© ICRC/GASSMANN, Thierry© ICRC/HOLMES, Jim

NEWSLETTER

Nord Kivu, Pinga. An ICRC employee is
explaining the basic rules of the International
Humanitarian Law to soldiers of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo Armed
Forces.

© ICRC/YAZDI, Pedram© ICRC
Issue No.11 Autumn 2010

ICRC NEWSLETTER

2

victims, as well as shelter items for afurther 343,000 in selected areas. The ICRC
is preparing to help as many as 350,000
people in rebuilding rural livelihoods overthe coming months.

Feature : Israel-Palestine Media Mission 4

And yet, the biggest challenge for the
ICRC remains the ability to work in anenvironment which is also affected byarmed conflict.

- CONTENTS Column
World Field News
* Central Africa / Sudan* Afghanistan* Yemen1

Historical Relationship between Japan and ICRC 6
The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement 7* IFRC President Konoe visits Pakistan* Red Cross Symposium ~African Talks~
Updates from ICRC Tokyo
8* The Official ICRC Japanese Website is now open!
* Challenges in establishing "Humanitarian Space"
By Yoshinobu Nagamine
Head of office
Dear all,Nearly two months have passed since therelief operations in Pakistan commenced
and large parts of the country are still
submerged in flood waters.
The Federation and the ICRC continue toprovide assistance to the flood victims inpartnership with the Pakistan Red Crescent,the former mainly on the east side of theIndus river and the latter on the west. So
far, the ICRC has provided one-month foodrations and hygiene supplies for 575,000

Here, re s tr ic tions imp o s e d b y theauthorities considerably weaken the
ICRC's access to those in need, as wellas its ability to enhance the capacity of
the Red Crescent Society to deliver aid.
Lack of access can also lead to mistrustby the general population, and create
the perception of the ineffectiveness ofhumanitarian organizations. It is therefore
important for the ICRC to emphasize
the impartial and purely humanitarian
nature of its activities so that all parties
understand and accept the aid operations.
We call this ideal condition of working inan environment in which all stakeholders
respect the neutral and impartial natureof humanitarian aid, “humanitarian space”.
How to define and expand humanitarian
space will be the main topic of thesymposium which the ICRC will co-organize
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 5
November 2010. The case study will be
Afghanistan but the discussion should
also provide responses to other current
challenges.
On another topic, ICRC Tokyo is pleased

to announce the setting up of a website
in Japanese language with the generous
assistance of the Japanese Red Cross. It
is part of the JRCS website and can beaccessed under http://www.jrc.or.jp/ICRC
It is our hope that the ICRC website
contributes to the further understandingof our mandate and activities in Japan.
Clearly, information technology also has
potentially harmful effects. Cyber attacks
against power grids, hydroelectric dams or
nuclear power plants may have the samedevastating effect as physical attacks. DoesInternational Humanitarian Law, whichmainly addresses states and armed nonstate actors, apply to these scenarios?
Cyberterrorism will be the topic of aseminar in Beijing on 23 October jointly
organized with the Chinese Society ofInternational Law as an attempt to address
this issue.
It is important that established rules,
principles and procedures are interpreted
coherently by States and other parties.
After all, rules are not there for the sakeof being respected but to protect people
from harm and suffering caused by manmade or natural disasters and emergencies.

World Field News
- Field activities conducted out of 80 operations worldwide -Central African Republic/Sudan : seven children rejoin their families after escaping violence
Seven children have rejoined their families
in Obo (Central African Republic) and South
Sudan with the help of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). They wereseparated from their families several years ago
by the armed violence in the region.
" The children endured immense suffering andmuch of their childhood was taken away fromthem, " says Alexandra Goodlad, head of the
ICRC's office in the east of the Central African
Republic (CAR). An ICRC plane took fourchildren from Obo to Tambura in Southern
Sudan, and then to Juba and Yei, before
returning from Tambura to Obo with threechildren en route to their homes in the CAR.
" Being reunited with their families is a firststep on the long road to recovery, " explained
Goodlad.

David (17) and his younger brother Peter
were abducted in 2008 when an armed
group attacked their village in South Sudan.
The brothers were separated and kept on
the move, crossing first into the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and then into the CAR. "We had to carry heavy loads barefoot throughthe bush every day, " says David. " Anyone
who became too weak would be killed or left
behind without food. I've dreamt so manytimes of the moment when I could finally
go home. " But when David finally managed
to flee he found himself far from home, inthe north east of the CAR. He approached
the Central African Red Cross Society, who
contacted the ICRC. David was taken intocare in Bangui and the search for his family in
Sudan began.

When he returned to Sudan, David discoveredthat Peter had also made it back. " This is anincredible moment for us, " says their elder
brother. " We had given up all hope. We
thought they were both dead. "Restoring family links is one of the priorities of
the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement. Since the beginning of 2010, theICRC and the Central African Red Cross Society
have enabled the exchange of 417 Red Cross
messages and have reunited nine children
with their families. In Sudan, the ICRC and theSudanese Red Crescent Society have carried
more than 10,000 messages and reunited 13
children with their families.

Afghanistan : war casualties soar in Kandahar hospital
Geneva/Kabul (ICRC) – The number of war
casualties taken to Mirwais Regional Hospitalin Kandahar for treatment is hitting record
highs. The hospital, which is supported by
the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC), registered almost twice as many
new patients with weapon-related injuries
in August and September 2010 as during
the same months last year – close to 1,000
compared with just over 500 during the same
period in 2009.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg, as those
who suffer other sorts of injuries or contract
disease as an indirect result of the conflict far
outnumber weapon-wounded patients," said
Reto Stocker, head of the ICRC delegation in
Kabul. Every day, there are mothers who bring
their sick children to hospital too late because
they are afraid to travel or are held up by

roadblocks, and relatives who take patientshome before their treatment is completed.
"The result is that children die from tetanus,
measles and tuberculosis – easily prevented
with vaccines – while women die in childbirthand otherwise strong men succumb to simple
infections," added Mr Stocker.

but the increase in the number of armed
groups is making this much harder for us," said
Mr Stocker. "Nevertheless, because the ICRC
is engaged in dialogue with all parties to theconflict, it hopes to be able to maintain its
presence among the displaced, the detained,
the injured or the otherwise war-affected
people of Afghanistan."

The deteriorating security situation is affecting
the Afghan people in many ways. Last week'sbombing that left eight children dead in
Kandahar, like other serious recent incidents,
is an example of how the conflict keeps on
raging in various parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the multiplication of armed groups
in all parts of Afghanistan is making the tasks
faced by the ICRC all the more daunting. "Ourgreatest challenge consists in maintaining
access to the areas hardest hit by the fighting,© ICRC/POWELL, Jan
Operating theatre, Mirwais Hospital, Kandahar.

New customary IHL database
The results of research on customary humanitarian law conducted in 2005 are now available
in database form. The new database provides rapid access to the rules of customary IHL andenables users to examine practice around the world. Regular updates will include further
examples of national practice.
Part 1. Rules offers a comprehensive analysis of the customary rules of international
humanitarian law identified by the Study and considered to be applicable in internationaland non-international armed conflicts.
Part 2. Practice provides a summary of relevant state practice including military manuals, legislation, case-law and official statements, as well aspractice of international organizations, conferences and judicial and quasi-judicial bodies.
You can access the database on the ICRC website:
Home > Humanitarian law > Treaties and customary law > New customary IHL database

2

Yemen : ICRC and YRCS help people displaced by fighting in the south
Supplying clean water© ICRC
Azzan, Shabwa governorate. Over 4,300 IDPs who had fled the nearby city of al-Hota because of fighting
are benefiting from 89,000 litres of water per day.

The fighting that erupted in the end of
September 2010 in southern Yemen has
forced thousands out of their homes. In thenorth of the country, thousands more remain
dependent on humanitarian aid. The ICRC
is working with the Yemen Red CrescentSociety (YRCS) to supplying urgently needed
assistance.
In Yemen's south-eastern governorate of
Shabwa, thousands fled the city of al-Hota insearch of a safe haven as fighting involving
government forces and armed groups
intensified in the end of September, leaving
their homes, belongings and livestock behind.
"In no time at all, thousands of men, womenand children found themselves leaving
their homes with no idea where to go," said
Myriam El Kholi, head of the ICRC's Aden
sub-delegation. Although many joined
their relatives in nearby areas, others had
no relatives to help them. Seeing that thedisplaced had no one to turn to, local people
took them into their homes, even though they
had little themselves.

© ICRC/A. Al-Noobah
Bani Sureym, Amran governorate. Joint ICRC/YRCS
teams distribute two-month food rations to nearly
2,100 IDPs from the district of Harf Sufyan (Amrangovernorate) and Sa’ada governorate.

Fighting seems to have calmed down now.
Some of those who fled are starting to return
home, but many others hesitate, not knowing
what the future holds.
The ICRC has been following the situationin the governorate of Shabwa with great
concern. The organization will continue tomonitor the situation in close cooperation with
the YRCS, to get a clearer picture of potential
needs.
Meanwhile, in the northern governorates ofSa'ada and Amran, thousands of displaced
persons affected by fighting over a numberof years are also reluctant to return to theirhomes. Not knowing whether their houses
are still intact, some have decided to continue
living with relatives and friends, or in camps
managed by the YRCS in Sa'ada governorate.
The fasting month of Ramadan and the Eid
festivities that followed were particularly
tough for them as it was often difficult to finda decent meal to break the fast.
Most of the families who had fled the old cityof Sa'ada have returned, although some arestill living in tents or with relatives. A numberof these "returnees" have lost their sourcesof revenue and most of their belongings, andremain dependent on humanitarian assistancefrom the ICRC and the YRCS.
In the governorate of Sa'ada, the ICRC and the
YRCS are continuing to help displaced persons
in six camps and elsewhere in the governorate.
In the northern part of Amran governorate,
the two organizations have distributed foodto thousands of displaced persons in the areasof Houth, Bani Sureym, Khamer, Rayda andKhaiwan al-Hamra, to tide them over until they
are able to support themselves again.

l supplied a total of 89,000 litres of water
per day (more than 20 litres per person
per day) to over 4,300 displaced persons
through 16 newly constructed water
points in Azzan, Shabwa governorate, inthe south west of the country;
l finished repairing a rural water network
in Aal Hamati, Sa'ada governorate,ensuring that 1,500 residents have cleanwater;
l is supplying diesel to the Sa'ada Water
Board, providing 80,000 residents andreturnees with clean water;l continued to supply the 10,000-strong
camp population in Sa'ada governorate
with clean drinking water and adequate
sanitation facilities;
l continued delivering water to morethan 2,800 displaced persons located in
the area of Aal Thabet (Qataber district,north-west of Sa'ada city) who are living
in precarious conditions;l finished building six water points
in Hawazat and Harf Sufyan (Amrangovernorate), which are presently
supplying 7,400 displaced persons andresidents with water; etc.

Food and other essential
items
l distributed one-month food rations to
16,000 displaced persons and residents in
the governorate of Sa'ada;l supplied basic household items to over
8,000 displaced persons and residents in
Sa'ada and Amran governorates;
l ensured that nearly 11,500 internallydisplaced persons and residents in Houth,
Bani Sureym, Khamer, Rayda and Khaiwan
al-Hamra (in the northern part of Amrangovernorate) received one-month foodrations.

Health carel donated sufficient medical supplies toal-Jumhuiya Hospital in Aden City to treat
50 casualties;
l continued to support 11 YRCS healthcare facilities in Sa'ada governorate,
which held over 6,000 consultations;l supported Khaiwan al-Hamra andKhaiwan al-Medina medical facilities(Amran governorate), which together
held more than 1,200 consultations;l working in cooperation with the Yemen
Red Crescent Society and the Ministryof Health and Population, started firstaid training for 40 ambulance drivers
and paramedics from Aden's Ministryo f H e al t h a n d f r o m s u r r o un d i n ggovernorates in the south of the country;etc.

3Israel-Palestine Media Mission Report
Israel and the occupied territories: Media Mission Report
Hitomi MAKABEICRC Tokyo OfficeCommunication Officer

The ICRC is active in more than 80 countries
throughout the world, with its longestrunning operations taking place in Israel andthe Occupied Territories. Since the 1967 ArabIsraeli War, the ICRC has been deploying
assistance and protection in its usual impartial
and neutral manner to help those affectedby the conflict to live with as much dignity as
possible.
For about a week in early August, I visited
Israel and its Occupied Territories jointly withICRC Beijing communication officer. There, we
conducted a field trip with both Japanese andChinese media professionals, who are based in
Jerusalem. Together with them, I could have afirsthand look at several projects implemented
by the ICRC in the inhabited area of the WestBank and to listen to the experiences ofcolleagues working in the field.
The projects handled by the ICRC in the WestBank may not be spectacular, but most ofthem are long-term, implying close contact
with people and a sustained response to the
local needs. For a country in peace like Japan,
fortunately we do not have to face situations
requiring such protection or assistanceactivities. However, in Israel and the Occupied
Territories, "the ICRC for when you need
protection and assistance under situations ofviolence" is a firmly established reflex.
Based on my observations during the media
mission, I will attempt to convey a sense ofwhat the situation is like at the local level
as well as to highlight the various projects
managed by the ICRC and the Palestinian Red
Crescent Society.
Harsh conditions in "Area C"
Living without threats to human dignity isdifficult for the Palestinians in the Occupied
Territories, especially in the region called "AreaC" in the West Bank. Encompassing more thanhalf of the West Bank area, "Area C" includes
Israeli settlements, is under the civilian andmilitary control of Israel, and movements inthis area are highly restricted. In many cases,
the occupants of the area have to take adetour in order to avoid checkpoints andbarricades, thus spending much more timethan they should to reach their destinations.
Ambulances run by the Palestine Red CrescentSociety are not an exception as there havebeen cases when patients died during
4© ICRCIn front of the ICRC office in Tulkarm: Palestinians holding pictures of imprisoned relatives calling for
information about whether they are safe or not, and Japanese and Chinese media gathering materials

transport or when pregnant women havegiven birth at the checkpoints while waitingfor permission to pass.
Hebron: a city under siege
In the West Bank area, the place where thelevel of tension between Israeli settlers andPalestinians seemed highest was a city locatedin the south: Hebron. There, more checkpoints
exist than in any other city I visited. Although
the ICRC has good relations with the local
authorities, our vehicle was stopped several
times; on occasion we were made to wait along time inside the vehicle. The Palestinians
must pass through this kind of checkpoints
even when they go out to buy their daily food.
They are also frequently harassed by settlers
during these trips. In the old part of the city,
everything was shuttered, and I saw almost
nobody on the streets. Several shops had beenclosed down by the Israeli army; the economy
is in a state of depletion and nothing is done
to restrain poverty.
According to a study conducted by the ICRC
last summer, among the people living in
the old part of the town where moves are
restricted, 86% are poverty-stricken. Each
person has less than 100 yen to cover one
month's clothing, food and housing expenses.
Through a project aimed at enhancing selfreliance, the ICRC is providing them withrabbits, seeds for planting, training, facilities,
etc as many Palestinians earn their living
by doing agriculture or stockbreeding. In
addition, a project called "cash-for-work"
aims at generating employment involving therestoration and maintenance of roads and theinstallation of irrigation pipes to ensure accessto the fields and a bigger harvest.
Lives affected by violence and loss of freedom
In the Occupied Territories, many Palestinians
say that they live their lives afraid of threats
and violence from Jewish settlers. Following
the second Intifada during September 2000,
the Israeli army has been able to occupy once
again most parts of the West Bank area by
2002. With the stated intention of protecting
their country, the Israelis set up checkpoints
and separation barriers in various places andincreased the frequency of army patrols.
The Palestinians living in Area C of the WestBank are not authorised to build their houses
with a free hand. In fact, in the West Bank area
and East Jerusalem, within a 3-month span thisyear, not less than 14 houses were demolishedby the Israeli authorities. Still, with the increasein population, many Palestinians continue
to construct or extend their houses withoutbuilding permits in this area, while being
prepared that they may be demolished oneday. This instability affects family structures; for© ICRCThe ICRC’s flood countermeasure project (Qalqilliya)

example it may be difficult for young couples
to live with their parents.
ICRC initiatives to ensure safe water
In Israel and the Occupied Territories, water is a
precious resource. "The Israelis and Palestinians
have been quarrelling over land. The fight overwater is also a serious problem here" said alocal resident. Actually, when I visited the ICRC
Sub-delegation in Hebron, no water came out
when I flushed the toilet. "This kind of thingoften happens" said a colleague with a shrug.
After my field visit when I returned to the subdelegation, enough water had been saved sothat we could use the toilet again.
Since the installation of new reservoirs inorder to collect water is prohibited, the ICRC
provides portable water storage tanks for the
inhabitants of Hebron suffering from a serious
lack of water. However, these tanks become
empty within one week. In order to lessen theburdens in an already difficult life, the ICRC
supports the installation of water storage
facilities and equipment so that the people
can enjoy safe drinking water. In the South of
Nablus, a large-scale supply system is underconstruction, which will provide safe water toabout 35,000 people in 11 villages.
Speaking of water, the ICRC project also
includes flood countermeasures. The cityof Qalqilliya, where agriculture is a major
activity, was hit in 2005 by heavy rainfall. The
water could not drain away because of theseparation wall, which resulted in flooding.
The ICRC employed 1,100 local people
and allocated about 80 million yen for theconstruction of a drainage canal. In the coming
years, approximately 180 farms will benefit
from the existence of the canal.
ICRC prison visits
The ICRC, whose independent and neutral
character facilitates approval to visit places ofdetention, is monitoring the treatment andliving conditions of the prisoners held by boththe Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
From January to March of this year, the ICRC
conducted almost 90 prison visits and visited
about 1,600 detainees. Clearly, the numberof detainees is exceeding the capacity of theprisons. The people of Nablus employ grim
humour at this situation: "When something
new is built in this town, it's not a university
nor a school, but a prison!" The ICRC office inJerusalem arranges for buses and organises
visitation tours to several prisons everyday
so that the immediate family members of thedetainees can meet their loved ones. Other
relatives can maintain communication withthe detainees through Red Cross messages.
Confidential discussionswith stakeholders
The ICRC periodically holds rounds of talks withthe authorities in both Israel and Palestine, as

LEBANON
GOLAN

Majdel Shams

SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

Jenin
Tulkarm

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Qalqilliya
Tel Aviv

Tubas
Nablus
SalfitRamallah

WEST BANKJERUSALEM
Gaza

JerichoJORDAN

Abu DisBethlehem

GAZA STRIP

HebronKhan Yunis

OCCUPIEDPALESTINIANTERRITORYISRAELEGYPTSAUDI ARABIAICRC delegation

ICRC sub-delegation

ICRC mission

ICRC office

ICRC prosthetic /orthotic centre

In Israel and the Occupied Territories, the ICRC has 17 operational sites including the Orthopaedic Centre
which provides prosthetic limbs. ICRC delegations are located in Tel Aviv, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron andGaza. The ICRC Jerusalem office, where the media mission took place, is the operational base for the ICRC
in the West Bank area

well as people possessing influence to improve
the situation. During these discussions, theICRC insists on the necessity of preserving the
dignity of citizens.
More than half of the Palestinians live in theWest Bank area. As Israel is an occupying
power, it has the obligation under International
Humanitarian Law to treat civilians humanely
at all times. For instance, violence ordestruction to the private property of civilians
who are not participating in hostilities mustcease. The ICRC delegation in Tel Aviv also
holds talks with government organisations
and the Israeli Defense Forces in order to findsolutions which are acceptable under IHL.
Said a resident when asked if he could
envisage tranquillity coming back to the area:"We see almost no glimpse of hope. But we doour best to live our daily life."
The troubled living conditions are not the only

issue. In a situation where the dignity of humanbeings is not protected, what is a life without
hope? Thus among other considerations, theICRC and similar organisations, as well as theinternational community, must continue to becognisant of the suffering of civilians in this,and other regions of the world.

© ICRC
Rabbits provided as part of the self-reliancesupport project (Hebron)

Under international humanitarian law…
As the occupying power, Israel has an obligation to treat the civilian population humanely at all
times. It must allow the natural growth of the West Bank's population and economy and mustensure that Palestinians have adequate access to water and health care. It must also refrain fromany requisition of, destruction of, or damage to property belonging to civilians not required byimperative military necessity. The law specifically prohibits the transfer of the occupier’s civilian
population into the territory it occupies. Finally, the West Bank Barrier is contrary to IHL, in as far
as it deviates from the "green line" (the Armistice Line of 1949) into occupied territory.

5

Historical Relationship between Japan and the ICRC
A new historical series about Japan-ICRC relationshipJapan Taking the First step for "International Humanity"
Accession to the Geneva Conventions
With persuasion from the Japanese Red Cross,in 1886 the Japanese government decided
to sign the Geneva Convention, also known
as "the Red Cross Convention", which defines
the treatment of those wounded or captured
during military conflict. The Convention not
only marks the beginning of the humanitarianprinciples of the Red Cross, but it is also thevery basis of the other Geneva Conventions

which follow. It was the two Siebold brothers(the sons of Dr. Philipp Siebold who wasrenowned for having introduced Western
medicine to Tokugawa Japan) who were
instrumental in this process. Japan therefore
officially became a member of the Red Cross
Movement, and by acceding to the Geneva
Convention, Japan took its first step towards
participation in international humanitarianassistance.

First Asian country to participate in Conference
Following approval by the International
Committee, in 1887 the Japanese Red
Cross participated in the 4th International
Conference of the International Red Cross and
Red Crescent Movement held in Karlsruhe,
Germany. This Conference is the supreme
deliberative body of the Movement andJapan was warmly welcomed as the first Asian
country to participate.

Japanese - Sino War and Japanese - Russo WarFirst assistance in conflict
The first assistance in conflict by the Japanese
Red Cross happened during the Sino-Japanese
war in 1894, when a medical team offered aid.
With the report of the outbreak of the war,
the Japanese Red Cross immediately urged
the government to conclude an agreementwith China concerning the protection of the
injured (at the time, China had not yet signed
the Geneva Conventions). Although it was
unable to fulfill this request, the government

confirmed its respect for the principles of the
Geneva Conventions and gave permission
to the Japanese Red Cross to commit torelief activities. Though it had only been 19
years since the foundation of Hakuai-sha (thePhilanthropic Society, which later became theJapanese Red Cross), 70,000 people assisted
in the relief efforts. This successful assistanceon the part of the Japanese Red Cross was
widely recognised both domestically andinternationally as a commitment to the© JRCS

principles of the Geneva Conventions as well
as a notable contribution to the humanitarianspirit of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement.
Medical assistance during the Russo-Japanese War
The year 1904 marked the outbreak of the
Russo-Japanese War. The Japanese Red Cross,whose performance in the Sino-Japanese War
was widely recognised, received a requestfrom the Japanese government to sendassistance to the field. In response, the Red
Cross sent 152 aid teams as well as 5170 staff
to Manchuria, Korea and Japan to work mainly
in military hospitals. In addition, two medical
ships, the "Hakuai-maru" and "Kosai-maru"
were active in both Continental Asia and inJapan, and also contributed to the transportof Russian internees. Japan and Russia wereboth members of the Geneva Convention
and the two countries worked together inhumanitarian activities. At that time, ICRC
couldn't set up the delegation in Japan for thegeographical reason. So, it encouraged Red
Cross societies of other countries to support
Japanese Red Cross Society's mission and send
the support fund to JRC.

The crew of the sunken battleship Rurik being treated at the Sasebo hospital.
Reference : "Jindou – Sono Ayumi Nihon Sekijujisha Hyakunenshi", Japanese Red Cross, 1979.
Tadao Inoue, "Sensou to Kyusai no Bunmeishi", PHP kenkyusyo, 2003.
"Nihon Sekijuji Souritsu 125 shunen kinen shi", Japanese Red Cross, 2002.
"Nihon Sekijuji Souritsu 130 shunen kinen shi", Japanese Red Cross, 2007.

1863 Establishment of the International Committee forRelief to the Wounded1877 the battles of the Southwestern Rebellion
Establishment of Philanthropic Society

1864 Signing on the First Geneva Convention

1886 Signing of the Secomd Geneva Convention

1867 The first Red Cross International Conference Paris

1887 Renamed JRCS Joined in ICRC

1941 the Pacific War
1942 Establishment of representative office of ICRC in
Japan
1945 Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

World Expo

1894 Japanese-Sino War

1871 Iwakura Mission

1904 Japanese-Russo War

1873 Vienna World Expo Meeting of Iwakura Mission

1914 World War 1

1949 Establishment of Four Geneva Conventions

and Moynier, the Chairman of the International

1919 Establishment of IFRC

1953 Accedence of Japan to four Geneva Conventions

Committee for Relief to the Wounded.

1920 Three JRCS nurses receive prized Nightingale

1977 Establishment of two Protocols

1876 Renamed the International Committee of Red
Cross

Medal
1931 Manchurian Incident
1937 Sino-Japanese War

6

1939 World War 2

War’s end

2004 Accedence of Japan to two Protocols
2009 Establishment of Japan Office of ICRCThe Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement- JRCS activities as a part of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement -IFRC President Konoe visits flood-affected areas of Pakistan
The record floods that struck Pakistan in July
– August 2010 continue to take a massive tollon the country's population, particularly onrural communities and remote regions alreadyreeling from armed violence.
In fact, the scale of the damage and impact
on the population - over 20 million victims
and 1.9 million collapsed houses - has been
estimated as being much larger than that of
the Haiti earthquake (2 million victims) and theNorthern Sumatra earthquake (approximately
430,000 collapsed houses).

Charsadda (to the north-west of Pakistan),which was damaged severely by the floods,
he pointed out that "flooded houses andfields are still covered with mud. Unless theselayers of thick mud are removed, they cannot
reconstruct houses and restart agriculture. I amvery worried about the health of the people
in shelters. What are essential for victims now
include not only immediate relief items suchas water, food and medical care, but also long-term support."
President Konoe appealed to the international
community for some 6.3 billion Japanese
yen for long-term recovery initiatives suchas medical care, water supply and sanitation.
IFRC will assist in supporting temporary
housing and rehabilitation for 130,000 families;
however, there is a shortfall of approximately
1500 million yen.

As of October 2010, the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies of some 37 countries,
including Japan, have cooperated with the
Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in
providing emergency support intended fornearly a million people.
The JRCS supplied 14.500 plastic sheets,
25,000 blankets and 2,000 kitchen sets (worth
40 million yen including transport charges). In
August and September, the JRCS dispatched
doctors, nurses, and administrators, a few ofwhom worked together with a medical teamorganised by the French Red Cross Society.
IFRC President Konoe made an assessment
visit to the devastated areas in Pakistanfrom 29 September to 1st October. While in© Paula Alvarado/IFRC
IFRC President Konoe being briefed on the needs of people affected by the severe floods.

The 24th Red Cross Symposium'The Red Cross Symposium' has been a part of'NHK Helping Hands Campaign' co-organizedby the Japanese Red Cross and NHK since
1987.
This year, the focus of the humanitarianassistance discussions will be on Africa, wheresome areas continue to be affected by politicalinstability and natural disasters, thus increasing
the vulnerability of women, children and othergroups.

Date and Time : 2010 November 23 (Tuesday, Holiday) 14:30 – 16:30 (open at 14:00)
Venue : Omotesando Hills, main building B3F Space O
4-12-10, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
Organized by Japanese Red Cross and NHK
Guests : Coordinator / Katsuhiko Hibino (Artist)
Panelists / Makoto Katsumata (Professor of Meiji Gakuin University, Department of International Studies)
Izumi Mori (Model, TV personality)
Mango Sakaki (Musician)Field Reporter / Maki Igarashi (Japanese Red Cross Kenya Office)On Air on TV (planned date) : December 4th, Educational TV, 16:00-17:00 "TV Symposium"(there may be changes in date)
For any inquiries, contact the following : Japanese Red Cross International Department Planningand Coordination Division TEL. 03-3437-7087
7

Updates From ICRC Tokyo- Reports on Tokyo activity -ICRC Japanese Website is now open!
The ICRC's Japanese-language website waslaunched on 1st October, with the supportof the Japanese Red Cross Society. It canbe accessed via the JRCS's website at thefollowing address:
http://www.jrc.or.jp/ICRC/This website contains the facts and figures
regarding the ICRC's role and mandate; as wellas its presence, activities and programmes inJapan and the other countries. In addition,
readers will be able to obtain the latest
information about events, ICRC recruitment
procedures and so on.
We invite readers to provide feedback on thewebsite so that we can constantly strive toenhance its usefulness and relevance. Should
you have any questions or requests, pleasecontact us at the ICRC Tokyo office.

Humanitarian Assistance Seminar- Challenge to Humanitation Space -The 2nd annual seminar on Humanitarian
Assistance co-organized by the ICRC andJapanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will beheld on Friday, November 5th in Tokyo.
Participants of the seminar will discuss how
through assistance activities in conflictsituations, a kind of "Humanitarian Space" canbe created. Afghanistan will be a special focus
of discussion. Representatives of Ministries
and organizations such as the ICRC and theUN, as well as NGOs who play an active role in
the frontline of the humanitarian assistance,
will be invited to share their knowledge andexperience.
From the ICRC, Mr Tobias Epprecht, Head of
the Kuala Lumpur Regional Delegation (whichis also in charge of the Tokyo Office) as well as
Mr Jacques de Maio, the Head of Operationfor South Asia, will be present. Formerly the
Deputy Head of the Protection Division at ICRC
Headquarters in Geneva, Jacques de Maio has
field experience in conflict areas in more than
11 different countries such as Afghanistan,
Pakistan, and Uganda.

Date and Time
November 5th, 2010 (Friday)
14:00-17:30 (the hall opens at 13:30)
Venue
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Northern International Conference Hall)
Panelists
Tobias Epprecht / Head of Regional Delegation, ICRC Kuala Lumpur
Rika Yamamoto / Chief of Operations, Peace Winds, Japan
Johan Cels / UNHCR Representative in Japan
Seema Ghani / Former Deputy Minister of Finance and Managing Director,
Khorasan Charity Organization, Afghanistan
Kenji Isezaki / Professor of the Graduate School of Area and Culture Studies, Tokyo
University of Foreign Studies, Japan
Timothy Pitt / Head of Office, UNOCHA Afghanistan
Jacques de Maio / ICRC Head of Operations for South Asia
Moderator
Yukie Osa / Chairperson of Association for Aid and Relief,Japan and Co-Director of Japan Platform
For more details, contact
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emergency / Humanitarian Assistance Division (Muraki, Kasai)
Tel: 03-3580-3311

The ICRC's Mission Statement
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organisation whose 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.
The ICRC also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.
Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It directs
and coordinates the international activities conducted by the Movement in armed conflicts and other situations of violence.

ICRC Tokyo Office

La Piazzolla 6F, 2-9-3 Higashi-Shimbashi
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0021 Japan
TEL：+81(0)3-6459-0750 / FAX：+81(0)3-6459-0751
Website：http://www.jrc.or.jp/ICRC/

Website：http://www.jrc.or.jp