as aFederation.
In his new four-year role to promote theRed Cross and Red Crescent Movement,
Mr. Konoe's focus will include relief work innatural disaster, strengthening the healthand hygiene activities, as well as advocating
for humanitarianism and the Movement's
principles in international fora, including atthe United Nations.

The Profile of Mr. Tadateru Konoe© Thomas Omondi/IFRC
Representatives of National Societies congratulated newly elected IFRC President, Mr. Tadateru
Konoe, on his victory: General Assembly of the IFRC in Nairobi, November 19

The 3 Red Cross Red Crescent Movement
The Red Cross, born of a desire to bringassistance without discrimination to thewounded on the battlefield, no matterthey are friends or enemies, endeavors –in its international and national capacity –to prevent and alleviate human suffering
wherever it may be found.
The three components of the Red Cross
Red Crescent Movement, namely, theInternational Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC), the International Federation of RedCross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) andthe national Red Cross and Red Crescentsocieties throughout the world (NS), have amandate to extend humanitarian assistanceand protection on a neutral and impartialbasis.
Although sounding similar, the ICRC and theIFRC are separate legal entities.

The JRCS falls into the last category
as a NS. While the ICRC focuses on theassistance and protection activities
in conflict, NS are predominately
responsible for activities in medical
support and natural disaster at nationallevels. The role to assist, promote andcoordinate the activities of NS is played by aseparate legal entity, the IFRC.
While Japan welcomes the re-establishmentof the ICRC’s office in Tokyo after 60 years,
it is even more encouraging that JRCS
President Konoe has become the Presidentof the IFRC.
These developments reflect the progressive
partnership between the components of
the RC/RC Movement in relation to Japan,
thereby allowing for further promotion ofprinciples and activities in the country.

Mr. Konoe was born on May 8, same date ofbirth as Henry Dunant (the founder of theRed Cross), in 1939. He graduated from theGakushuin University in Tokyo, and furthered
his studies in International Relations at theLondon School of Economics. He joined
the JRCS in 1964 and worked in Geneva
for 8 years. In 2005, Mr. Konoe became thePresident of the JRCS and the Vice Presidentof the IFRC.

International Committeeof the Red Cross

International Federationof Red Cross andRed Crescent Societies

National Societies

ICRC Tokyo Office

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