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VISIT TO GENEVA: 6-7 MARCH 1986
مان ہے
AC PAOL
19.3
Repor
(6) 25th FRE (4) LRCS
1) ICRC-general (d) UNHCR
1. On my way back from the 31st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in Vienna I stopped off in Geneva to familiarise myself with the workings of the various humanitarian organisations based there. I met Mr. Reid, the Head of Information at the League of Red Cross and Crescent Societies (and a former MP), M. Conod of the European Section of the Internaional Committee of the Red Cross, Mr Adams, Director of Appeals and Operations at the ICRC, Mr. Cooper of the Resettlement Section of UNHCR, and Mr. Lyonette,Head of Donor Relations at UNHCR. Unfortunately I was unable to meet anyone from UNdro,
League of Red Cross and Crescent Societies
2
Mr Reid started off by briefly describing the role of the national societies and the League. At the national level Mr Reid saw the function of the Red Cross as five-fold:
(a) the provision of medical facilities not provided by the
state
(b) training
(c) tracing of missing persons
(d) dissemination of information on the Geneva Conventions
and the Additional Protocols
(e) fund-raising.
In essence this means that societies in the developing world had a much more important role to play, particularly in the areas of primary health care and elementary medical and hygeine training, whereas societies in the developped world were essentially reduced to providing first aid and first aid training, and fund-raising activities. Even in this latter they are becoming increasingly redundant and are having to compete with an ever growing plethora of other more specialised fund-raising organisations. He felt that this had led to a feeling of loss in direction in some of the societies of Western Europe and their sinking into ever more 'pop' causes, some of which he thought were totally misguided, such as the British Red Cross Society's appeal for toys for Ethiopian children before Christmas.
3. Mr Reid felt that the role of the League was much more clear cut. It is essentially a co-ordinating body dealing with emergency relief assistance at the international level in non-combat zones. (He said that as a rough guide LRCS deal with relief in peace and ICRC in war). Thus as soon as there was a disaster which overwhelmed the facilities of the national authorities LRCS collected information about the disaster and the needs and relayed them to all national societies. It then collated offers of assistance, be it of money, supplies or trained personnel, and co-ordinated the relief operation.
MK< 243/3. RECEIVED IN KEGISTRY
2 4 MAR 1986
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
DESK OFFICER WDEX
66