Ra 1970 Eng

I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O M M I T T E E OF T H E RED C R O S S
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(1 9 7 0 eng) b XNNUAL REPORT 1970

ANNUAL
REPORT
1970
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
OF THE RED CROSS
GENEVA 1971
BIBLIOTHEQUE DU CICR
17, av. de la Paix, 1211 GENEVE
tél. 022/34 60 01 int. 2424
Prêt limité à 1 mois
Prolongation possible PAR ECRIT
DATE DE RESTITUTION
• 5 2
IN T E R N A T IO N A L COM M ITTEE O F T H E R E D CROSS
7, avenue de la Paix, G EN EV A, Switzerland
P rin te d in S w itz e rla n d
This Report is published in French, English, Spanish and German

3é ¿ .-(S 4 (U 3
REPORT
1970
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
OF THE RED CROSS
BIBLIOTHEQUE-CICR
19, AV. DE LA PAIX
lono <~
GENEVA 1971
IN T E R N A T IO N A L C O M M ITTE E OF TH E RED C R O SS
M a rc e l A . N A V IL L E , P re sid e n t (m e m be r s in c e 1967)
H a n s B A C H M A N N , D o c to r o f Law s, W in te rth u r S ta d tra t, V ic e -P re s id e n t (1958)
J a c q u e s F R E Y M O N D , D o c to r o f L itera ture , D ire c to r o f th e G ra d u a te In s titu te o f In te rn a tio n a l

S tu d ies, P ro fe s s o r at th e U n ive rsity o f Geneva, V ic e -P re s id e n t (1959)
M a rtin B O D M E R , H on. D o c to r o f P h ilo s o p h y (1940)
P a u l R U E G G E R , A m b a ssa d o r, P re sid e n t o f th e IC R C fro m 1948 to 1955 (1948)
R o d o lfo O L G IA T I, H on. D o c to r o f M edicine, D ire c to r o f th e D on S u is s e fro m 1944 to 1948

(1949)
G u illa u m e B O R D IE R , C e rtific a te d Engineer E.P.F., M .B .A . H arvard, B anker (1955)
D ie tric h S C H IN D L E R , D o c to r o f Law s, P ro fe s s o r at th e U n ive rsity o f Z u ric h (1961)
H a n s M E U L I, D o c to r o f M edicine, B riga d e C olo n el, D ire c to r o f th e S w is s A rm y M edical

S e rvice fro m 1946 to 1960 (1961)
M a rjo rie D U V IL L A R D , n urse (1961)
M a x P E T IT P IE R R E , D o c to r o f Law s, fo rm e r P re sid e n t o f th e S w is s C on fe d e ra tio n (1961)
A d o lp h e G R A E D E L , m em ber o f th e S w iss N a tio n a l C o u n c il fro m 1951 to 1963, fo rm e r S ecre

ta ry-G e n e ral o f th e In te rn a tio n a l M etal W o rk e rs F e d e ra tio n (1965)
D e n is e B IN D S C H E D L E R - R O B E R T , D o c to r o f Law s, P ro fe s s o r at th e G ra d u ate In s titu te

o f In te rn a tio n a l S tu d ie s (1967)
J a c q u e s F. d e R O U G E M O N T , D o c to r o f M e d icin e (1967)
R o g e r G A L L O P IN , D o c to r o f Law s, fo rm e r D ire c to r-G e n e ra l (1967)
J e a n P IC T E T , D o c to r o f Law s, C ha irm an o f th e Legal C o m m is s io n (1967)
W a ld e m a r J U C K E R , D o c to r o f Laws, S ecretary, U nion s yn d ica le s u is s e (1967)
H a ra ld H U B E R T , D o c to r o f Law s, Federal C o u rt Ju d g e (1969)
V ic to r H . U M B R IC H T , D o c to r o f Laws, M anaging D ire c to r (1970)
H o n o ra ry m e m b e rs: M r. J a c q u e s C H E N E V IÈ R E , H o n o ra ry V ic e -P re s id e n t: M iss Lu cie

O D IE R , H on o ra ry V ic e -P re s id e n t; M essrs. C arl J . B U R C K H A R D T , P a u l C A R R Y , M rs.
M a rg u e rite G A U T IE R - V A N B E R C H E M , M essrs. S a m u e l A . G O N A R D , É douard de
H A L L E R , P a u l L O G O Z , Fré d é ric S IO R D E T , A lfre d o V A N N O T T I , A d o lf V IS C H E R .
D ire c to ra te : Mr. J e a n -L o u is LE F O R T , S e creta ry-G e ne ra l.

R a y m o n d C O U R V O IS IE R , S pecial A s s is ta n t to th e P re s id e n t and D ire c to r
o f O p e ra tio n s.
Mr. C la u d e P IL L O U D , D ire cto r, D e p a rtm e n t o f P rin c ip le s and Law.
I. OPERAT IONS
A fric a
The first event of note in Africa in 1970 was the end of the conflict
in Nigeria and next the opening of tw o permanent ICRC regional dele
gations, on which the ICRC decided, on 9 April, in Yaoundé, for West
Africa, and in Addis Ababa, for East Africa. Questions relating to North
Africa, southern Africa and Portuguese territories in Africa, continue to
be dealt w ith from Geneva.
W EST AFR IC A
END OF ICRC M IS S IO N IN N IG ER IA
Following the events of 10 and 11 January 1970, which resulted

in the cessation of fighting in Nigeria, the ICRC took the follow ing
measures :
On 11 January it sent Dr. Edwin Spirgi to Libreville and on the
same day its medical teams in the secessionist areas of Nigeria were
transferred to Libreville and Sâo Tomé. Only one medical team, made
available by the French Red Cross, continued to tend the sick in the
A w o Omamma Hospital until the end of the month.
The head of the ICRC delegation in Lagos asked the Federal M ili
tary Government to apply the 1949 Geneva Conventions and to ensure
the protection of the civilian population.
On 12 January, the ICRC convened in Geneva a meeting of repre
sentatives of the ICRC, the League of Red Cross Societies, the churches,
the International Union for Child Welfare and UNICEF. After that meet
ing, the ICRC and the League jointly cabled an offer of assistance to
the Government and the Red Cross of Nigeria. The ICRC planned, in
particular, to forward to Nigeria the 6,000 tons of stores in Cotonou,
Dahomey. A further 5,000 tons of foodstuffs stored in its godowns
in Port Harcourt, Enugu, Aba, Uyo, Lagos, Koko and Calabar were also
available for distribution.
The follow ing day, Mr. Enrico Bignami, the ICRC President's Spe
cial Representative to the Nigerian authorities, and Mr. Georg H off
5
mann, ICRC Delegate-General for Africa, flew to Lagos. They suggested
to the Nigerian authorities an airlift between Cotonou and Uli, or
Cotonou and Obilago, or Cotonou and llohia. This w ould have enabled
relief to be forwarded rapidly to the stricken areas. The ICRC had at
Cotonou tw o C97 aircraft lent by the Government of the USA and one
Transall lent by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany,
ready to resume, if authorized, the airlift which had been interrupted
in June 1969.
However, few flights occurred between Cotonou and Lagos, and
Lagos and Enugu, between 19 and 25 January, to take food and emer
gency medical supplies. In addition, on 18 and 19 January, tw o air
craft on charter to the ICRC left Switzerland for Lagos w ith some
17 tons of medical supplies.
Before returning to Geneva on 4 February, Mr. Hoffmann obtained
authorization to visit the stricken areas. One of the places he visited
was the A w o Omamma Hospital where a Swiss Red Cross team had
taken over from the French.
On 5 February, in plenary session, the ICRC decided to put an
end to its relief w ork in Nigeria. This decision was communicated to
the press as follow s :
" The c iv il w a r in Nigeria is n o w ended. That does n o t mean, how ever,

th a t th is g lo o m y page o f A frica n h isto ry has been turned. The secessionist zone
enclave being c u t o ff from the outside w o rld , th e effe ct o f th e w a r on the
civilia n p o p u la tio n w as p a rticu la rly deadly and tim e w ill n o t q u ic k ly obliterate
th e suffering o f th e victim s o f th is te rrib le drama.
From th e outset both parties recognized the IC R C ’s role as a neutral in te r
m ediary and assured it o f th e ir determ in a tion to respect th e Geneva C on ve n
tio n s. For the first tim e in A frica , th e Federal M ilita ry G overnm ent d re w up
and issued to th e troo p s a code o f co n d u c t based on th e principles o f those
C onventions.
As early as J u ly 1967 and th ro u g h o u t th e c o n flic t th e ICRC w o rke d in the
territories o f bo th parties to th e w a r to carry o u t th e duties in cu m b e n t on it
under the Geneva C o n ve n tion s: prisoners o f w a r w ere v is ite d ; hundreds o f
personal messages w ere fo rw a rd e d from one side o f th e fro n t to th e other
th ro u g h th e Central Tracing A g e n c y ; th e w o u n d e d and sick on both sides
were given m edical care.
C o ncom itantly, g o in g beyond the norm al scope o f its duties under th e Geneva
C onventions, th e ICRC set up one o f th e largest relief org a n iza tio n s in Red
Cross history. This w as made necessary by th e g ro w in g needs in fo o d and
m edical supplies o f th e civilia n pop ulatio n s. The operations deve lo pe d in spite
o f d iffic u ltie s , thanks to th e assistance o f governm ents, N a tio n a l Red Cross
Societies, governm ental and private agencies and a great num ber o f in d ivid u a l
6
donations. In th is respect th e ICRC makes a p o in t o f expressing its g ratitude
to all w h o co -o p e ra te d in its action, and o f paying trib u te to the delegates and
p ilo ts w h o lost th e ir lives w h ils t on operations.
No less th a n 12 0 ,0 0 0 to n s o f fo o d s tu ffs and m edical supplies w ere p ro
vid e d by th e IC R C ; 9 1 ,0 0 0 to n s in Federal te rrito ry— p a rticu la rly in those
regions near the fig h tin g areas w h e re refugees and w a r victim s w ere nu m e r
ous— and 29 ,00 0 to n s in th e form er secessionist area. The relief consisted o f
fo o d s tu ffs , m edical supplies and equ ip m e n t to a value o f alm ost 5 00 m illio n
Sw iss francs. Expenses fo r personnel— delegates, doctors, specialists, local
em ployees and labourers, num bering at one tim e as m any as 1 ,8 20 — am ounted
to alm ost 50 m illio n francs.
This personnel w as essential fo r th e fo rw a rd in g and d istrib u tio n o f supplies,
fo r th e sm ooth operation o f the ICRC's m edical program m e and fo r th e run n in g
o f hospitals set up by th e International C om m ittee in th e stricken region and
w h ic h c o n tin u e d th e ir w o rk th ro u g h o u t.
These efforts as a w h o le provided d a ily assistance to alm ost a m illio n people
in federal te rrito ry and alm ost a m illio n and a half in th e secessionist area
th ro u g h 9 09 d is trib u tio n centres dispersed th ro u g h o u t th e territory.
To carry o u t th e m edical program m e, co nsistent w ith th e First Geneva
C onve n tion , th e ICRC, as early as th e sum m er o f 1967, sent surgical teams
to both sides o f th e fro n t. By th e end o f Ju n e 1 969 it w as c o -o rd in a tin g the
w o rk o f 45 m edical teams on loan from various charitable agencies and National
Red Cross Societies. It set up five hospitals, an orth o p a e d ic w o rksh o p and
53 sickbays. W ith assistance from local Red Cross sections, its va ccin a tio n
cam paign had, by th e b e g in ning o f 1970, enabled 2,524,411 persons to be
in o cu la ted against sm allpox, 893,131 against measles and 2 4 6 ,5 8 6 against
tuberculosis.
In Ju n e 1969, fo r reasons w h ic h it is n o t fo r the ICRC to ju d g e , th e Federal
M ilita ry G overnm ent's a ttitu d e changed. F o llo w in g th e sh o o ting d o w n o f a
Sw edish aircraft on a m ercy flig h t under ICRC co n tro l and responsibility, and
w h e n th e Nigerian G overnm ent no longer tolerated n ig h t flig h ts to th e form er
secessionist area, th e In ternational C om m ittee decided to d isco n tin ue its n ig h t
a irlift.
Being b o und by th e Geneva C onventions and as it w as also w o rk in g in
Nigeria fo r th e be n efit o f th e p o p u la tio n in o ccupied territory, th e ICRC had
no alternative b u t to negotiate w ith b o th parties to try to reach an agreem ent
on an a irlift d u ring d a ylig h t. U n fo rtu n a te ly the belligerents co u ld n o t agree on
practical arrangem ents fo r such flig h ts.
On 30 Ju n e 1969 th e Federal M ilita ry G overnm ent decided to transfer from
th e ICRC to the Nigerian Red Cross th e role o f co -o rd in a to r fo r relief actions
in federal territory. Thanks to large scale te ch nical assistance w h ic h had been
provided fo r several years by Scandinavian Red Cross Societies, th e Nigerian
Red Cross w as able to w o rk th ro u g h o u t the w h o le territory.
A t th e request o f th e Nigerian authorities, how ever, th e transfer to o k place
o n ly on 30 Septem ber 1969. The ICRC th e n handed over to the Nigerian Red
Cross alm ost 20,000 to n s o f equ ip m e n t and stores stocked near th e fron t, in te r
alia at Enugu, Calabar, Port H arcourt and Koko. It also handed over m edical
supplies and loaned 98 vehicles, ships, in fla ta ble warehouses and a fu lly
equipped radio netw ork.
D uring th e tran sitio n a l period from 30 Ju n e to 30 Septem ber 1969, and
even beyond th a t date, th e ICRC d re w on its reserves to assume th e fin a n cin g
7
o f relief actions w h ic h had fallen to th e Nigerian Red Cross w h ic h had p ra c ti
cally no fu n ds o f its o w n . Thanks to these transfers and th e te ch nical and
fin a n cia l assistance given th e Nigerian Red Cross d u ring th e tran sitio n a l period,
the N ational S ociety was n o t w ith o u t resources d u ring th e fin a l m onths o f the
w ar and w h e n th e resistance o f the form er secessionist zone collapsed.
The Red Cross in th e secessionist area, m oreover, was reintegrated into
the N ational Society, and th is lightened th e task.
W hen the collapse came, the ICRC, thanks to the aircraft it had kept opera
tio n a l fo r th a t purpose, w as ready to fo rw a rd to the stricken region some
6,000 to n s o f fo o d s tu ffs and m edical supplies stocked at C otonou. This final
operation seemed the more essential as it had to alleviate the suffering o f victim s
d u ring the hiatus betw een the breakdow n o f organized relief d istrib u tio n in
th e form er secessionist area as a result o f its collapse and th e arrival o f em ergency
relief after hostilities.
The Federal M ilita ry G overnm ent having decreed th a t all relief and re co n
structio n operations should be in Nigerian hands and, in particular, co -o rd in a te d
by th e M in is try o f Econom ic Developm ent, th e ICRC's fu rth e r efforts came up
against various obstacles w h ic h th e Federal M ilita ry G overnm ent agreed to
rem ove on ly fo r a fe w flig h ts to take m edical supplies and fo o d stu ffs and, in one
flig h t, to evacuate some serious casualties to Kaduna. It should be p o inted o u t
that, jo in tly w ith the League o f Red Cross Societies, the ICRC had, the day
fo llo w in g the end o f h o stilities, subm itted to the Nigerian authorities and Red
Cross an offer o f assistance and co -o p e ra tio n and o f ICRC transport p otential.
H ow ever, sim ultaneously w ith its ne w proposals, the ICRC placed on record
th a t the cessation o f hostilities should be fo llo w e d by its gradual w ith d ra w a l
as a neutral organization w ith in the m eaning o f the Geneva Conventions, as its
presence w o u ld no longer be required.
This fa c t and the observation th a t its inte rve n tio n w as no longer considered
indispensable led the International Com m ittee o f the Red Cross to decide to
w ith d ra w . It is n o w fo r the Nigerian authorities and Red Cross to com plete
th e w o rk o f assistance to the tens o f thousands o f people still in ne e d."
Thereupon, the ICRC made arrangements for the withdrawal of

its six-member Lagos delegation by the end of March. Messages were
sent to all donors in order to enquire about the wishes concerning the
disposal of the relief supplies they had made available to the ICRC.
Delegates were sent to Libreville, Santa Isabel and Cotonou in order
to make arrangements for the transfer of the goods, by ship to Lagos
for the Nigerian Red Cross.
The ICRC base at Cotonou, which had been reinforced at the end
of the war w ith a view to possible resumption of the airlift to the
stricken areas, was maintained until 20 May.
Mr. Philippe Zuger, ICRC delegate, was in Lagos from 16 June
to 3 July in order to settle w ith the Nigerian Red Cross questions still
in abeyance and relating to the disposal of the equipment. Under the
agreement signed on 18 June by the ICRC representative and Mr.
8
Mohammed, Chief Administrator of the Nigerian Red Cross, the ICRC
handed over to that society some 20 tons of food and medical supplies,
about 100 vehicles, boats for inland waterways, tw o inflatable hangars
and a radio station, valued in all at about 1.5 million Swiss Francs.
The ICRC engaged the services of an internationally reputed firm
of public accountants, Messrs. Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co., to audit
the accounts of its work in Nigeria. The auditors concluded that in the
difficult conditions in w hich the operations took place, the ICRC dele
gates endeavoured to exercise supervision as effectively as possible
over the use made of the supplies and that ICRC control grew firmer
w ith the development of operations.
During the weeks follow ing the cessation of hostilities, the ICRC
continued to concern itself for the welfare of prisoners of war, visiting
detention places and enquiring into conditions for the release of the
prisoners. In February, its delegates saw 1,200 prisoners of war interned
at Port Harcourt, to whom they distributed comforts.
On 14 May, the ICRC received official confirmation from the
Nigerian Ministry of Defence that all prisoners of war had been
released.
ICRC R EG IO N A L DELEG ATION IN WEST A F R IC A
After obtaining agreement from the Cameroon authorities—which

Mr. Hoffmann had obtained when he was in Yaoundé for that purpose
from 12 to 17 April 1970—the ICRC opened a regional delegation for
West Africa in Yaoundé on 8 May 1970. Mr. André Tschiffeli was
appointed head of the delegation which, on 30 June, was reinforced
by a second delegate from Geneva, Mr. Ulrich Bédert.
During the first months of its activity, the new delegation was
primarily occupied w ith establishing or maintaining contacts w ith West
African governments and National Societies. The tw o delegates went,
for instance, to the follow ing sixteen countries : Central African Repub
lic, Chad, Dahomey, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial
Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria,
People's Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Togo and Upper Volta.
In Nigeria, Mr. Tschiffeli was introduced to the authorities and the
National Society by Mr. Hoffmann in November. In each country visi
ted, the ICRC delegates drew attention to the ICRC mission and the
9
importance of disseminating knowledge of the Geneva Conventions
among the armed forces and youth.
During these visits the regional delegation undertook various spe
cial activities, as mentioned below.
D em ocratic Republic o f th e Congo
Mr. Tschiffeli was in Kinshasa from 6 to 12 July for contact with

the Congolese authorities and w ith the Revolutionary Government of
Angola in Exile (GRAE) on the subject of the six Portugese servicemen
in the hands of that movement. He obtained authorization to visit
these prisoners in a military camp on 9 July. A second visit was made
on 1 December. There were then another tw o prisoners in the camp.
As customary, reports on these visits were sent by the ICRC to the
detaining authorities.
In addition, the GRAE informed the ICRC that it had in its custody
tw o little Portuguese girls whom it wished to hand over to the ICRC.
The ICRC immediately informed its Yaoundé delegation and a delegate
went to Kinshasa to take charge of the tw o children, w ho were repa
triated on 15 August. The ICRC delegate accompanied the tw o girls
to Geneva, where they were handed over to the Permanent Mission
of Portugal w hich took them to Lisbon.
In compliance w ith a request from the GRAE, the ICRC repatriated
a seriously wounded Portuguese military prisoner. A doctor-delegate
which it sent to Kinshasa on 8 December escorted the prisoner to
Lisbon.
People's Republic o f th e Congo
The ICRC delegate was tw ice in Brazzaville, in July and in Novem

ber. He talked w ith the Congolese civilian and military authorities and
w ith the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (M PLA), and
took steps to obtain permission to visit three Portuguese military
prisoners held by the Congolese authorities since June 1969, when they
had been captured follow ing the skyjacking of a Portuguese aircraft
to Brazzaville.
10
The delegate visited the three men during his second trip, on 20 and
26 November 1970. As usual, the reports on the visit were sent by
the ICRC to the detaining authorities.
Equatorial Guinea
Mr. Tschiffeli was in Equatorial Guinea from 28 November to

6 December in order to intervene, at the request of the Spanish
Government, for the benefit of tw o interned Spanish nationals.
OTHER ICRC A C T IO N IN W EST A F R IC A
Ivory Coast
After the cessation of hostilities in Nigeria, some donors continued

to send to the ICRC funds for the benefit of victims among the seces
sionists. W ith their agreement, the ICRC used the money for Ibo ch il
dren refugees in the Ivory Coast. For that purpose it sent the local
Red Cross blankets, sheets, clothing, toys, sugar, and 5 tons of milk
powder, the total value being in excess of 89,000 francs.
Republic o f Guinea
The ICRC Delegate-General for Africa was in Conakry from 1 to

4 June in order to contact the Guinean authorities and the PAIGC
(African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde). The
discussions did not, however, achieve the results hoped for, particularly
concerning the Portuguese military prisoners held by the PAIGC.
Chad
In Chad, where the ICRC delegates for West Africa stayed twice
in 1970, from 27 July to 1 August and from 28 October to 11 Novem
ber, the ICRC delivered several consignments of relief supplies for the
civilian population. In March, its aircraft based at Cotonou flew three
times to Fort Lamy carrying approximately 38 tons of victuals, medical
supplies and blankets. Two further consignments, totalling 3 Vi tons
of goods, were sent from Geneva.
11
EAST AFR IC A
ICRC DELEG ATIO N FOR EAST A F R IC A
Following a mission by Mr. Hoffmann to Addis Ababa from 30 April

to 4 May 1970, the Ethiopian Government gave its agreement to the
opening of an ICRC regional delegation for East Africa in Addis Ababa.
The delegation was opened on 5 August, on the arrival in the Ethiopian
capital of the regional delegate Mr. Roger Santschy, and his assistant
Mr. René Weber.
During their first five months of activity, the delegates visited, apart
from Ethiopia, nine countries, namely Burundi, Kenya, Madagascar,
Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia. In five coun
tries— Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan and Zambia— they were intro
duced to Government and National Society officials by the ICRC
Delegate-General for Africa.
In addition to these various contacts, the regional delegation under
took various activities :
Sudan
The ICRC Delegate-General for Africa was in Khartoum from 4 to

8 May 1970, for discussions w ith the Sudanese Government and the
Red Crescent on the possibilities of helping the civilian population,
particularly persons displaced by the disturbances in the south of the
country.
Following that mission, the ICRC sent by sea to Port Sudan ten
tons of milk powder donated by the Swiss Government. A second
consignment of 500 tons of cereals made available to the ICRC by
the European Economic Community was shipped in October.
The ICRC delegate in Addis Ababa, w ho had been introduced to
Sudanese Government and Red Crescent officials in September,
returned to Khartoum where he stayed from 18 to 23 October. In
co-operation w ith the Sudanese Red Crescent, he devised a programme
for the distribution of the food supplies mentioned above among needy
children in Khartoum, Khartoum North and Ondurman, and displaced
persons in the three southern provinces of Equatoria, Upper Nile and
Bahr-el-Ghazal.
12
Zam bia
At the request of UNITA (National Union for the Total Indepen

dence of Angola), which was conveyed to the ICRC by the Zambian
Red Cross, the ICRC regional delegates went several times to Lusaka
to organize repatriation of a Portuguese woman and young girl who
had been captured by UNITA and taken to Zambia. They left Lusaka
on 18 December and arrived the follow ing day in Lisbon, as planned
by the ICRC which had informed the Portuguese authorities and Red
Cross in Lisbon.
OTHER ICRC A C T IO N IN EAST A F R IC A
Lesotho
Mr. Hoffmann was in Lesotho from 21 to 24 April for contacts

w ith the Government and the National Society in connection w ith the
January 1970 events in that country. He obtained authorization to visit
the Maseru central prison where he saw some 140 political detainees 1.
A second visit to the same place of detention was made on 23 Decem
ber. As customary, reports on the visits were sent by the ICRC to the
detaining authorities.
SO U TH ER N A FR IC A A N D THE PORTUGUESE
TERRITO RIES IN AFR IC A
South A frica
In August and September, Mr. Hoffmann went to Pretoria in order

to examine w ith the authorities the problem of political detainees in
South Africa. The authorities agreed to allow ICRC delegates to visit
sentenced political detainees tw ice a year. On the other hand, they did
not authorize visits to persons detained under the " Terrorism Act ".
As a result, from 18 November to 15 December, an ICRC delegate
and doctor-delegate had access to four prisons— Pretoria Central
Prison, Robben Island, Victor Vorster and Barbeton— where they saw
some 560 sentenced political detainees. As customary, reports on the
visits were sent by the ICRC to the detaining authorities.
1 For brevity, th e expression " p o litic a l detainees " in th is report means not
o n ly persons sentenced or detained fo r th e ir p o litica l ideas, b u t also those detained
fo r offences m otivated by p o litica l or id e o lo g ical beliefs.
13
Rhodesia
The ICRC Delegate-General for Africa went to Salisbury in August,

September and November, to discuss the question of political detainees
in Rhodesia. He obtained authorization to visit tw ice a year persons
detained under the emergency regulations. The authorities refused,
however, to allow the ICRC to visit sentenced detainees.
Portuguese te rrito rie s in A frica
The ICRC Delegate-General for Africa went to Lisbon in March and

in October. During his first trip, when he was accompanied by
Mr. Melchior Borsinger, ICRC Delegate-General for Europe and North
America, he visited the National Society and was received by the
Portuguese authorities, w ith whom he discussed the question of poli
tical detainees in the Portuguese territories of Africa. In October, he
obtained authorization to visit the places of detention in Angola.
Angola
Mr. Hoffmann went to Luanda to introduce to the Portuguese

authorities the delegate and doctor-delegate who, from 1 to 17 Novem
ber, visited tw o prisons, a military hospital and a " rehabilitation camp ",
where they saw nearly 1,340 political detainees. Reports on the visits
were sent by the ICRC to the detaining authorities.
L a tin A m e ric a
Continuing the action which began in 1969, four further missions,

each of several months' duration, took place in Latin America in 1970;
tw o by the ICRC Delegate-General for that part of the world, Mr. Serge
Nessi, and tw o by Mr. Eddi Leemann, delegate. They went to the fo llo w
ing eighteen countries : Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Domini
can Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hondu
ras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and
Tobago, and Venezuela. In each country, the ICRC delegates contacted
the government authorities and the National Red Cross Societies. In
eleven, namely, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador,
14
Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela, they
were admitted to places of detention. They visited some 70 prisons and
saw more than 500 political detainees.
In the course of the year, the ICRC also sent relief supplies in
the form of medicines, first-aid kits, vehicles and foodstuffs, to several
Latin American countries. The value of these consignments amounted
to almost 120,000 francs.
In co-operation w ith the League of Red Cross Societies, the
ICRC sent a medical team to the Amazon region of Brazil. It was there
from 15 May to 15 August to enquire into the living conditions and
health of the Indian population. The team covered more than 12,500
miles and visited a score of tribes in thirty villages.
Bolivia
The ICRC Delegate-General for Latin America was in Bolivia from

26 January to 5 February 1970. He had discussions w ith the Govern
ment authorities, including the President of the Republic, General
Ovando. He also visited the headquarters of the Bolivian Red Cross
Society in La Paz and the Santa Cruz and Camiri sections.
Political detainees : Mr. Nessi obtained permission from the Com-

m ander-in-Chief of the Bolivian Army and from the M inistry of the
Interior to visit both the military and the civilian places of detention. He
went to the prison for women and to the San Pedro prison in La Paz as
well as to the Fourth Commando division prison at Camiri. He saw some
thirty political detainees in all.
As customary, reports on these visits were sent to the relevant
authorities. The ICRC also sent to La Paz in July medical supplies for
use in the places of detention.
Relief supplies : In order to help the Bolivian Red Cross which

since 1968 had been passing through a difficult period 1, the ICRC
sent it during the first half of 1970 medical supplies, dressing material
and tents. In August, it also provided the Society w ith a mobile clinic
and a Land-Rover.
1 See 1969 A nnual Report, p. 21.
15
Brazil
M edical mission to the Brazilian Amazon region : It was towards

the autumn of 1969 that, at the request of a number of National Red
Cross Societies and other organizations, the ICRC began to take an
interest in the plight of the Indians in the Brazilian Amazon area.
After examining the question from a purely humanitarian point of view,
it directed its Delegate-General for Latin America, who was then in
that part of the world, to contact the Brazilian Government in order
to make an on-the-spot study of scope for Red Cross action.
In December 1969 and January 1970, Mr. Nessi had talks on the
subject w ith :
— the Brazilian Red Cross ;
— the Brazilian Minister for the Interior, the Under-Secretary of State
for International Technical Co-operation, and the Administrative
Secretary-General ;
— the Fundaçâo Nacional dos Indios (FUNAI).
Everybody to whom an approach was made on the matter was
immediately in favour of ICRC action in co-operation w ith the relevant
Brazilian authorities. Encouraged, the ICRC, in co-operation with the
League of Red Cross Societies, drew up a plan of action w hich it
submitted to the National Societies of the Federal Republic of Germany,
the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland, who forthw ith signified
their interest in the project and their readiness to contribute financially.
A t the beginning of May 1970, preparations for the departure of
the medical mission to the Brazilian Amazon were completed. The
team of three doctors (one German, one Dutch, and one Swedish), as
well as Mr. Nessi and a Swiss ethnologist who was responsible for
certain technical matters and for deciding the itinerary, was to enquire
into the living and health conditions of the indigenous populations in
various regions.
The mission left Geneva on 10 May w ith more than a ton of equip
ment. It was joined at Rio de Janeiro by a doctor from the Brazilian
Red Cross. After last-minute talks w ith the authorities, it took off for
Santa Isabel do Morro (llha do Bananal) on 16 May. From that day
until 7 August it travelled some 12,500 miles taking in:
llha do Bananal (about 350 miles north of Brasilia), the Parque
Nacional do Xingú, Cuiabá (Mato Grosso), Vilhena (on the border
16
Nigeria. Photo U N IC E F /A la sta ir M atheson

between the Mato Grosso and Rondonia), Porto Velho (Rondonia),
Guajará-Mirim (then back to Porto Velho), Manaus, Tabatinga (and
back to Manaus), Boa Vista, Parque Nacional doTumucumaque, Belem,
Maraba, Santa Isabel.
From these various places the team covered much ground in expedi
tions lasting several days, by plane, canoe, or on foot. Having full
freedom of movement, the Red Cross doctors made contact w ith more
than tw enty tribes in some thirty villages and representative of more
than a third of the 50,000—70,000 Indian inhabitants of the Brazilian
Amazon region. From all these tribes the doctors took blood samples
for laboratory analysis. In each village, they examined many people and
administered more than 600 kilos of medical supplies, particularly at
Bananal, Upper Xingú, Cuiabá and Guajará-Mirim.
The mission returned to Europe on 14 August 1970, after stopping
a few days at Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro to take leave of the Brazilian
Red Cross and authorities. A report on the mission's findings and sug
gestions was sent to the Brazilian Government at the beginning of
December 1970.
Colom bia
From 20 September to 11 October 1970, Mr. Leemann was in

Colombia for discussions w ith the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces, the Ministry of Defence delegate to the Red Cross, and the
Vice-M inister of Education, on the dissemination of knowledge of the
Geneva Conventions. He also met the Minister of Justice and the
Director-General of Prisons, w hich whom he raised the question of
political detainees.
He visited the Colombian Red Cross blood bank, school of life-
saving, nursing school and other premises, in Bogotá, and he also
went to the Antioquia Department Committee in Medellin.
Political detainees : As in 1969, the Minister of Justice granted the

ICRC delegate a general authorization to visit all places of detention.
Mr. Leemann visited fifteen : four in Bogotá and others at La Dorada,
Neiva, Ibagué, Chaparral, Armenia, Garzón, Calarca, Medellin, Gaupi,
Cali and Gorgona. In all he saw 160 political detainees.
17
M edical m ission in the Am azon region. Photo R. Fuerst/IC R C

He noted that the nine prisons visited in May and June 1969 had
received part of the medical supplies sent by the ICRC in November
1969. As usual, reports on the visits were sent to the relevant authorities
by the ICRC.
Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, where he stayed from 24 to 29 April 1970, Mr.

Leemann had talks on the dissemination of knowledge of the Geneva
Conventions w ith the Ministers of Education and Defence. He also
discussed the question of political detainees w ith the Ministry of the
Interior.
Mr. Leemann visited the San José headquarters of the Costa Rican
Red Cross Society which is very active in first aid, medical and food
assistance programmes, blood donation and youth services. He also
went to the branch committees at Desamparados and Aljuela.
Political detainees : Mr. Leemann obtained authorization to visit

all places of detention. He went to four at San José, Desamparados,
Heredia and San Antonio de Ojo de Agua, where he saw a few political
detainees.
At the San José central penitentiary, he also saw more than fifty per
sons w ho had been arrested during the demonstrations which had been
organized by students on 24 April. It should be mentioned that on that
occasion the Costa Rican Red Cross first aiders, led by the Society's
President in person, evacuated a score of Members of Parliament who
were besieged in the Parliament building. In addition, some sixty
casualties were taken to first-aid posts by the National Society's
ambulances.
In June, the ICRC sent medical supplies to San José for the benefit
of the detainess in the four places of detention visited by its delegate.
As customary, reports on his visits were sent to the relevant authorities.
Dom inican Republic
The ICRC Delegate-General for Latin America was in the Domini

can Republic from 15 to 23 November 1970. He met the Minister of
Defence and other officials w ith whom he discussed the dissemination
of knowledge of the Geneva Conventions.
18
Mr. Nessi was also received by the Dominican Red Cross at its
central headquarters in Santo Domingo and he visited the provincial
committees at Santiago, San Francisco de Macoris, San Cristóbal and
La Vega.
Ecuador
In Ecuador, where he stayed from 12 to 24 October 1970, Mr.

Leemann had discussions on the dissemination of knowledge of the
Geneva Conventions w ith the Under-Secretaries of State for Foreign
Affairs and for Education as well as w ith the head of the armed forces.
He was also received by the Minister of the Interior, who authorized
him to visit all places of detention in the country.
He was received at the Ecuador Red Cross headquarters in Quito
and he visited the local committees at Guayaquil, Riobamba, Ambato,
Latacunga and Cuenca. He took advantage of his visit to inform the
National Society leaders of the ICRC's activities in Latin America and
of the mission which the Red Cross can and should carry out during
domestic armed conflicts.
Political detainees : Mr. Leemann went to nine places of detention :
four in Quito, tw o in Guayaquil and the others in Riobamba, Ambato
and Cuenca. He saw in all some thirty political detainees. As custom
ary, the ICRC sent reports on his visits to the relevant authorities.
Donation o f a mobile clinic : The ICRC sent this vehicle to Quito
in November 1970, as a gift to the Ecuadorian Red Cross.
G uatem ala
Mr. Leemann was in Guatemala from 4 to 19 March. He met the

Minister of National Defence and the Vice-M inister of Education for
talks on the dissemination of knowledge of the Geneva Conventions.
He also obtained an interview w ith the Minister of the Interior, who
authorized him to visit places of detention.
The ICRC delegate was received at the Guatemala Red Cross head
quarters, in Guatemala City, where he delivered an address and showed
a film on the Red Cross to the Society's members.
Political detainees : Mr. Leemann went to seven places of deten
tion : the first, second and fourth Police Corps, the prison for women
19
in Santa Teresa and the prisons of Salama, Quetzaltenango and Pavón.
He saw some sixty political detainees.
Furthermore, on 3 April, the Government of the German Federal
Republic (GFR) requested the ICRC to intervene in favour of the
Ambassador of the German Federal Republic to Guatemala, w ho had
been kidnapped on 31 March. The follow ing day, Mr. Leemann, who
was then in Central America, was already in Guatemala City. However,
all appeals made to the kidnappers over the radio and through the press
that the life of the Ambassador be spared and offering ICRC mediation
unfortunately remained w ithout avail ; on 5 April, the German diplomat
was found murdered.
Later, the ICRC delegate carried out a further series of visits to the
Police Corps, the Santa Teresa Women's Prison and the prison of Pavón.
It should be pointed out that in the affair of the kidnapping of the
German Ambassador the ICRC delegate worked in close collaboration
w ith the Guatemalan Red Cross.
Despatch o f relief supplies : In March, the ICRC despatched to the

Guatemalan Red Cross 15 first-aid kits for its first-aid corps.
Guyana
The Delegate-General of the ICRC for Latin America went to

Guyana from 16 to 19 December 1970. This was an opportunity for
him to have preliminary conversations w ith governmental authorities
there. Mr. Nessi was received by the President of the Republic,
Mr. Arthur Chung, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Permanent
Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior, the Chief of Staff of the Guyana
Defence Force and by the leader of the opposition. Mr. Nessi detailed
to these distinguished officials the latest information on ICRC activities,
the development of international humanitarian law and the dissemina
tion of the Geneva Conventions.
The Delegate-General of the ICRC visited the headquarters of the
Guyana Red Cross in Georgetown and was most impressed by its
organization. He spoke to the Council of the National Society on
the organization of the International Red Cross, on the work of the
ICRC and on the role of National Societies.
20
H aiti
From 13 to 15 November 1970, the Delegate-General of the ICRC

made a brief visit to Haiti, in order to keep in touch w ith the Haiti Red
Cross, which is going through a heartening phase of expansion. In addi
tion to existing activities— medico-social assistance, first aid, pre
disaster organization, etc.— tw o new ventures were started in 1970:
free courses in mother and baby care and a blood transfusion centre.
In March 1970, the ICRC despatched 2 tons of powdered milk
to the Haiti Red Cross, for distribution to needy families in Port-
au-Prince.
Honduras
Mr. Leemann stayed in Honduras from 15 to 21 February 1970.

He had talks w ith the Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of
Education and w ith the Chief of the Armed Forces on the subject of
the dissemination of the Geneva Conventions. He also met the Minister
for Foreign Affairs and obtained the authorization of the Minister of the
Interior to visit tw o places of detention.
Moreover, the ICRC delegate attended a meeting of the Honduran
Red Cross Central Committee at Tegucigalpa and met several times
the President of the Society for talks.
Visits to places o f detention : Mr. Leemann visited tw o places of
detention : the Tegucigalpa penitentiary and the prevention centre of the
police investigation department (D IN ). But he did not find there any
prisoners detained for political reasons.
Despatch o f relief : In August, the ICRC donated a Land-Rover to
the Honduran Red Cross. It also sent 15 first-aid kits as a contribution
to the creation of a team of first-aiders.
Jam aica
The ICRC Delegate-General for Latin America effected a brief mis

sion to Jamaica from 10 to 13 November 1970. He visited there
National Red Cross Society headquarters in Kingston, and the Society's
local branch at Montego Bay. Mr. Nessi also met the Chief of Staff of
the Jamaican Armed Forces and had talks w ith him on the subject
of the dissemination of the Geneva Conventions.
21
Nicaragua
In Nicaragua, where he stayed from 30 March to 11 April, Mr.

Leemann met the Ministers of Education and of Defence on the sub
ject of the dissemination of the Geneva Conventions, and the Vice-
Minister of the Interior about political detainees.
He was also received at the headquarters of the Nicaraguan Red
Cross Society in Managua, and visited its branches at Granada and
Leon.
In addition, the Ninth Inter-American Red Cross Conference was
held in Managua from 1 to 5 December 1970. The Conference was
attended by Mr. Marcel A. Naville, President of the ICRC, Mr. Nessi,
ICRC Delegate-General for Latin America, and Mr. Basset, Assistant
Director.
Political detainees : Mr. Leemann was allowed to visit 7 places of
detention, 3 of which were in Granada, 2 in Leon, one in Managua
and one in Tipitapa. He saw in all more than 30 political detainees.
As customary, the ICRC sent reports on the visits to the authorities
concerned.
In June, the ICRC sent medicaments to Managua for these places
of detention.
Panama
From 30 April to 6 May, Mr. Leemann was in Panama, where he

had talks w ith the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Education and Public
Health.
He was also received at the headquarters of the Panamanian Red
Cross. He visited, too, the Provincial Committee of Chiriqui at David
and the first-aid units on the beaches of Vera Cruz, San Carlos, Farallón
and Rio Mar.
In December, the President of the ICRC, Mr. Marcel A. Naville,
accompanied by the Delegate-General for Latin America, paid an
official visit to Panama.1
Political detainees : Mr. Leemann went on 5 May to the " Carcel
Modelo " of Panama, where he saw about 30 political detainees. As
customary, the report on the visit was sent to the authorities concerned.
1 See page 110 o f th is Report.
22
Despatch o f relief : Following a request from the Government of
Panama, the ICRC sent in July medicaments and vaccines to the
Panamanian Red Cross, so that the latter could participate in the vac
cination campaign undertaken by the Ministry of Public Health to aid
the Guaymés Indians of Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro. It also dispatched
12 first-aid kits to the National Society.
Paraguay
After leaving Brazil at the end of 1969, and on his way to Bolivia,
the Delegate-General of the ICRC for Latin America stopped a second
time 1 in Paraguay, to have further talks w ith government authorities
and members of the National Society. On this occasion, Mr. Nessi,
accompanied by the Secretary-General of the Paraguayan Red Cross,
was also received in audience by the President of the Republic, General
Alfredo Stroessner, w ith whom they spoke about ICRC activities.
Peru
Mr. Leemann went to Peru from 21 November to 8 December 1970.

He had talks w ith the Secretary-General of the Ministry of War and
w ith a high official of the Ministry of Education, on the dissemination
of the Geneva Conventions, and w ith the General Director of Penal
Establishments on the question of political detainees.
With regard to relations w ith the Peruvian Red Cross, the ICRC
delegate spoke on the work of the ICRC to members of the Central
Committee in Lima. He also visited the Society's branches at Cuzco,
Ayacucho and Huancayo. A large part of the National Society's activi
ties was directed to various assistance projects in the areas struck by
the earthquake of 21 May 1970.
Political detainees : Mr. Leemann obtained a general authorization
to visit all places of detention in Peru. He went to 7 such places—
Lurigancho, Lima, Cuzco, Chorillos, Fronton, Ayacucho and Huan
cayo— where about forty political detainees were held and talked with
them in private.
In January 1970, the ICRC despatched a second consignment of
medicaments for these places of detention.
1 See A nnual Report, 1969, pp. 2 5 -2 6 .
23
El Salvador
In 1970, Mr. Leemann paid tw o visits to El Salvador, once from

22 February to 3 March, and the second time from 20 to 28 March.
He had meetings, in particular, w ith the Minister of Defence and of
Education, and w ith the Chief of Police.
He was also received at the headquarters of the El Salvador Red
Cross, a Society that is making great strides forward. Among its many
activities, the follow ing may be mentioned : first-aid posts have been
set up on highways at dangerous crossroads, lifesaving teams are on
duty on beaches, Red Cross programmes are included in school
television, etc.
Visits to places o f detention: The ICRC delegate obtained the

authorization to visit all places of detention in El Salvador. He went
to eight such places, 3 of them at San Salvador, and the others at
Sonsonate, Nahuizalco, Izalco, Santa Tecla and llopango. He saw about
a dozen political detainees.
Trinidad and Tobago
The Delegate-General of the ICRC stayed from 11 to 16 Decem

ber 1970 in Trinidad and Tobago, where preliminary talks were initiated
w ith government authorities. He was received by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, the Minister of National Security and the Minister of
Public Services, and spoke to them on the work of the ICRC and the
development of international humanitarian law.
Mr. Nessi also visited the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society's
main premises and principal centres at Port of Spain, and its southern
branch at San Fernando.
Venezuela
Mr. Leemann was in Venezuela from 6 to 19 September and was

received by the Ministers of Defence, Justice, Interior and Education,
w ith whom he had talks on various questions concerning political
detainees and the dissemination of the Geneva Conventions.
He also visited the headquarters of the Venezuelan Red Cross, in
Caracas, where he spoke on ICRC activities before the Executive
Committee, and the local branches at Los Teques, Cumana and Valencia.
24
The President of the iCRC, Mr. Marcel A. Naville, accompanied by
the ICRC Delegate-General, went to Venezuela on an official visit from
27 to 29 November.1
Mr. Nessi visited Venezuela a second time on 9 and 10 Decem
ber 1970, when he and the President of the National Society were
received in audience by the President of the Republic, Dr. Rafael
Caldera.
Political detainees : Mr. Leemann was granted authorization to visit

all places of detention in Venezuela. He visited seven such places :
2 in Caracas, and the others at San Juan de los Morros, Valencia and
Los Teques, as well as the counter-guerrilla base at Cocoyar in the
State of Monagas. The ICRC delegates met, in all, over 120 political
detainees, held at the disposal of the civilian and military judicial
authorities.
When he went the second time to Caracas, in December, Mr. Nessi
visited again tw o places of detention, where several political detainees
were held.
Despatch o f relief : The ICRC despatched to the Venezuelan Red

Cross eight first-aid kits.
A s ia
Faced w ith the spread of the conflict in South-East Asia, the ICRC
took, in 1970, the follow ing general measures :
On 22 May, it sent all the countries involved in the hostilities in
South-East Asia a circular letter concerning the application of the
Geneva Conventions of 1949. In reply, the Governments of Australia,
Cambodia, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Thailand, the U.S.A.
and the Republic of Vietnam all undertook to respect the Conventions,
as they had done up to then.
From 10 May to 15 June, a special mission, composed of Dr. Roland
Marti and Dr. Jean-Maurice Rubli, medical advisers to the ICRC, and
of Mr. André Beaud, head of the Relief Service, studied in Thailand,
Cambodia, Laos, the Republic of Vietnam, Hong Kong and Singapore
25
the relief needs of the various parties involved in the conflict in South-
East Asia, the possibilities of making purchases in that part of the world,
and the extension of aid to Cambodia, where the war had just spread.
At the end of July, the ICRC transferred the headquarters of its
general delegation for Asia from Phnom-Penh to Geneva, and Mr. Jean
Ott succeeded Mr. André Durand as Delegate-General for Asia and
Oceania from 1 November 1970. Mr. Michel Testuz, formerly at
Phnom-Penh, retained his post of deputy to the Delegate-General, but
with residence in Geneva.
From 3 November to 10 December, Mr. Ott and Mr. Michel Barde,
attached to the President's office, carried out a mission which led them
to India, the Khmer Republic, the Republic of Vietnam, Laos and
Thailand. The object was to make contact w ith the authorities and the
National Societies of those countries, and to study on the spot the
problems arising from the conflict in South-East Asia.
C A M B O D IA
In 1970, the ICRC was very active in Cambodia because of the

events w hich occurred on 18 March and the hostilities which followed.
The Khm er Republic
Up to July 1970, the date on which the ICRC transferred the head
quarters of its general delegation for Asia from Phnom-Penh to Geneva,
the ICRC delegation in the Khmer capital included the Delegate-General
for Asia, Mr. Durand, and his deputy Mr. Testuz. These gentlemen were
replaced, as from August, by a head of delegation, assisted, as from
October, by a doctor-delegate.
In November, Mr. Ott, accompanied by Mr. Barde, was in Phnom-
Penh in order to make contact w ith the Khmer Government and Red
Cross. The ICRC representatives met General Lon Nol, Prime Minister
and Minister of Defence, as well as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of
Social Welfare, of Employment and Labour, and of Public Health. They
were also received by the President of the Khmer Red Cross, accom
panied by several members of that Society's Council.
Application o f the Conventions : Following the events of 18 March

in Cambodia, the ICRC, on 24 April, asked the Khmer Government for
26
authorization to carry out the tasks that devolved upon it under the
Geneva Conventions of 1949. In particular it asked the Khmer
Government :
— to remind the armed forces of the instructions relating to the treat
ment of the sick and wounded, as well as of prisoners and internees;
— to authorize the ICRC delegates to visit the prisoners and internees ;
— to allow the delegates to study w ith the Ministers concerned and
the National Red Cross the possibility of relief to civilian victims.
In its letter of 4 June to the ICRC, the Khmer Government formally

confirmed its intention to apply the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
The delegation in Phnom-Penh approached the Khmer authorities
and Red Cross to support the ICRC request, and moreover to ask that
appropriate measures be taken to ensure protection for all non-com
batant civilians and respect for the emblem of the red cross.
Prisoners o f war : From the beginning of the hostilities, the ICRC

delegation in Phnom-Penh requested access to the prisoners of war.
On 23 May, the special mission 1 sent by the ICRC visited tw o wounded
Vietnamese prisoners of war in the military hospital at Monivong. But
no other visit took place subsequently. This matter was taken up again
by Mr. Ott in Phnom-Penh in November. From General Lon Nol he
obtained formal authorization for the ICRC delegation to visit the pris
oners of war. The next visit by the ICRC delegates to these prisoners,
as a result of those steps, took place on 4 January 1971.
Before the events of 18 March, the ICRC had on several occasions
forwarded family messages and parcels to prisoners of various national
ities held in the central prison in Phnom-Penh.
A id to the wounded and to the civilian population : The events of

18 March and the hostilities that follow ed entailed a sudden increase
in the number of wounded, the internment in camps of some 100,000
Vietnamese, and the rush to the Khmer capital and its neighbourhood
of several tens of thousands of Cambodian refugees fleeing from the
combat areas.
Following an urgent request from the Khmer Red Cross, the ICRC
sent 200 units of blood plasma on 14 April. Two days later, it allocated
27
190,000 Swiss francs to the purchase of emergency supplies for the
victims of the hostilities. On 27 April, it received a new request from
the Khmer Red Cross for help in the form of clothing, bedding, vehicles,
medicaments, and surgical instruments.
In view of the scale of the aid requested, the ICRC sent a special
mission to Phnom-Penh in order to study the situation on the spot.
The mission stayed in Cambodia from 14 to 28 May and, in accord
w ith the National Red Cross, drew up a list of requirements.
It was on this basis that, on 8 June, the ICRC and the League
launched a jo int appeal to all National Red Cross Societies for the
benefit of 165,000 displaced persons (Cambodians and Vietnamese)
in the Khmer Republic. The ICRC and the League asked National Soci
eties to send the Khmer Red Cross foodstuffs, tent canvas, tarpaulins,
mosquito-nets, matting, clothing, blankets, medicaments and medical
equipment, and also funds for the procurement of aid on the spot.
About tw enty National Societies responded to this appeal and, by the
end of the year, the total of the gifts in cash and in kind sent to the
Khmer Red Cross amounted to more than 8 million Swiss francs.
For its part, the ICRC, during the second half of the year, despatched
five times by air and twice by sea, consignments of medicaments w eigh
ing in all nearly six tons, to a value of 108,000 Swiss francs. In addition,
the ICRC delegates in the Khmer Republic made numerous purchases
and distributions.
On several occasions the ICRC delegates in the Khmer Republic
visited Cambodian refugee camps in Phnom-Penh. The number of refu
gees in the capital alone was estimated at several hundred thousand,
but of these only a few thousand were in the reception camps, the rest
having found refuge w ith relations or friends.
A t the invitation of the National Red Cross and in company w ith
its representatives, the ICRC delegates also made fact-finding visits in
the provinces, at the same time distributing relief supplies : in May, in
the province of Kandal, where fighting had recently occurred ; in June,
in the provinces of Prey Veng and Svay Rieng up to the South Vietnam
frontier; in July, at Kompong Chhnang, then at Kompong Speu ; at the
end of the year, they went to the island of Koh Khong, on the Mekong
in Lower Laos, where there were about a thousand Cambodian
refugees.
28
The ICRC also concerned itself w ith the welfare of Vietnamese
nationals in camps pending repatriation by the South Vietnamese
authorities. ICRC delegates regularly visited and distributed relief in
several reception centres at Phnom-Penh. A t the beginning of October,
the ICRC sent tw o delegates, one of them a doctor, to the north-east
(towards the Thai border) to enquire about the situation of the Viet
namese living in that area. Those delegates, w ith representatives of
the Khmer Red Cross, visited Kompong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambang,
Sisophon and Poipet.
A doctor-delegate was attached to the ICRC delegation at Phnom-
Penh from the end of October. He took an active part in camp visits
and worked regularly at the Khmer Red Cross dispensary, where
between 80 and 130 patients presented themselves daily. He also
gave periodic consultations at another Phnom-Penh polyclinic and
at a crèche.
ICRC approaches to th e Royal G overnm ent o f N ational

Union o f Kampuchea (G R U N K )
Application o f the Conventions : On 21 April, the ICRC wrote to

Prince Sihanouk, and then, at his request, on 19 May approached
Mr. Penn Nouth, Prime Minister of the GRUNK, requesting him :
— to confirm the GRUNK's intention to apply the Geneva Conventions
of 1949, and to agree to the humanitarian activity of the Red Cross ;
— to remind the armed forces of the provisions of the Conventions
relating to the treatment of the sick and wounded and of internees;
— to authorize the ICRC delegates to visit prisoners and detainees;
— to consider measures designed to ensure the protection of the civi
lian population and the supply of assistance to displaced persons.
In its political programme— made public at a press conference

given in Peking by Prince Norodom Sihanouk on 5 May— the National
United Front of Kampuchea (FUNK) declared that " the wounded and
prisoners of war were humanely cared for and treated ".
At the end of the year, the ICRC also had several interviews with
Mr. Chau-Seng, a Minister responsible for special missions of the
GRUNK, particularly in the matter of aid from the ICRC— in the form
29
of medicaments— for the victims of the hostilities in the territories under
GRUNK control. The ICRC allocated a sum of 100,000 Swiss francs
to this action, and the first consignments of medicaments were
despatched in January 1971.
Persons missing : From the beginning of the hostilities on Cam

bodian territory, a great many persons were reported missing, including
journalists, priests and missionaries, as w ell as their drivers, Khmer
interpreters, etc. The ICRC delegation at Phnom-Penh endeavoured
to establish the exact and complete identity of the missing, and to keep
the list up to date.
This list was then transmitted, both in Phnom-Penh and from ICRC
headquarters in Geneva, to all authorities having troops fighting on
Cambodian soil. Such an approach was made to the GRUNK on 19 May
and renewed several times during the year.
In reply, the GRUNK informed the ICRC on 15 August that three
journalists had been found, and in September Mr. Penn Nouth, the
Prime Minister, assured the ICRC that the Government was doing its
best to trace, care for and release those journalists reported missing
who were in its hands. In October, some journalists were in fact released
in the area of Angkor, w hile a missionary and his fifteen-year-old son
were released in the Phnom-Penh area at the end of December.
D em ocratic People's Republic o f Korea
Hijacking o f a South Korean aircraft to North Korea : Following the

hijacking of a South Korean aircraft and its landing at the North Korean
airport of Sunduk on 11 December 1969, the Republic of Korea National
Red Cross requested the ICRC to intervene in favour of the forty-seven
passengers and members of the crew. The ICRC telegraphed to the
Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for
news of those persons. Pursuant to numerous petitions received from
families, it also approached this Society in accordance w ith Resolu
tion XIX of the XXth International Conference of the Red Cross (Vienna,
1965) on the reunion of dispersed families.
30
In January 1970, the Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea Informed the ICRC that the passengers and crew
were In good health and that the North Korean Government was ready
to repatriate those who wished to return to the Republic of Korea.
To this end, It had proposed direct talks to the Republic of Korea.
After consultations w ith the Red Cross and the Government of
South Korea, the ICRC agreed to the proposed procedure.
On 3 February, the Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea informed the ICRC that its Government had unilater
ally decided to repatriate the persons concerned. The ICRC sent a
further telegram expressing the hope that repatriation be carried out
as quickly as possible. On 14 February, the North Korean authorities
released thirty-nine passengers at Pan Mum Jom.
The ICRC subsequently approached the Red Cross Society of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea on several occasions to request
the repatriation of the remaining persons but the National Society
replied that they had elected to remain in North Korea.
Hong Kong
Visits to detainees : In September and October 1970, the honorary

delegate of the ICRC in Hong Kong visited the Stanley, Chi Ma Wan
and Tai Lam prisons, where he met seventy-five persons sentenced to
prison terms as a result of the riots in 1967.
As usual, the ICRC sent the reports on the visits to the detaining
authorities.
India
Mr. Ott and Mr. Barde were in New Delhi from 3 to 9 November,
to represent the ICRC at the festival commemorating the Fiftieth A n n i
versary of the Indian Red Cross. During their stay, they met Shri
V. V. Giri, President of the Republic, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the Prime
Minister, as well as the Vice-President of the Republic and the Minister
of Information.
They were warmly received by the Indian Red Cross on the occa
sion of the festival, w ith which more than thirty National Societies
were associated and which was celebrated w ith great magnificence.
31
Mr. Ott and Mr. Barde were received by the President and senior
officials of the National Society.
Troubles in the State o f Maharashtra : In May 1970, the Pakistan

Red Cross asked the ICRC to assist the victims of the troubles in the
State of Maharashtra, where riots had broken out between the Hindu
and Moslem communities.
The ICRC offered its services to the Indian Government and asked
that it agree that a delegate be sent. A t the same time, it informed the
Indian Red Cross, which replied, in June, that all necessary measures
to help the victims had been taken by the Government and the National
Society.
Repatriation o f the m ortal remains o f a Portuguese soldier : At the

request of the Portuguese Red Cross, in November 1970 the ICRC
sent a delegate to Goa to organize join tly w ith the Indian Red Cross
the repatriation of the mortal remains of a Portuguese soldier w ho had
died in 1964, during the conquest of Goa by Indian troops. The opera
tion was carried out between 20 and 25 November, and the body
arrived in Lisbon on 10 December.
Indonesia
P olitical detainees : In 1969, the ICRC approached the Indonesian

Government on several occasions w ith a view to being allowed access
to political detainees.
In June 1970, it delegated Dr. Roland Marti, ICRC Chief Medical
Officer, to Djakarta, where he was allowed to visit the Tangerang peni
tentiary and the women's prison of Bukit Duri, in the island of Java,
w ith 450 and 156 political detainees respectively. The visits resulted
in reports which the ICRC transmitted to the detaining authorities.
Further, in August the ICRC sent the Indonesian Red Cross 700 kg
of medicaments, to a value of 94,000 Swiss francs, part of which were
for the penitentiaries visited by Dr. Marti.
A id to displaced persons in Kalimantan : An appeal was launched

in April 1968 in favour of some 50,000 Indonesians of Chinese origin
w ho had sought refuge on the west coast of Kalimantan (Indonesian
Borneo), at a time when the ICRC had a balance of about 30,000 Swiss
32
Laos. D is trib u tio n o f re lie f to Meo refugees. P hoto Dr. J. B aer/IC BC
francs. This sum was transmitted to the Indonesian Red Cross in
February 1970.
Japan
Mr. Durand, ICRC Delegate-General for Asia, stayed in Japan in

February 1970. He had various interviews w ith the Japanese authori
ties and w ith the Japanese Red Cross to whom he handed a donation
of 300 dollars for the stateless internees held in the Yokohama immigra
tion camp.
Laos
The ICRC delegation in Vientiane, comprising a head of delegation

and a delegate, in 1970 continued its action in favour of prisoners of
war and displaced persons.
Mr. Ott and Mr. Barde stayed in Laos from 23 to 25 November 1970.
They had talks w ith Lao Red Cross leaders and with several members
of the Government including the Secretary of State in the Ministry of
Public Health, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Social Welfare,
the Prime Minister's delegate for Foreign Affairs, and the Director of
Political Affairs. Moreover, Mr. Ott was received in audience by His
Highness Prince Souvanna Phouma, Prime Minister.
Prisoners o f war : In May and in October, the ICRC delegates visited

some eighty prisoners of war interned in the Samkhé prison, in
Vientiane.
As usual, reports on the visits were sent by the ICRC to the detaining
authorities.
A id to refugees and displaced persons : For several years the ICRC

has come to the aid, in Laos, of displaced persons who have fled from
the combat areas to take refuge in safer places. These persons usually
spend a few weeks or months in transit villages and are then resettled
on lands provided by the Laotian Government. ICRC aid consists
chiefly in providing medicaments, blankets, mosquito-nets, clothing
and sometimes also axes, hatchets and other tools.
Following a renewed outbreak of fighting in April 1970, the Laotian
Government recorded a fresh inflow of 40,000 displaced persons—
33
Suez Canal. Photo J. M o h r/IC R C

particularly in the area of the Plain of Jars (north), at Thakhek (centre),
at Sédone and Paksé (south)— and a great many wounded. On 27 April,
at the request of the Lao Red Cross and in agreement w ith the League
of Red Cross Societies, the ICRC launched an appeal to about thirty
National Societies to aid the victims of the conflict in Laos. Twenty of
them and one Government responded either by making cash dona
tions (totalling about 160,000 Swiss francs) or donations in kind
(blood plasma and medicaments).
A special ICRC mission1, composed of Dr. Roland Marti, Dr. Jean-
Maurice Rubli and Mr. André Beaud, stayed in Laos from 24 to 30 May.
It had various contacts w ith the Lao Red Cross and the competent
authorities, to enquire into the aid needed for displaced persons.
The bulk of the purchases were made on the spot by the ICRC
delegates in Vientiane, w ho regularly visited refugees and displaced
persons in transit camps and villages. Besides the Vientiane surround
ings, they distributed relief in Luang-Prabang, Samthang, Sayabouri,
Paksane (north and centre) and at Paksé (south), in co-operation w ith
the Lao Red Cross. They also visited the civil and military hospitals of
Luang-Prabang, Paksane and Vientiane, which they supplied w ith medi
caments and sometimes w ith clothing. The Fathers of the Catholic
Mission were also supplied w ith medicaments for those displaced
persons in the Ban Keum and Phône Hong (north-east) areas.
Approaches to the Neo Lao Hak Sat : In addition to the activities

already described, the ICRC delegation in Vientiane had contacts w ith
the Pathet Lao representative, Colonel Soth Pethrasy, about the plight
of the prisoners of war held by the Neo Lao Hak Sat, and the trans
mission of their mail. The prisoners are mostly aircraft pilots of various
nationalities, whose machines were shot down behind the Pathet Lao
lines. The delegation also offered ICRC medical aid to the populations
in the area controlled by the Pathet Lao.
M alaysia
A t the invitation of the Malaysian Red Cross Society Mr. Testuz,

deputy delegate-general, visited that Society from 17 to 23 January
1970. First he went to Port Dickson, where a nation-wide disaster
34
relief exercise was being held. He then proceeded to Kuala Lumpur,
where he was received by Red Cross leaders, and government and
army officials.
Pakistan
Relief action in favour o f tida l wave victims : W ithin the context of

the relief action launched by the League of Red Cross Societies in
favour of the victims of the cyclone and tidal wave which ravaged East
Pakistan in November 1970, the ICRC placed a transmitting and receiv
ing radio station as w e ll as a radio technician at the League's disposal.
The station installed at Dacca helped remove difficulties of com m uni
cation and provided a regular link between Dacca and Geneva.
The ICRC approached the European Economic Community w ith
the request that it take from the stocks earmarked for the ICRC
1,200 tons of foodstuffs w hich w ould be made available to the League
for its relief action. A t the request of the EEC, the ICRC made arrange
ments for the commodities to be transported by air to Dacca. The cost
of transport, about 850,000 dollars, was borne by the EEC.
Unfortunately, an aircraft carrying part of the relief supplies crashed
as it was about to land at Dacca airport on 30 November. The four
members of the crew were instantly killed. They were Omar Tomasson,
captain, Birgir Oern Jonsson, co-pilot, Stefan Olafsson, navigator, all
three from Reykjavik, and Jean-Paul Tompers, mechanic, from Luxem
bourg.
Philippines
Political detainees : In October 1970, the ICRC honorary delegate

at Manila visited Camp Crame, at Quezon, where he saw nineteen
political detainees.
As usual, the ICRC sent a report on the visit to the detaining
authorities.
Singapore
Before and after his visit to Malaysia \ i.e. from 15 to 17 January,

and again from 24 to 28 January, Mr. Testuz stayed in Singapore.
35
He was received by the Singapore Red Cross leaders, whom he
reminded of the importance which the ICRC attached to the Govern
ment of Singapore signing the Geneva Conventions of 1949, which
would enable the ICRC to recognize the Singapore Red Cross.
Mr. Testuz also had talks about the political detainees but was unable
to visit them.
Thailand
Vietnamese refugees: In 1969, the ICRC transmitted to the Red

Cross of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam the proposal of the Thai
Red Cross Society and the Government of Thailand to resume the
repatriation to North Vietnam of Vietnamese refugees living in Thailand
for the last tw enty to tw enty-five years. This operation, which began
in 1960, under an agreement concluded at Rangoon on 14 August 1959
by the tw o National Societies concerned, in the presence of an ICRC
delegate, was interrupted five years later, on account of the war in
Vietnam. The ICRC conveyed to the Thai Red Cross Society the reply
received from the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam,
that it was ready to send representatives to Bangkok to discuss w ith
the Thai Red Cross Society the revival of that agreement, as well as
matters concerning Vietnamese nationals awaiting repatriation.
In March 1970, the Thai Red Cross Society informed the ICRC
that it was prepared to meet the representatives of the Red Cross of
the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. This reply was communicated
to Hanoi.
The tw o Red Cross Societies agreed to begin talks in April, but
the delegates of the North Vietnamese Red Cross were unable to reach
Bangkok before September. The discussions lasted until November,
and were interrupted when the head of the delegation of the Demo
cratic Republic of Vietnam was recalled to Hanoi.
V IE T N A M
Republic o f V ietn am
In order to ensure the success of its mission to the Republic of

Vietnam, which mainly consists in visiting places of detention, the
36
ICRC reinforced its delegation in Saigon in 1970. At the end of the
year, it comprised a head of delegation and his deputy, as well as
three delegates and three doctor-delegates.
Mr. Ott and Mr. Barde stayed in Saigon from 11 to 19 November,
and again from 26 November to 4 December. They had talks with
Red Cross leaders, and w ith the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence
and Health, the Secretary of State of the Interior, and the Army Head
Physician. The ICRC Delegate-General was also received by the
Vietnamese President's special assistant for political affairs.
Visits to places o f detention : The ICRC delegates in the Republic

of Vietnam went to the follow ing places of detention :
— collecting points at which were assembled all Vietnamese taken
prisoner by the armed forces of the RVN or of the Allied Powers;
— prisoner-of-war camps to w hich were sent those Vietnamese to
whom the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 was applicable (m ili
tary personnel or others of similar status) ;
— correctional institutions to which were sent, from collecting points,
detainees to whom prisoner-of-war status was not granted
(civilians) ;
— interrogation centres ;
— military hospitals where prisoners of war and other persons
detained by reason of the events were being treated.
The ICRC delegates made 145 visits to ninety-five places of deten

tion holding some 37,000 prisoners of war and 4,000 persons detained
ow ing to the events. The ICRC transmitted reports on those visits to
the Detaining Powers.
The Government of the Republic of Vietnam informed the ICRC
that the allotments for the food rations of civilian detainees in correc
tional institutions and of prisoners of war in internment camps had
been increased as from 1 January 1970. This question had been raised
by the ICRC delegation in Saigon.
Prisoners o f war : A medical commission, composed of tw o Viet

namese doctors and a doctor-delegate of the ICRC, went to various
places of detention, to examine fresh contingents of prisoners of war
w ho were seriously wounded or sick, w ith a view to their early release.
37
In December 1969, the Saigon Government asked the ICRC to
approach the Hanoi Government regarding the transfer of sixty-tw o dis
abled prisoners of war and tw enty-four merchant seamen who had
expressed the wish to go north of the 17th parallel. The ICRC ap
proached the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam,
through its delegations at Phnom-Penh and Vientiane, in order that
it guarantee the security of the operation and state precisely when
and where the transfer could take place. The Embassy of the Demo
cratic Republic of Vietnam at Vientiane declared that the transfer of
the sixty-tw o disabled prisoners of war and tw enty-four merchant
seamen to North Vietnam did not concern the ICRC, while the North
Vietnamese delegation at the Paris Conference issued a statement to
the effect that the presence of any foreign person in the air space,
in the territorial waters, or on the soil of the Democratic Republic of
Vietnam was unacceptable. M eanwhile the proposed operation had
been fixed for 11 July 1970, and announced a month earlier by the
representatives of the Republic of Vietnam at the Paris Conference.
On the appointed date, the eighty-six prisoners w ho had confirmed
to the ICRC delegates their wish to go north of the 17th parallel, left
the South Vietnamese naval base of Danang in tw o motorized junks
w hich transported them to the lim it of the territorial waters. There the
ICRC delegates took leave of them. Later, it was learned that North
Vietnam vehicles were waiting for them on the beach.
The ICRC delegates also studied the conditions surrounding the
paraplegic prisoners of war detained at the Bion-Hoa camp. They
secured a considerable increase in the daily allowance w hich the pris
oners received from the Government of Vietnam. Similarly, they drew
the Government's attention to the health situation in the Phu-Quoc
prisoner-of-war camp, to which four additional doctors were attached
as from November.
In 1969, the ICRC had granted its Saigon delegation a credit of
15,000 francs for the schooling of young prisoners of war at the
Bien-Hoa camp. The school furniture was supplied in January 1970.
It consisted of tables, benches, platforms, desks and blackboards, all
of which had been made on the spot by the prisoners of war w ith
wood bought by the ICRC. The prisoners also received 400 slates and
other school supplies which were renewed over a period of
six months.
38
Finally, in the absence of the Protecting Power, the Republic of
Vietnam communicated to the ICRC the act of indictment, notice of
trial and sentence concerning prisoners of war held. Thus, the ICRC
delegates attended various court hearings at which prisoners of war
were charged w ith offences under the law of the land during their
captivity. The delegates were able to talk w ith the prisoners w ithout
the presence of witnesses, both w hile the case was sub judice and
after sentence had been passed.
Civilian detainees : During 1970, the ICRC approached the Govern

ment of the Republic of Vietnam several times, in Geneva and in Saigon
as w ell as through its Delegate-General, in the matter of visits to civilian
places of detention. In a letter dated 9 October to the South Vietnamese
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it asked that visits to national prisons, cor
rectional institutions and interrogation centres should take place under
the same conditions as visits to prisoner-of-war camps, that is to say
w ithout prior notice, or w ith only a few days' notice, and w ith permis
sion to speak w ith detainees w ithout the presence of witnesses. On
11 November, the Government of the Republic of Vietnam replied that
in present circumstances it could permit the ICRC to speak w ith civilian
detainees only in the presence of witnesses.
The ICRC was particularly concerned w ith paraplegic civilian
detainees at the Chi-Hoa national prison. It drew the attention of the
detaining authorities to their plight and considered w ith them what
w ould be the most appropriate treatment. The ICRC also sent to Saigon
a supply of medicaments for these detainees.
Civilian population : The doctor-delegates of the ICRC regularly

visited a number of orphanages to give the children medical care.
Medicaments or surgical material were supplied to these orphanages
and to some hospitals.
Following a mission w hich he carried out on behalf of the ICRC
in Saigon at the end of 1968,1 Professor Maurice E. Muller, Head of
the Orthopaedic Clinic of the Hôpital de l'Ile in Berne, had proposed
that tw o Vietnamese nurses should take a refresher course in his clinic.
The ICRC agreed to cover travel expenses, and tw o nurses from the
Saigon Government Hospital attended a nine-month training course
1 See A n n u a l Report, 1968, p. 31.
39
in the operating theatre of the Orthopaedic Clinic, from September 1969
to June 1970.
Lastly, in the course of their mission in South-East Asia, in June
1970 Dr. Marti and Mr. Beaud visited tw o camps for repatriated Viet
namese w ho had come to South Vietnam from Cambodia.
D em ocratic Republic o f V ietn am
In 1970, the ICRC pursued its efforts to assist prisoners in the hands
of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
It w ill be recalled that the Hanoi Government considers that the
bombing of North Vietnam by US aircraft constituted a crime for which
the captured pilots could be held responsible before the Vietnamese
courts, and that consequently the Third Convention does not apply
to them. It mentioned in this connection the reservation made by the
Democratic Republic of Vietnam on the subject of legal proceedings
for war crimes committed before capture. The Democratic Republic
of Vietnam had, in fact, declared, on acceding on 28 June 1957 to the
four Geneva Conventions of 1949, that, contrary to what was laid
down in Article 85 of the Third Convention, prisoners of war prosecuted
and sentenced for war crimes w ould no longer be entitled to the
protection conferred on them by the Convention.
This is a matter of interpretation. For its part, the ICRC, as it
informed the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in
1965 and 1966, holds the view that this reservation does not imply
that captured enemy soldiers may be deprived of their right to be treated
as prisoners of war until they are recognized as being guilty of war
crimes by a competent and regular court under a procedure in confor
mity w ith the guarantees provided by the Convention, in case of legal
proceedings.
In 1970, the ICRC continued to receive a great many requests
from prisoners' families, from the American authorities and Red Cross,
from schools, from a number of groups and associations and from
other National Red Cross Societies, to act in favour of the American
pilots in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
In a letter dated 12 January, the President of the ICRC proposed
to the President of the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
that they should meet, in order to study together the problems arising
40
from the conflict in Vietnam. On 12 March, the ICRC sent a telegram
to the North Vietnamese Minister for Foreign Affairs asking for a list
of United States prisoners. There was no reply to any of these ap
proaches, but in December the North Vietnamese delegation to the
Paris Conference handed a complete list of United States prisoners
in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to the emissaries of Senator
Fulbright and Senator Kennedy.
Finally, during his stay in Laos, in November, Mr. Barde also had
a talk at the Vientiane Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
about problems arising out of the Vietnam conflict.
E u ro p e
In 1970, Mr. Melchior Borsinger, ICRC Delegate-General for

Europe, visited a number of countries in order to establish contact w ith
government authorities and National Red Cross leaders.
In January, he spent a few days in the Federal Republic of Germany,
where w ith Mr. Herbert G. Beckh he visited the President and the
Secretary-General of the German Red Cross in the Federal Republic
of Germany, as well as the National Society's Mainz branch. The ICRC
representatives were received in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Bonn
by the Deputy Under-Secretary of State and the Deputy Director of
the Legal Division. They also met the Permanent Under-Secretary of
State in the Ministry of Justice and his counterpart in the Ministry
of Inter-German Affairs.
In March, Mr. Borsinger accompanied the ICRC Delegate-General
for Africa to Lisbon, where he had an opportunity for preliminary con
tacts w ith Portuguese Red Cross leaders and the Portuguese Minister
for Foreign Affairs.
In April, Mr. Borsinger carried out an inspection mission to the
ICRC delegation in Athens.
Lastly, on the occasion of his stay in Vienna, in August and Sep
tember,1 the ICRC Delegate-General for Europe paid calls on the Presi
dent and the Secretary-General of the Austrian Red Cross and at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
1 See p. 110 o f th is Report.
41
In addition to these various missions, Mr. Borsinger went with
Mr. Marcel A. Naville, President of the ICRC, to Poland, the USSR,
Liechtenstein and the Federal Republic of Germany.1 He also took
part in the first European Regional Red Cross Conference, held at
Cannes, France, in April, where he made a statement on the ICRC's
relief activities and the need for National Societies in the European
region to support the efforts of the institution which had launched the
world Red Cross movement.
Greece
From 1 January to 3 November 1970, a year after the conclusion

of the Agreement 2 w ith the Hellenic Red Cross, the ICRC continued
its mission in favour of political detainees and their families. For this
purpose, it maintained in Athens a delegation which, in addition to
the technical staff, was composed of the head of the delegation, a dele
gate and a doctor-delegate.
Visits to places o f detention. During this period, the ICRC delegates

had access to all categories of political detainees, namely sentenced
detainees; administrative deportees; detainees held by the military
police (E.S.A.), the civilian police and the judiciary ; and persons under
house arrest. On four occasions, they visited the follow ing thirty-five
places of detention :
— The camps of Leros-Lakki, Leros Partheni, Oropos and Alikarnassos,
as well as the General Hospital of Athens, the Aghios Pavlos and
Aghios Savas hospitals, and the Hellenic Red Cross hospital at
Leros (administrative deportees) ;
— The military police stations of Vassilissa Sofia, Aghios loannis
Reutis, Papagore, and the Drossia and Varibopi hotels (detainees
held by the military police authorities) ;
— The police station on Bouboulinas Street, Athens, the central police
station of Nea Ionia, and the Piraeus and Salónica transfer centres
(detainees held by the civilian police authorities) ;

2 A nnual Report 1969, p. 42.
42
— The prisons of Aegina, Korydallos, Averoff (men and women),
Corfu, Trikkala, Eptapyrgion, Chalkis and Kalami (detainees held
by the judiciary) ;
— The villages of Karpenissi, Makrakomi, Pelagia, Aghios Nikolaos,
Tsotyli, Pentalofon, Granitsa, Chora-Samothrace, Thermon and
Kerassochori (persons under house arrest).
In all the places of detention, the ICRC delegates were able to move
about freely and talk w ithout witnesses w ith detainees of their own
choosing. One exception was when they spoke in the presence of a
police officer w ith accused persons w ho were being interrogated, at
the Bouboulinas Street police station.
In the course of their visits to camps for administrative deportees,
w ith the co-operation of the Hellenic Red Cross and the M inistry of
Social Affairs, the ICRC delegates distributed various types of relief,
including physical training items, orthopaedic appliances and spec
tacles, as well as indoor and outdoor games. They also supplied a
number of prisons w ith pharmaceutical products.
Lastly, in addition to the visits provided for in the Agreement of
3 November 1969, on three occasions the ICRC delegates were author
ized to visit Mr. Alekos Panagoulis, who had been sentenced for the
attempted murder of the President of the Council and incarcerated in
the Boyati military prison.
Following each visit, the ICRC delegation in Athens immediately
sent the competent authorities a succinct report. In addition, tw o gen
eral reports— summarizing improvements and releases requested on
humanitarian grounds— were sent to the Greek Government by the
ICRC in January and September 1970.
Releases : A t Easter and Christmas 1970, as well as in August, the

Greek authorities released more than a thousand political detainees.
Thus the total number of detainees visited by the ICRC dropped from
about 2,000 on 1 January to 750 on 31 December (350 condemned
in the hands of the judiciary, 340 administrative deportees, and 60 per
sons under house arrest). This number does not, however, include
persons detained since 3 November 1970.
With the releases it became possible to abolish several camps as
proposed by the ICRC : first of all the tw o prison-hotels of Varibopi
and Drossia, north of Athens; then the women's camp at Alikarnassos
43
(Crete), the Lakki camp in the island of Leros and the women's wing
of the Oropos prison.
Assistance to fam ilies: In accordance w ith the Agreement of

3 November 1969, the ICRC, in co-operation w ith the Hellenic Red
Cross and the M inistry of Social Affairs, aided destitute families whose
breadwinner had, for one reason or another, been in detention for more
than tw o years. In January and in September 1970, the ICRC delega
tion in Athens launched tw o operations for material assistance to more
than 4,000 families. This assistance was in the form of the refund of
amounts paid for the purchase of medicines or for hospitalization, the
distribution of tokens for the purchase of extra food, the payment of
rent in the case of particularly needy families, and the purchase of
woollen goods, clothing, spectacles, dentures, games, books, etc., for
the detainees.
In May, the ICRC delegation in Athens chartered a boat to carry
about 200 persons w ho had close relatives in detention in the island
of Leros whom they were unable to visit ow ing to lack of funds.
More than 1,600 persons called at the ICRC delegation offices in
Athens seeking information about relatives. Pharmaceutical products
were supplied free to needy persons w ho brought a medical prescrip
tion and had made an application.
N on-renewal o f the Agreement o f 3 November 1969 : On 3 Novem

ber 1970, the Greek Government informed the ICRC that the Agreement
signed on 3 November 1969 and expiring on 3 November 1970 could
not " remain in force in its present form. This w ould not preclude a
later study of the problem of the relations between the ICRC and the
Greek Government as a whole ",
To ascertain the intentions of the Greek Government regarding the
continuance and development of its activities in Greece, the ICRC sent
Mr. Melchior Borsinger, Delegate-General for Europe, to Athens from
24 to 29 November. He had several talks at the M inistry of Foreign
Affairs, particularly with the Secretary of State. On learning of these
talks, the ICRC drew up a number of concrete proposals regarding
the continuance of its activities in Greece, for consideration by the
Greek Government. The letter containing the proposals was handed
to Ambassador Palamas by the head of the ICRC delegation in Athens,
on 17 December.
44
At the request of the Greek Government, all activities of the ICRC
delegation in Athens were suspended as from 3 November 1970.
Assistance to th e V ictim s o f P seudo-M edical Experim ents
In 1970, the ICRC continued to act as the intermediary for the

remittance of compensation to the victim s of pseudo-medical experi
ments carried out in the concentration camps of the National-Socialist
regime of the Third Reich. Referring back to the decree of 26 July 1961
concerning this category of ex-deportees, the Government of the Third
Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) had, in 1961, requested the ICRC
to remit to such victims residing in Eastern Europe the funds intended
to contribute to the recovery of their health.
Pursuant to that arrangement, an ICRC mission, comprising Dr.
Jacques de Rougemont, member of the ICRC, Mr. Jean-Pierre Maunoir,
Assistant Director, Dr. Jean-Louis Roux, doctor-delegate, and Miss
Lix Simonius, delegate, went tw ice to Poland— from 9 to 23 July and
from 25 October to 8 November— to examine further groups of victims
of pseudo-medical experiments. The meetings took place in Warsaw,
in the presence of a judge delegated by the Ministry of Justice Central
Committee on War Crimes in Poland, the doctors of the Polish Red
Cross Medical Commission, and the Head of the National Society's
Tracing Service.
The Neutral Commission of Experts appointed by the ICRC to
decide the Polish claims for compensation held tw o sessions, on
18 and 19 March, and again from 30 September to 3 October,
attended by Polish and German observers. Compensation amounting
to DM 5,160,000.— was paid by the FRG Government to the ICRC,
w hich remitted it to the persons in Poland to whom it was due. This
brought the total paid by the FRG Government to Polish victims of
pseudo-medical experiments since this action was initiated in 1961
to DM 26,430,000.— . In Poland, the compilation of files in respect of
persons claiming assistance in view of their being victims of pseudo
medical experiments was considerably speeded up. The Polish Red
Cross sent to the ICRC, mostly during the second half of 1970, nearly
500 files which were to serve as the basis for the Neutral Commission's
w ork in 1971.
45
The Hungarian Government concluded an agreement direct w ith
the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, as the Czecho
slovak Government had done in 1969, on the payment of a lump sum
for Hungarian cases still in abeyance. The ICRC therefore brought this
part of its w ork to a close.
M i d d l e East
THE C O N FLIC T BETWEEN ISRAEL A N D THE ARAB

C O U N TR IES
As fresh outbreaks in hostilities broke out, the International Com

mittee of the Red Cross sent, on 11 April, the follow ing message to
the Powers engaged in the Middle East conflict.
D espite th e cease-fire, acts o f w a r c o n tin u e to o ccu r in th e M id d le East.
It is alarm ing to observe th e escalation o f h o stilitie s in regions w h e re m ilita ry
insta lla tio n s som etim es c o -e xist w ith civilia n p o p ulatio n s, th u s in v o lv in g ever
greater suffering.
In v ie w o f th e tra g ic de ve lo pm e n t o f th is situ a tio n , th e In ternational C o m
m ittee o f th e Red Cross u rg e n tly appeals to th e governm ents and all th e forces
engaged in th a t part o f th e w o rld to apply, in all circum stances, th e universally
recognized rules o f hum anity.
It emphasizes th a t w h e n sig n in g th e 1 9 4 9 Geneva C onventions, Powers
so le m n ly u n d erto o k to observe a series o f standards w h ic h dem and, in te r alia,
th a t n o n -c o m b a ta n t p o p ulatio n s shall be spared and th a t no attacks shall be
d irected against them , th a t m ilita ry and civilia n detainees shall be treated in
a fittin g and hum ane manner, and th a t no m altreatm ent and reprisals shall be
d irected against persons and property. H ospitals shall e n jo y p a rticu la r p ro te ctio n .
The In ternational C om m ittee o f th e Red Cross urges th e parties concerned
to give its delegates greater su p p o rt and increased fa cilitie s fo r th e discharge
o f th e ir m ission. It is im perative th a t, th ro u g h its representatives in th e area o f
c o n flic t, th e ICRC be perm itted to carry o u t its plans to p rovide m ore effective
p ro te ctio n fo r n o n -co m b ata n ts.
The Com m ittee, w h ic h has often co n fro n te d th e responsible a u tho ritie s
w ith th e ir oblig a tio ns, earnestly requests them to observe th e essential rules o f
h u m a n ity and to abstain from all acts like ly to make e ffo rts to fin d a peaceful
s o lu tio n to th e c o n flic t m ore d iffic u lt.
A new cease-fire agreement was concluded on 7 August.

The ICRC continued its humanitarian action for prisoners of war,
civilian internees and detainees and the civilian population. To that
purpose, it continued to maintain its delegations in Israel and the
occupied territories, the United Arab Republic (U AR ), Jordan, the
46
Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanon. The number of delegates amounted
to more than 20 persons, in addition to a large complement of locally-
recruited personnel.
Mr. André Rochat, ICRC delegate-general for the Middle East,
carried out a series of visits, to various countries : Jordan (M arch),
Israel (April and May), UAR, Syria and Lebanon (M ay). In all those
countries, he examined w ith the authorities concerned the humanitarian
problems arising from the Middle East conflict.
PRISONERS OF W AR
On 5 and 6 December 1969, the ICRC had organized the general

repatriation of all prisoners of war in the Middle East. But, as further
prisoners had been made since then, it resumed its action in this sphere
in the three countries holding prisoners in 1970, namely, Israel, the
United Arab Republic and the Syrian Arab Republic.
The Middle East cease-fire agreement concluded on 7 August 1970
stipulated in its last article : " Both sides w ill abide by the Geneva Con
vention of 1949 relative to the treatment of prisoners of war, and w ill
accept the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross
in carrying out their obligations under that Convention On 18 August,
the ICRC sent a note to the Israeli, Jordanian, and United Arab Republic
authorities in which it recorded w ith satisfaction the renewed deter
mination of the Parties to respect the obligations they undertook when
acceding to the Third Geneva Convention. It called upon them, more
over, to furnish it w ith all possible assistance in carrying out its mission
on behalf of prisoners of war.
The mission, it may be recalled, consists principally in visiting all
places of detention where prisoners are held in order to examine the
application of the rules laid down in the Convention. The visits are
follow ed by reports w hich are later transmitted to the Detaining Power
and to the Power of Origin. If necessary, the ICRC approaches the
authorities of the Detaining Power w ith a view to the implementation
of the provisions laid down in the Convention.
(a) Israel
The delegates of the ICRC paid regular visits to the 122 Arab
prisoners of war in Israel, w ho were interned in the prison of the mili -
47
tary camp at Sarafand ; they were authorized to do so w ithin a period
varying from 2 to 25 days after their capture. Among the prisoners of
war, there were 72 Egyptians, 39 Syrians, 10 Lebanese and one J o r
danian, captured at the end of December 1969 and during 1970.
Another Lebanese prisoner of war, who had been wounded when taken
prisoner on 12 May, was repatriated on 1 June under ICRC auspices.
During their visits, which took place on an average once a month,
the ICRC delegates handed over to the prisoners of war books, w riting
material, records, games, food and cigarettes. They enquired if any of
them had any special wish to be fulfilled and saw to the forwarding
of family mail. The above observations also applied to Israeli prisoners
of war in the United Arab Republic and the Syrian Arab Republic.
(b) U nited Arab Republic
The delegates of the ICRC also visited the 13 Israeli prisoners of

war w ho had fallen into the hands of the armed forces of the United
Arab Republic at the end of 1969 and in 1970. W ith the exception of
tw o of the prisoners of war, who had been severely wounded and had
been visited the day after their capture, the delegates had to w ait 6 to
12 weeks before they could see the Israeli prisoners of war. The ICRC
expressed its deep concern over this situation and repeatedly insisted
that the visits should take place w ithout delay. It made several repre
sentations regarding this matter, not only in Cairo, to the authorities
there, through its delegation and the delegate-general for the Middle
East, but also in Geneva to the Permanent Mission of the UAR.
Once the first visit had been authorized, the ICRC delegates obtained
thereafter all facilities to carry out visits at regular intervals to the Israeli
prisoners of war who were interned at Abbassieh military prison and
to the wounded lying in Maadi Hospital near Cairo.
The ICRC also approached the UAR authorities with a request for
the unilateral repatriation of 5 seriously wounded Israeli prisoners of
war, in accordance w ith Articles 109 and 110 of the Third Convention.
The UAR authorities agreed to give effect to ICRC requests in a single
case, that of the Israeli pilot of an aircraft shot down on 3 August, who
had been wounded and was lying in a critical state. The repatriation
was carried out by plane on 15 August, via Cyprus. The ICRC dis
patched to Cairo its chief medical adviser who accompanied the
48
wounded pilot to Nicosia, where the latter was taken in charge by
tw o ICRC delegates in Israel. The delegates found that, from the time
he was captured to the date of his repatriation, the prisoner had received
the requisite care to be given to a person in his condition.
At the request of the Israeli authorities, the ICRC also arranged for
the repatriation of the mortal remains of an Israeli pilot who had died
the day after his capture on 4 August. In October, the ICRC transmitted
to the Egyptian Government a complaint from the Israel Government
regarding the circumstances surrounding this pilot's death.
(c) Syria
In Syria, too, despite urgent representations made orally and in

writing, the ICRC was not allowed to see three Israeli pilots who had
fallen into the hands of the armed forces of the Syrian Arab Republic
in 1970 until eighteen weeks, in the case of tw o of them and eightweeks
in the case of the third, had elapsed since their capture. Later, the ICRC
delegates were allowed to visit them at regular intervals, but never,
contrary to Article 126 of the Third Convention, at the place of
detention.
(d) R epatriation o f th e dead
In 1970, the ICRC delegates arranged for the bodies of about

50 Egyptian, Syrian and Israeli soldiers w ho had fallen in enemy territory
to be repatriated.
C IV IL IA N DETAINEES A N D INTERNEES
(a) Civilian Arab detainees in Israel and th e occupied

te rrito rie s
Visits : In 1970, the ICRC continued its visits to people from the
occupied territories and nationals of various Arab countries held in
Israel or in prisons situated in the occupied territories. ICRC delegates
carried out 8 series of visits to 14 places of detention, namely the prisons
of Ashkelon, Beer-Sheba, Chattah, Damoun, Kfar-Yona, Neve Tirza,
Ramleh and Yagour Jalame in Israel ; the prisons of Hebron, Jenin,
Nablus, Ramallah and Tulkarem on the West Bank of the Jordan, and
49
also the prison at Gaza. As is customary, these visits were follow ed by
reports, w hich were transmitted by the ICRC to the Detaining Power
and to the Power of Origin.
A t the end of the year, ICRC delegates in Israel and the occupied
territories visited about 3,300 civilians. The delegates managed to see,
generally a month after their arrest, those prisoners held under what
are designated as security regulations (sentenced, accused and adminis
trative prisoners) and common law prisoners (sentenced and accused),
and to talk w ith them w ithout witnesses.
In the field of assistance to detainees, the ICRC delegates con
tinued providing aid at various levels. They strove to give those younger
detainees who wished to carry on w ith their studies the possibility to
do so. They handed over to the Prisons Service for each prison a com
plete set of books used in schools on the West Bank, as well as
10,000 exercise-books and 4,000 pens.
They also distributed once a month parcels containing fruit, bis
cuits, cigarettes and soap to detainees who did not receive visits from
their families. About 6,500 parcels were distributed in 1970.
Detainees' families who could not afford to go and see their rela
tives in prison were given the possibility of taking advantage of aid
provided by the ICRC, which organized and paid for 470 trips by coach.
Over 30,000 relatives of detainees were transported free of charge to
the prisons in this way.
A t the request of some of the prisoners, ICRC delegates also
enquired into the plight of a certain number of indigent families and
drew the attention of the Ministry of Social Affairs in Israel, whose duty
it was to provide for the essential needs of the poorer sections of the
population, to their case.
In addition to the 14 places of detention mentioned above, dele
gates of the ICRC visited on several occasions 16 Arabs from Gaza
interned in Israeli military camps in Northern and Central Sinai. They
were all allowed to return to their homes in 1970.
Release o f detainees : Following a further request submitted by the

ICRC in May 1970, the Israeli authorities released 55 Palestinian Arab
detainees, captured at Karameh in March 1968 in the course of a raid
by Israeli armed forces into territory east of the Jordan. The repatriation
50
operation took place at Allenby Bridge, on 13 May, under the auspices
of delegates of the ICRC in Israel and Jordan.
The ICRC also requested the release of tw o civilian Arab detainees
who had been seriously wounded when captured in 1970. The Israeli
authorities agreed to release these tw o disabled civilians although they
had been condemned to life imprisonment. After having obtained the
consent of both detainees, ICRC delegates moved them to Jordan in
December.
M ilitary courts : ICRC delegates were present at several hearings

of Arabs from occupied territories accused of acts committed against
the security of the State. These hearings were conducted by Israeli
military courts in the occupied territories.
(b) Civilian Arab internees in Israel
Egyptian seamen : At the end of December 1969 and in January

1970, Israeli naval forces captured four Egyptian fishing-boats with
46 seamen on board. The ICRC immediately approached the competent
authorities to allow visits to be made to those men ; its delegates were
able to visit them on four occasions.
In March, the Israeli authorities handed over to the ICRC nine sea
men to be repatriated ; they were sent across to the west bank of the
Suez Canal on board three boats. The ICRC pursued its efforts for the
release of the remaining 37 seamen, who were repatriated under its
auspices on 6 May at El Cantara. An Egyptian civilian who had crossed
into occupied territory and had been captured three months before was
also repatriated at the same time.
On 5 September 1970, Israeli naval forces rescued several ship
wrecked seamen from the Greek vessel " Maria Kristina There were
among them 14 men of UAR nationality. When ICRC delegates visited
them on 7 September, the seamen stated that they wished to return
direct to Piraeus, where they were employed. The Israeli authorities
having decided to release them, the seamen were accompanied by
the ICRC delegates to Lod airport, whence they were flow n to Athens
on 12 September.
51
Algerian civilian internees : On 14 August 1970, the Israeli authori
ties arrested tw o Algerian nationals w ho were on board a BOAC air
craft that had made a landing at Tel-Aviv on a flight from Hong Kong.
The ICRC delegation in Israel at once approached the authorities and
asked for the tw o men to be released. The latter were visited by dele
gates eight times and were allowed to leave on 14 October.
Lebanese and Jordanian civilian internees: ICRC delegates in

Israel visited and repatriated several Lebanese and Jordanian civilians
who had inadvertently crossed the border. They also approached the
authorities on behalf of Lebanese civilians captured in the course of
Israeli raids in Lebanese territory. All those persons were released
w ithin a length of time varying from a few days to one month after
being captured.
(c) Israeli civilian internee in th e hands o f Palestinian

resistance organizations
On 1 January 1970, a Palestinian commando group operating from

Lebanese territory captured an Israeli civilian guard. The ICRC at once
approached the parties concerned w ith a view to getting news of the
man, obtaining the authorization to visit him and to forward family
messages, and negotiating his release. Delegates of the ICRC were able
to see him six times, at first in Jordan and later in Syria. Only the last
tw o visits took place in the actual place of detention, near Damascus.
(d) Israeli civilian internees in Lebanon
ICRC delegates repatriated several Israeli civilians, released shortly

after being captured, who had crossed the border into Lebanese
territory.
C IV IL IA N P O P U LATIO N S
(a) Reuniting o f fam ilies
United Arab Republic and Gaza-Sinai : Operations organized under

ICRC auspices, for the tw o -w a y reuniting of families from and to the
United Arab Republic and the occupied territories of Gaza-Sinai, con
52
tinued during all 1970. Nearly 850 persons, some of whom were from
the United Arab Republic and some from Gaza, were able to join their
families in Egypt and in the Gaza Strip respectively, bringing to 6,300
the total number of people who have been repatriated either one way
or the other since the beginning of this action, in 1967.
In addition, the ICRC organized the transfer to the United Arab
Republic of about a thousand Palestinian students who had passed
their baccalaureate examination in occupied territory and wished to
continue their studies in UAR universities, and had obtained the neces
sary authorization from the Egyptian and Israeli authorities. Other groups
of students, who had been authorized to return to their families in the
occupied territory of Gaza for their holidays or at the end of their
studies, crossed the canal in the opposite direction in five transfer
operations carried out between 24 February and 22 March 1970.
In October, the ICRC also stepped in, in order to organize the trans
fer to Lebanon of a dozen Gaza students, w ho had been admitted to
Beirut University.
Syria and the Golan Heights : Over 130 persons, displaced in Syria
by the war of June 1967, were able, through the ICRC, to rejoin their
families on the occupied Golan Heights. The total number of persons
repatriated since reuniting operations were begun in March 1969,
reached about 600, at the end of 1970.
Jordan and West Bank : All arrangements for the reuniting of fam i
lies between Jordan and the occupied territory on the West Bank of
the Jordan were organized by the Occupying Power from the beginning
of 1968. Delegates of the ICRC continued to lend their support only
in a certain number of urgent cases for members of separated families.
In 1970, out of 119 cases submitted, 75 were accepted.
Central Tracing Agency activities : During 1970, 190,000 family

messages were forwarded by the ICRC from and to Arab countries and
the territories occupied by Israel. By the end of the year, the total
number of messages exchanged since June 1967 reached nearly
1.5 million.
Since the beginning of hostilities, the ICRC received some 13,000
enquiries concerning missing soldiers and civilians, and was able to
provide answers in respect of over 3,000 cases brought to its notice ;
53
in about 50 per cent of the cases, the answer was negative, the missing
person not having been traced despite the efforts undertaken to that end.
(b) Assistance to civilian inhabitants in occupied

te rrito rie s
Expropriations : The ICRC delegation in Israel was asked to deal

w ith several cases of expropriation, by the Israeli authorities, of land
belonging to the inhabitants of occupied territory, the most important
cases being those of Beit-Sahour and Kirbet-Beit Zakaria, west of the
Jordan. In the former case, the ICRC delegation in Israel was informed
by the local population, at the end of 1969 and the beginning of 1970,
that the authorities in occupied territory intended to expropriate for
military reasons a considerable portion of the district of Beit Sahour,
near Jerusalem; the delegates took the matter up several times with
the authorities on behalf of the persons affected. In the second case,
the ICRC delegation in Israel again approached the authorities at the
request of a number of landowners concerning the projected establish
ment of kibboutzim at Kirbet Beit Zakaria; in November, it delivered
orally a note on this subject at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the ICRC
delegation was informed that the Ministry did not wish to pursue this
matter any further.
Evacuation o f people : The delegation visited on several occasions,

in the new areas assigned to them, three groups of Bedouins from Sinai
and Gaza, who had been moved inside those areas for security reasons.
After seeing for themselves on the spot the new living conditions of
the Bedouins, the ICRC delegates took several different steps on behalf
of these people. In particular, they approached the military authorities
w ith requests that the displaced persons might be allowed to return,
at least temporarily, to their former dwelling areas in order to tend their
trees (mainly palm groves) and gather their crops.
Destruction o f houses : In reply to the ICRC's various demands that

the destruction of houses in the occupied territories should cease, the
Israeli authorities confirmed that they could not consider giving up
that method of combating subversive activities. The ICRC delegates,
while reaffirming their fundamental position based on Article 53 of the
54
Fourth Geneva Convention, thereupon concentrated on providing
assistance to the victims.
At the end of March, at the request of the inhabitants of the Fadous
district at Beit Lahiya north of Gaza, the ICRC delegation approached
the military authorities in order that sw ift measures should be taken
to re-house some 280 persons whose homes had been destroyed.
In addition, it sent 40 tents and 200 blankets to the Ministry of Social
Affairs in Israel to be given out to the homeless.
Emergency relief was also distributed in co-operation w ith the
Ministry of Social Affairs, follow ing the destruction of other houses in
Gaza and in parts of the West Bank.
On the Golan Heights, the delegates of the ICRC at Kuneitra found,
during 1970, that the Israeli Army was demolishing Arab villages that
had been abandoned by their Syrian inhabitants during the June 1967
war. The delegation, on several occasions, approached the authorities
concerned on this matter, but w ithout any effect. The Israeli authorities
argued that the destruction of these abandoned houses had been
ordered for security reasons, as they were used by Palestinian com
mando groups as arms depots and springboards for attack.
Expulsions : The delegation communicated to the Israeli authorities

several times the ICRC's deep concern and its objections over the
renewal on an increased scale, during the second half of 1970, of expul
sions to Jordan of Arabs from the occupied territories, who were
suspected of having taken part in activities endangering the security
of the State.
The ICRC had received numerous complaints from the Jordanian
authorities, as well as from the Jordanian Red Crescent Society which
had sent it a list containing several hundred names of persons expelled.
Examination o f the health situation in Gaza and Sinai : In June 1970,

a doctor-delegate of the ICRC visited all government and private hos
pitals and dispensaries in the Gaza Strip and in Sinai. His findings and
suggestions were incorporated in a detailed report, which was sent to
the tw o Governments concerned, namely Israel and the United Arab
Republic.
Following the appearance of some cases of cholera during the
second half of 1970, the delegation enquired from the public health
55
authorities as to the measures taken to combat the disease. Thanks to
these measures, the epidemic had been practically stemmed by the
end of the year.
A ction for the disabled : Since 1968, the ICRC delegation in Gaza
had started to draw up a list of war disabled, in Gaza itself and in
Northern Sinai, in need of artificial limbs. It was found that there were
130 persons requiring assistance. Thanks to the financial aid provided
by the German Red Cross in the Federal Republic of Germany 1 and
to the co-operation of the Magen David Adorn (M D A ), which had
agreed to examine amputees free of charge at its Jaffa clinic and to
carry out their functional rehabilitation after they had been fitted with
an artificial limb produced by a Tel-Aviv specialized firm, an action for
the disabled was begun in November 1969.
This was continued all through 1970, when 32 disabled men were
fitted w ith 35 kinds of appliances. They were brought to the M DA by
the ICRC delegation which arranged for their transport on several
different occasions to Jaffa for medical examination and for fitting the
artificial limb.
Hardship relief : The Israeli authorities having given their consent

to the ICRC for the dispatch of foodstuffs to the civilian population
of Gaza-Sinai and the West Bank of the Jordan, an initial consignment
of 300 tons of flour, donated by the Swiss Confederation, was unloaded
at the port of Ashdod in November. The consignment was collected
and distributed by the Ministry of Social Affairs in Israel, in co-operation
w ith the ICRC delegation in Gaza. By the end of the year, 150 tons of
flour had been distributed among some 57,000 Bedouin inhabitants of
Northern and Central Sinai.
In September, the ICRC opened a credit of 100,000 Swiss francs
for the implementation of a material and technical assistance pro
gramme to be extended to the ten local branches of the Jordanian and
UAR Red Crescent Societies in the occupied territories. The programme
was submitted at the end of December 1970 to the Israeli authorities
for approval.
1 See A n n u a l Report, 1969, p. 52.
56
(c) Assistance to civilian populations in Arab countries
Jordan : In August 1970, the ICRC dispatched 400 tons of flour,

a gift from the Swiss Confederation, to the Jordanian Red Crescent,
so that it might supplement, w ith extra food, the parcels which it had
been distributing regularly to persons displaced because of the June
1967 war and w ho did not receive a monthly food ration from UNRWA.
United Arab Republic : The Head of the ICRC Relief Section went
to the United Arab Republic in August 1970, to examine the question
of food relief allocations to displaced persons from the Suez Canal
Zone. As a result of this visit, the European Economic Community
dispatched 500 tons of flour to the Ministry of Social Affairs in the
UAR, which was responsible for its distribution, in co-operation with
the Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Republic and w ith the
ICRC delegation in Cairo.
ICRC medical mission to southern Lebanon : After the numerous

border incidents that occurred in the southern part of Lebanon during
the first half of 1970, the ICRC sent to that area a medical team with
instructions to offer its co-operation to the Lebanese Red Cross action
on behalf of the victims. The team, consisting of a doctor-delegate and
a male nurse, left Geneva on 14 July.
The members of the team were based at Saida, and their mission
was to care for persons wounded through military operations and to
provide medical aid to civilians in remote villages.
From m id-July to mid-November, they visited about 30 villages
in the southern border zone (from Nakoura to Chebaa) as well as
groups of people who had temporarily left their villages situated close
to the frontier and had gathered in the open fields, living in tents w ith-
outany medical assistance whatsoever (around Nabaal Haman, Dardera,
Bab-et-Tniyé and Saradat). During their rounds, they examined up to
180 patients daily.
In August, the Lebanese authorities had to combat an outbreak of
cholera. A t their request, the ICRC and the Lebanese Red Cross played
a large part in the vaccination of the inhabitants of southern Lebanon.
Thus, between 16 August and 3 September the ICRC team vaccinated
nearly 10,000 persons in the villages which it used to visit regularly.
This medical aid was terminated in mid-November.
57
Finally, it should be mentioned that, on tw o occasions, at the time
of the aircraft hijackings and during the Jordan events in September,
the team was sent in all haste to Amman, to help in providing care for
the victims.
EVENTS IN JO R D A N
H IJA C K IN G OF PLANES
On 6 September 1970, tw o aircraft— one belonging to Swissair

and the other to TWA—were diverted to the aerodrome at Zerka, in
Jordan, by the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine). A
similar attempt was made on an aircraft belonging to the El Al company,
but the attack failed and the plane finally landed in London, where a
Palestinian girl and the dead body of the man who was w ith her were
handed over to the British authorities.
On 9 September, a BOAC plane was forced to land at Zerka.
A t the request of the countries concerned, the ICRC took action
by affording the passengers and the crew of the diverted planes protec
tion and assistance.
* *
On 6 September, the PFLP contacted the head of the ICRC delega

tion at Amman. He agreed to proceed to Zerka where he ascertained
the conditions under which the passengers were being held. The PFLP
stated the terms they laid down for the release of the Swissair pas
sengers : the three Palestinians detained in Switzerland were to be freed
w ithin seventy-two hours.
On the follow ing day, the PFLP clarified its position and announced
that it w ould hold the West German, American, British, Israeli and
Swiss nationals until the follow ing conditions were fulfilled : release
of the six Palestinians detained in Europe, namely three in the Federal
Republic of Germany and three in Switzerland ; release of the Palesti
nian girl handed over to the British authorities on the previous day,
and release by Israel of a number of Palestinian detainees. The time
58
lim it set was seventy-two hours, namely 10 September at 02.00 hours
GMT (subsequently extended to 08.00 hours GMT).
The representatives in Berne of four countries (Federal Republic
of Germany, United States of America, Great Britain and Switzerland),
whose nationals were among the persons detained, entrusted the Inter
national Committee w ith an assignment to act as a neutral intermediary.
ICRC activities designed to ensure protection for persons held : On

7 September, the ICRC accepted the proposed assignment. It decided
to send a special mission to Amman, and made the follow ing announce
ment on that same evening :
" The In ternational C om m ittee o f the Red Cross, on 7 September, held an
extraordinary plenary m eeting and decided to strengthen its delegation at
A m m an by sending a special m ission th a t is to leave to n ig h t fo r Jordan. Its
in s tru c tio n s are to extend its assistance, w ith o u t d istin ctio n o f na tio na lity, to the
passengers and crew s o f the tw o aircraft hijacked on 6 September. It is to get
in to u c h w ith the Jo rd a n ia n G overnm ent and the Palestine organizations and,
if necessary, may act as interm ediary betw een th e latter and the governm ents
involved.
The ICRC points o u t th a t its role is purely hum anitarian. It goes w ith o u t
saying th a t any decisions to be taken w ith regard to the c o n d itio n s laid d o w n
fo r th e release o f the passengers and crew s and fo r the return o f the tw o
a ircraft m ust fall w ith in the sole co m p e te n cy o f the governm ents concerned.
The ICRC underlines, too, th a t it is in cu m b e n t upon the authorities or persons
h o ld in g th e passengers and crew s to treat them in c o n fo rm ity w ith hum anitarian
rules."
On its arrival in Amman on 8 September, the special mission con

tacted the Jordanian Government and the tw o Palestinian organiza
tions, the OLP and the PFLP. As already mentioned, its primary purpose
was to assist the persons held and, if need be, request and supervise
the improvement of conditions of detention. It could also act as an
intermediary between the parties concerned in organizing the evacua
tion of the passengers, provided there were no discrimination.
On that same day, the Governments of the Federal Republic of
Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland informed the ICRC of their
intention to release the Palestinians detained in those countries and
asked the ICRC to inform the Palestinian movements of their decision.
Following various approaches made to the Palestinian leaders, on
10 September the special ICRC mission succeeded in having the PFLP
ultimatum extended for a further seventy-two hours, to end on 13 Sep
tember at 08.00 hours GMT. The PFLP proposed releasing the women
59
and children against the release of the Palestinians detained in Europe,
and the men against the release of a number of Palestinian detainees
in Israel. The Governments were averse to this proposal as being of a
discriminative nature.
On 11 September, it appeared that the Palestinian leaders had
decided to evacuate to Amman those still held at Zerka. The evacuation
was finally carried out on 12 September, under the auspices of the
ICRC, but it was coupled w ith the seizure of fifty-fo u r hostages. The
persons released left Amman for Nicosia on 13 September, mainly in
planes chartered by the ICRC.
Mr. Jacques Freymond, Vice- President of the ICRC, went to Amman
on 11 September to contact the special mission and review the situa
tion. On the follow ing day, being unable to ascertain some of the PFLP
claims regarding Israel and faced w ith the discriminative attitude adop
ted by the Front— which proposed to negotiate the release of the
hostages country by country— the Vice-President of the ICRC decided
to suspend negotiations for the time being. On 13 September, he
returned to Geneva w ith part of the special mission, while the ICRC
delegation at Amman, along w ith the special delegates including a
doctor who had remained behind, pursued their efforts towards im prov
ing the lot of the fifty-fo ur hostages.
In the evening of 13 September, Mr. Marcel A. Naville, President
of the ICRC, and Mr. Freymond proceeded to Berne to contact the
representatives of the Governments concerned. On the follow ing day,
the ICRC held an extraordinary plenary meeting at the close of which
it issued the follow ing press releases :
" The International C om m ittee o f the Red Cross held an extraordinary p le

nary m eeting on 14 Septem ber 1970. It w e lcom ed th e m em bers o f the special
m ission, headed by M r. A. Rochat, w h o had intervened on behalf o f th e pas
sengers and crew s o f the three aircraft in Jo rd a n , and expressed its w arm
appreciation o f all th e y had done and o f the results th e y had obtained.
The International C om m ittee also to o k note o f th e reports su b m itte d by
the President, M r. N aville, and the V ice-P resident, M r. Freym ond, on th e w o rk
o f the special m ission in Am m an, and on th e ir m eetings in Berne w ith repre
sentatives o f th e governm ents concerned.
A fte r having exam ined these reports, the ICRC reiterated its determ in a tion
to co n tin ue its action fo r th e p ro te ctio n w ith o u t d is tin c tio n o f all persons
detained in Jordan, and to keep in to u ch w ith all governm ents and parties
concerned. To th is end, it granted to its delegation in A m m an fa c ilitie s to
a ccom plish th is task.
60
Jo rd a n 1970. D istrib u tion o f relief to the p o p ulatio n . Photo U. G ro n kvist/IC R C

>
In co n clu sio n , the ICRC urg e n tly appeals to all parties to th e c o n flic t to
refrain from carrying o u t any reprisal a c tio n ."
" W ith th e aim o f ensuring the c o n tin u ity o f its action on behalf o f those
s till detained in Jo rd a n fo llo w in g th e h ijacking o f th e three Swissair, TW A
and BO AC aircraft, th e International C om m ittee o f the Red Cross has asked
M r. P. Boissier, D irector o f th e H e n ry-D u n a n t Institute, and M r. M. Boisard,
at present Head o f th e ICRC delegation in th e U nited Arab R epublic, to leave
fo r A m m an im m ediately.
M r. Boissier w ill fly from Geneva to m o rro w , W ednesday, 16 September,
w h ile M r. Boisard, w h o is still in Cairo, is expected any m om ent at ICRC
headquarters before proceeding to the Jo rd a n ia n capital.
The tw o special delegates o f th e ICRC w ill be assisted on th e sp o t by
th e ICRC perm anent delegation in Jordan, headed by M r. G. W inteler, w h ich
w ill, at the same tim e, carry on its custom ary activitie s on behalf o f th e victim s
o f h o s tilitie s ."
A t a press conference held on 14 September, the President of the

ICRC said: "T he ICRC has no intention of giving up the assignment
it has accepted in the matter of the hijacking of aircraft. It must secure
a clearer statement from the Palestinian organizations regarding the
conditions they lay down for the release of their hostages."
The ICRC continued its negotiations— which were further ham
pered by the outbreak of civil war in Jordan, on 17 September— for
visits to, and the release of, the fifty-fo u r hostages. On 25 September,
the Jordanian authorities handed over to the ICRC delegation in
Amman sixteen hostages found by the Jordanian armed forces and
who left the country shortly afterwards. On 26 September, another
thirty-tw o were released, handed overto the ICRC delegation in Amman
through the UAR Embassy, and repatriated by the ICRC on the fo llo w
ing day. The remaining six hostages were handed over to the ICRC
delegation in the same manner, on 29 September, and left Amman
the next day.
On 1 October, an RAF plane flew to Cairo with the seven Palesti
nians released by the Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany,
Great Britain and Switzerland.
Assistance to detainees : Concomitantly w ith its action to ensure

the protection of the persons detained, the ICRC also gave them assis
tance. On 6 September, the ICRC delegation in Amman visited the
281 passengers detained in the tw o aircraft grounded at Zerka. The
ICRC medical team attached to the Beirut delegation proceeded there
61
Jordan 1 9 7 0. On th e road to Am m an. Photo G. G o rd o n -L e n n o x /IC R C

immediately, and on 9 September it was joined by a team sent out
from Geneva.
Following the diversion of a third aircraft to Zerka w ith 150 persons
aboard, on 9 September, the ICRC chartered an aircraft which left
Geneva for Amman on 10 September, w ith tw o doctors, several nurses,
and a large consignment of medical equipment, tents, blankets, toilet
requisites and medicines.
On 11 September, however, follow ing rumours about foreign m ili
tary intervention, a state of emergency was declared at Zerka aero
drome. The Palestinian commandos ordered an ICRC doctor and the
nurse who had come w ith him to leave the aircraft, and the ICRC convoy
carrying relief supplies was prohibited access to the aerodrome.
The ICRC delegates approached the Palestinian leaders several
times w ith the request that the passengers be evacuated from the air
craft and taken to a safe place, and arranged for those w ho benefited
from this measure to be transported to Amman.
* *
The ICRC already had occasion to intervene in a similar matter

on 23 July, when an Olympic Airways plane was captured by Palesti
nian commandos as it was about to land at Athens airport. The authors
of that attempt demanded the release of seven Palestinians w ho were
being detained in Greece and threatened to blow up the plane and all
its occupants if their demand were not complied with.
In the meantime, another aircraft, w ith Mr. A Rochat, Delegate-
General of the ICRC for the Middle East, on board, was flying in from
Cairo and preparing to land. Mr. Rochat noticed that the aircraft was
not being brought in to land the usual way, and, on enquiring, was
informed by the pilot of what was taking place on the airport runway
down below. As soon as his aircraft had touched down, Mr. Rochat
introduced himself to the Chief of Police at the airport and offered to
do what he could to save the passengers from the death that was
threatening them.
A t the request of the Greek authorities, Mr. Rochat first spoke to
the commandos from the control tower. It was only after he had pleaded
62
w ith them for a long time that the ICRC Delegate-General was able
to persuade the Palestinians to allow him to approach the aircraft and
finally to enter and to engage in negotiations for the release of the
passengers.
After the commandos had obtained from the Greek authorities a
promise that their comrades would be released w ithin 30 days, they
agreed to let the occupants alight, but insisted on keeping Mr. Rochat
w ith them as a hostage, to ensure that the plane would take off with
them. The aircraft ultimately left Athens w ith eight members of the
crew, the seven commandos and Mr. Rochat. After proceeding first
towards Beirut, the aircraft changed course for Cairo where it landed
early in the evening.
C IV IL W AR
Prelim inary measures taken by th e ICRC
On 17 September, about ten days after the aircraft were diverted

to Zerka aerodrome, civil war broke out in Jordan. From the very start,
the building housing the ICRC delegation in Amman was the centre of
the fighting area. Before long the delegation's radio station was des
troyed and communications w ith Geneva came to a stop. Incessant
shooting prevented the ICRC delegates in Amman— six persons includ
ing a doctor and a radio operator— from leaving the building for four
days.
Yet on 16 September the ICRC in Geneva had received a last mes
sage from its delegation in Amman, asking it to prepare for any con
tingency and to organize a medical team which could leave at short
notice. On 18 September, the ICRC decided to send a large medical
team, composed of a surgeon and six nurses, to Amman. It also
chartered a plane w hich left on the same day, carrying 7 tons of medica
ments, surgical instruments, tents, blankets and other relief supplies.
It asked the medical team attached to its delegation in Lebanon to
proceed to Amman w ithout delay. Mr. Boissier and Mr. Boisard l , who
were held up in Beirut owing to the outbreak of civil war in Jordan,
were instructed to do everything possible to assist the victims of the
hostilities.
63
To enable the aircraft it had chartered to fly from Beirut to Amman
w ith tw o delegates and a medical team of tw o doctors and three nurses,
the ICRC secured the agreement of the Jordanian Government and the
Palestinian representatives. On 20 September, the aircraft, bearing the
red cross sign was the first to land at Amman since the beginning of
the fighting. As soon as the aircraft was unloaded, it returned to
Beirut. The follow ing day it took off for Amman w ith 4 tons of various
medical supplies provided by the Kuwait Red Crescent and 600 bot
tles of blood plasma from the Lebanese Red Cross, escorted by an
ICRC delegate. On 21 September, it returned to Beirut w ith an initial
convoy of civilian casualties, w ho were hospitalized by the Lebanese
Red Cross.
Meanwhile the ICRC had received appeals for aid from the " Palesti
nian Red Crescent ". The King of Jordan also appealed to various Gov
ernments for emergency aid and asked the ICRC to co-ordinate all
relief operations for the victims of hostilities. On-the-spot enquiries
made by the ICRC delegates showed that the medical and food require
ments were immense. Unfortunately it was virtually impossible to move
about in Amman owing to the intense fighting, and even the possibili
ties of providing relief were limited.
The supply problem was acute, and on 22 September a further
ICRC flig h t carried some 6 Vz tons of food to Amman (bread, tinned
food and cheese) which, like the relief supplies flow n in tw o more
flights the follow ing day, came from the UNRWA and UNICEF stocks
in Beirut.
In view of the size of the relief operation, the ICRC decided, on
23 September, to establish a relief co-ordinating group. It issued the
follow ing press release :
" In order to cope w ith th e situ a tio n arising from the tra g ic events occurring
in J o rd a n , th e ICRC has set up w ith in its O perations D ivision, in Geneva,
directed by M r. R. Courvoisier, a relief c o -o rd in a tin g g ro u p led by M r. K. Warras,
Secretary-G eneral o f the Finnish Red Cross and V ice-C hairm an o f th e League
o f Red Cross Societies.
The g ro u p 's firs t em ergency measure w as the im m ediate dispatch to the
Jo rd a n ia n capital o f a fo u r-m e m b e r m ission com prising Dr. R. M arti, ICRC
m edical co n su ltan t, M r. 0 . Burckhard, form er ICRC delegate to Am m an,
M r. A. Beaud, head o f ICRC Relief S ection, and M r. H. M athiessen, N orw egian
Red Cross relief expert.
The ob je ctive o f th e m ission, w h ic h le ft Geneva on 23 Septem ber, w ill be
to determ ine from each party to the c o n flic t th e scope fo r ICRC action and to
step up th e relief w o rk already started by th e In ternational Com m ittee.
64
W ith a v ie w to o b ta in in g th e necessary su p p ort fo r its m ission, the ICRC,
in liaison w ith the League o f Red Cross Societies and after co n su ltin g a num ber
o f Red Crescent Societies in th e M id d le East, has launched an appeal to all
N ational Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Lion and Sun Societies on behalf
o f the v ictim s o f the c o n flic t."
Alerted to the situation by its delegates in Amman, the ICRC

released the follow ing statement on the same day:
"T h e International C om m ittee is seriously alarmed by the tragic situ a tio n
prevailing in the Jo rd a n capital w here m any m ilita ry and civilia n w o u n d e d are
uncared fo r and in grave danger.
The ICRC therefore appeals to the governm ents and all forces operating
in Jo rd a n to apply in all circum stances th e universally recognized hum anitarian
rules w h ic h dem and th a t in every co n flic t, w h a te ver its form , all w o u n d e d be
colle cte d and cared for.
The ICRC urges th e parties involved to co n clu d e a 2 4 -h o u r truce w ith in
A m m an and a radius o f 20 km round th e to w n , starting at 5 a.m. G M T on
25 Septem ber, to perm it th e rem oval and trea tm e nt o f the w ounded.
Such truces are provided fo r in the Geneva C onventions in the fo llo w in g
te rm s: 'W h e n e v e r circum stances perm it, an arm istice or a suspension o f fire
shall be arranged, or local arrangem ents made, to perm it the rem oval, exchange
and tran sp o rt o f the w o u n d e d le ft on th e ba ttlefie ld '.
The ICRC also asks the fig h tin g forces to gra n t its delegates th e necessary
p ro te ctio n and fa c ilitie s to enable them to discharge th e ir m ission. Its delegates
are ready to be o f service to th e au tho ritie s concerned in im p le m e n tin g the
truce and relief o p e ra tio n s."
Under a temporary cease-fire agreement concluded by the tw o

parties to the conflict, the mission responsible for making a survey
of the requirements was able to proceed to Amman on 24 September.
The ICRC called a meeting at its headquarters of representatives of
several National Red Crescent Societies from Arab countries (Algeria,
Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and United Arab
Republic). A representative of the " Palestinian Red Crescent" was
also present. The meeting discussed measures for co-ordinating the
relief supplies provided by Arab countries and forwarding them to
Jordan through ICRC channels. A Tunisian Red Crescent delegate was
appointed to represent Arab National Societies on the relief co-ordinat
ing group set up by the ICRC.
Again on 24 September, the ICRC launched an appeal to all
National Red Cross, Red Crescent, and Red Lion and Sun Societies,
followed by tw o further appeals, on 6 and 9 October. The response
was immediate. A statement of the contributions is given on page 133
of this Report.
65
R elief action
Even before hostilities ceased, on 27 September, the ICRC was

arranging for the dispatch of the relief supplies already assembled to
the regions devastated by fighting whose needs were immense. The
operation was developed in several sectors:
— in Amman, where the tw o aircraft chartered by the Red Cross con
tinually flew in food and medical supplies from Beirut (from
20 September to 31 October there were 92 flights w hich carried
582 tons of food and other relief supplies) ;
— from Israel to Jordan; a relief convoy led by the head of the ICRC
delegation to Israel had crossed Allenby Bridge as early as 24 Sep
tember. In the days follow ing, several convoys escorted by ICRC
delegates carried almost 1,000 tons of relief from the ICRC,
UNRWA, the West Bank population and municipalities, and the
Israeli Government;
— from Syria to Jordan. The ICRC endeavoured to send relief to the
north of Jordan from Damascus. A delegate and three doctors
went to the Irbid area on 30 September.
A t the ICRC's request, as from 26 September a number of National

Societies sent medical teams to work under the ICRC flag. In addition,
about fifty aircraft sent by the United States, British and French Govern
ments landed field hospitals in Jordan. Shortly afterwards, a medical
team sent by the Government of the USSR joined the field hospitals,
which were placed under the red cross sign and co-ordinated on the
spot by the ICRC.
Towards the beginning of October, w ith the arrival of additional
personnel and the installation of medical teams in given sectors, order
was in part re-established. Bases were set up in the King Hussein
Hospital and the Amman municipal stadium. A central supply depot
was established, and a more effective system of relief distribution came
into operation.
The permanent delegations of the ICRC in Lebanon, Syria and
Israel provided the logistic support required by the bases and the teams
in the field. Radio communication was established between Beirut,
Amman, Damascus and Geneva, and also by means of the tw o Red
Cross aircraft. Moreover, the ICRC delegation in Beirut, one of the
66
main ports of the M iddle East, had splendid co-operation from the
Lebanese Red Cross, w hich played a major part in the general effort.
The administrative staff from Geneva headquarters made regular
trips into the field. The head of the relief operation arrived in Jordan
on 4 October, and the report which he made gives a clear idea of the
situation :
" It is hard to assess the present situ a tio n, o w in g to the dearth o f reliable
in fo rm a tio n and statistics. The precise num ber o f killed and w o u n d e d w ill
p ro b a b ly never be kn o w n . A n im m ense a m o u n t o f damage has been caused
in some areas, w h ile in others it has n o t been as serious as it w as said to be.
Living c o n d itio n s are gra d u a lly im p ro vin g a lth o ug h the lack o f w a te r and
e le c tric ity is still a m ajor problem . In the m edical sphere, eleven teams com prising
516 d o ctors and nurses, plus th e te ch nical personnel, have treated 5,107 patients.
Despite all th e d iffic u ltie s, th e activities o f these teams have been effective
and extrem ely w e ll c o -o rd in a te d , th a nks to the d a ily m eetings held by the
personnel as w e ll as th e use o f th e w ireless n e tw o rk made available by the
B ritish team. The p re lim in a ry em ergency phase may be regarded as e n d e d ;
w e are n o w entering upon th e second stage, th e stage o f co n solidated action,
w h ic h w ill enable us to m eet th e co n tin u in g needs created by the s itu a tio n ."
Following this report, plans were immediately drawn up for the

second and more important phase of the operation. In Geneva, tw o
further appeals were made for funds and supplies. The recruitment of
additional and replacement staff was successfully launched.
Better working conditions were prevailing in Jordan. Plans were
laid for regular distribution, in co-operation w ith the Jordan National
Red Crescent Society and the " Palestinian Red Crescent ". Thus the
situation gradually improved even though security was still relative.
The Red Cross co-ordinated the activities of the medical teams. Plan
ning was undertaken w ith a view to assessing the amount and the
duration of the medical care to be given to about 150 wounded civil
ians who, owing to their condition, still required hospitalization.
The third and last phase of the operation was planned and carried
out at the end of October. It called for the gradual withdrawal of the
medical teams and for a regrouping of the wounded who were still
under medical supervision in a single hospital. This was done under
an agreement between the Red Cross and the Jordanian Ministry of
Health whereby the King Hussein Hospital was made available to the
Red Cross. The staff was jointly supplied by the Ministry of Health,
the Army Medical Services and the Red Cross medical units. By 30 O cto
ber everything had been got ready. Moreover, the Governments of
67
France, Great Britain and the United States of America agreed that
the equipment of their medical teams be assigned to the Red Cross
hospital, which was thus able to work efficaciously. In addition to this
material it received supplies from various National Societies and from
individual donors.
By 30 November, the 174 wounded who had been transported to
Lebanon by the ICRC at the outbreak of hostilities had left the Lebanese
hospitals. Only twenty-three of them, who were still receiving treat
ment and therefore not ready for repatriation had to w ait until
29 November before they could be flow n to Jordan. From the case
files held by the Red Cross and the medical teams sponsored by various
Governments, it emerges that about 2,500 patients were admitted to
the hospitals in which the teams were working. More than 2,300 opera
tions were carried out, and more than 7,850 out-patients came for con
sultations.
From 1 November to the closing of the operation, the distribution
of relief was carried out by the Jordan National Red Crescent Society
and the "Palestinian Red Crescent ", under the supervision of the
Jordan relief co-ordinating group. In the confusion which set in at the
start of the conflict, it was not possible to register the arrival of all sup
plies in systematic fashion. The records show, however, that more than
1.800.000 kg of relief supplies were received and distributed by the
teams taking part in the Jordan operation. The supplies included
1.500.000 kg of food, 112,000 kg of pharmaceuticals and medical
material, plus a considerable number of tents, blankets, clothing and
other articles.
On 1 December, talks were initiated w ith the officials of the King
Hussein Hospital regarding wounded persons still in hospital. The
number of patients was decreasing from day to day, and the Jordanian
medical authorities decided, in agreement w ith the Red Cross doctors,
that the local medical personnel were perfectly able to provide the care
required. It was therefore agreed that the remaining Red Cross medical
personnel should leave Jordan on 10 December. On that day the
hospital had only fourteen in-patients.
The last relief convoy for Jordan left Beirut on 5 December with
food, medical supplies, clothing and tents. It reached Amman on
6 December and the Red Cross immediately carried out the distribu
tion of supplies w ith the aid of the " Palestinian Red Crescent ",
68
On 9 December this last mission ended, and on 10 December the
doctors, nurses and other Red Cross personnel left for home.
Throughout the relief action, the ICRC benefited from the support
of a number of National Societies, which helped it bring its task of
co-ordination to a successful conclusion by delegating experts, both
in Geneva and Beirut. These experts worked w ith ICRC officials par
ticularly in the field of relief, transport, information and public relations.
Conventional activities
Prisoners : Parallel to the relief action described, the ICRC applied

itself to carrying out the traditional tasks incumbent upon it under the
Geneva Conventions of 1949.
The ICRC permanent delegation in Amman approached the J o r
danian authorities w ith a view to visiting prisoners. On 26 September,
it had access to three Syrian prisoners-of-war. It also visited several
hundred Palestinian detainees. A few days later, the Jordanian authori
ties informed the ICRC that all prisoners of war had been released.
Family messages and tracing requests: In the absence of postal

communications between Jordan and the territories occupied by Israel,
and as it had been impossible to establish any contact between Jordan
and the outside world since the beginning of the civil war, the ICRC
delegation in Amman was faced w ith a large influx of messages received
through the ICRC’s various delegations in the Middle East and the
Central Tracing Agency in Geneva. The Agency immediately sent one
of its officials to Amman to set up at the delegation's headquarters a
card index of the names of all persons to be traced, whether soldiers or
civilians. This office, once it was installed, follow ed the system used
in Geneva. A locally recruited Jordanian official was trained to apply
the methods and subsequently continued the work, under the respon
sibility of the ICRC delegates.
In the first place, some 25,000 messages had to be transmitted to
the addressees. W ith the efficient co-operation of the Jordan National
Red Crescent Society, the Jordanian postal authorities (w ho gave
priority to messages from the delegation) and a large number of volun
teers throughout the country, the messages were distributed and most
of them returned w ith in four weeks to the enquirer, w ith a reply.
69
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that the ICRC representatives tra
velled throughout the country to inform the inhabitants of remote v il
lages and hamlets that they could write to the delegation in Amman,
which w ould undertake to forward family messages, to trace missing
persons and to help everyone solve any other problem of a purely
humanitarian nature, where the intervention only of a neutral institution
such as the Red Cross was possible.
* *
It w ill be recalled that the ICRC was already active in Jordan

before the outbreak of civil war, in June 1970. At the request of the
governments concerned and after securing the agreement of the J o r
danian authorities and the Palestinian movements, it organized the
evacuation from Jordan of 540 nationals of different countries, on 12
and 13 June, in five flights by the tw o planes chartered for the purpose.
On 13 June, it flew out 6 tons of medicaments for the wounded
in the Amman hospitals.
A R A B IA N PEN IN SU LA
During 1970, the ICRC delegation in the Arabian Peninsula, com

posed of the head of the delegation and a delegate, was active in
three fields : prisoners of war, political detainees and medical and food
assistance to the inhabitants.
PRISONERS OF W A R
In th e People's D em ocratic Republic o f Yemen and in

Saudi Arabia
In the fighting which, in November 1969, broke out in Hadhramaut

(the frontier province in the northern part of the People's Democratic
Republic of Yemen) between the armed forces of Saudi Arabia and of
the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, thirty-seven Saudi Ara
bian soldiers and tw enty-four Southern Yemeni soldiers were captured
and interned at Aden and Riyadh respectively.
70
Following the approaches made to both parties by Mr. Rochat,
Delegate-General for the Middle East, the ICRC delegates visited the
prisoners of war three times in 1970. The thirty-seven Saudi Arabian
prisoners were visited on 13 January, 6 June and 5 December, and the
Southern Yemeni prisoners on 21 January, 23 June and 15 December.
As fighting did not last very long, the ICRC delegates also ap
proached the Government of Saudi Arabia and of the People's Demo
cratic Republic of Yemen, to organize a general exchange of prisoners
of war. The negotiations lasted until December, when the tw o parties
agreed that the exchange should take place in Cairo, under the auspices
of the ICRC. The operation was in fact carried out early in 1971.
P O LIT IC A L DETAINEES
In th e People's D em ocratic Republic o f Yemen
With the agreement of the Southern Yemeni authorities, the ICRC

delegates continued to visit a number of political detainees in Aden.
They visited the Mansura prison three times— in January, June and
October— and saw more than 220 detainees.
On each visit, the ICRC delegates handed parcels containing food,
clothing and books to any detainees who received none from their
families. Medicines and spectacles were also provided for detainees
who were in need of them.
The ICRC delegation issued a weekly supply of rice, flour, sugar,
tea and milk to about fifteen particularly needy families of political
detainees.
M E D IC A L A N D FOOD A S SISTAN C E TO THE PO P U LATIO N
In th e People's D em ocratic Republic of Yemen
The surgical team which the USSR Alliance of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies made available to the ICRC in November 1969—
a team comprising tw o surgeons and one anaesthetist, all of whom
were highly qualified— operated in the Aden Republican Hospital up
to 20 May 1970. During its mission, which lasted from 20 November
1969 to 20 May 1970, the team carried out 898 operations, treated
589 fractures, and held 4,870 polyclinic consultations.
71
With the departure of the Soviet doctors, ICRC medical assistance
in the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen came to an end.
In November 1967, on the eve of the country's accession to indepen
dence, the ICRC had sent an initial surgical team to Aden to relieve
the shortage of medical personnel follow ing the withdrawal of the
British forces. As the new Government was not in a position to set up
its own health services, the ICRC continued its emergency action
in 1968, 1969 and 1970, thanks to the co-operation of a number of
National Societies which provided the requisite personnel.
On the other hand, in the field of food assistance, the ICRC pursued
its activities throughout 1970. Several consignments of food were sent.
On 11 March, an ICRC aircraft carried 4 tons of powdered milk, 2 tons
of rice and 1 ton of medicaments to Aden. Further consignments, to ta l
ling 76 tons of powdered milk and 50 tons of flour, went by ship.
The medicaments were handed over to the competent authorities and
to hospitals, w hile the food was distributed through the local Red
Crescent to needy families in Aden and its surroundings. About 1,200
families were supplied w ith milk and flour every month.
To ensure that this action should be brought to a successful con
clusion, the ICRC obtained about 30 tons of milk from the Swiss
Confederation, and 50 tons of flour and 50 tons of milk from the
European Economic Community. The value of the consignments
totalled about 490,000 Swiss francs.
In th e Yemen Arab Republic
During the first few weeks of 1970, the northern provinces of the
Yemen Arab Republic were the scene of incidents between the govern
mental army and royalist tribes.
From 6 January to 14 February, the ICRC delegates tried to install
a surgical team composed of a surgeon, an anaesthetist and a nurse,
at Saada, in the northern part of the country. After treating nearly
2,670 patients, the team had to leave Saada because there was no
guarantee regarding security or the arrival of supplies.
On 19 February, the Yemeni Minister of Health proposed that the
ICRC should install its surgical team in the hospital at Khamer, a small
town 90 km north of the capital. This was the hospital nearest to the
troubled area. The ICRC team was installed there in March. Its first
72
task, after bringing the equipment and medicaments donated by the
ICRC, was to ensure that the institution, constructed in 1967 but never
yet used, was put into operation. No sooner had it begun to function,
on 1 April, than about a hundred persons came for various types of
treatment every day. This activity continued up to the end of August,
when the ICRC w ithdrew its surgical team from Khamer. By that time
there were virtually no more wounded requiring care, and the emer
gency because of w hich the team had been sent out was over.
At the request of the Government of Yemen, the ICRC endeavoured,
as far as its means w ould permit, to assist those most badly hit by the
drought in the Tihama coastal area. In 1970, the harvest was absolutely
nil and famine drove the rural population into towns, especially
Hodeidah and Sana'a.
Having several dozen tons of powdered milk for the Yemen Arab
Republic, the ICRC sent out a doctor-delegate who made a careful
study of the food and health situation and determined what were the
most urgent needs.
Following this survey, in August the ICRC set up a milk distribu
tion centre at Hodeidah, which ensured a daily distribution of milk to
several hundred children. In October, the centre was turned over to
the emerging Yemeni Red Crescent Society— established on 4 July
1970— and operated w ith the aid of League of Red Cross Society
advisers.
A similar centre, established by the ICRC delegation, was already
operating in Sana'a, where several hundred children continued to
receive a daily food supplement.
In 1970, the Yemen Arab Republic received 60 tons of powdered
milk donated by the Swiss Confederation and the European Economic
Community, plus 4 tons of medicaments, to a total value of about
400,000 Swiss francs.
In March, the ICRC set up a workshop in Sana'a for the manufac
ture of orthopaedic appliances for war invalids.1
73
Iraq and Iran
In September 1969, the ICRC installed a delegation In Baghdad,

to work for the reunion of Iranian families w ho were dispersed between
Iran and Iraq owing to the tension between the tw o countries over the
Shatt-al-Arab and the forced repatriation of a large number of Iranians
living In Iraq. In October and December, tw o preliminary operations
were held under the auspices of the ICRC and more than a hundred
Iranian nationals were allowed to return to their homes In Iraq.
On 16 January 1970, a third operation, involving forty-six persons,
was carried out between the tw o countries. As the situation returned
to normal, the ICRC recalled Its delegation from Baghdad In March 1970
C e n tra l T ra c in g A g e n c y
During 1970, the Central Tracing Agency received 45,316 requests

and communications and sent out 43,510 letters. It opened 10,091
enquiries w ith National Red Cross Societies, ICRC delegations, the
International Tracing Service at Arolsen and various other relevant
bodies, and It was able to close 10,661 files, 4,936 of which had given
positive results.
The Central Tracing Agency Is constantly coping with a double
task. It has to fulfil Its very urgent and frequently arduous duties
dictated by current events without, however, neglecting the many
activities resulting from past conflicts. Whenever a new conflict flares
up, the Central Tracing Agency immediately sets everything In motion
In order to trace soldiers and civilians reported missing, to record
Information on captives as supplied by the Detaining Powers, to Inform
the Powers of Origin and families, and to transmit correspondence sent
by prisoners of war and civilian Internees to their families and vice
versa. It must handle also the transmission of messages between
civilians who have not been Interned and those members of their
families who are unable, ow ing to events, to correspond through
normal channels.
Once hostilities end, the Central Tracing Agency continues to hold
valuable Information regarding the captivity and state of health of
74
prisoners and internees, the decease of soldiers who fell on the front
and whose names were communicated to the Agency by the enemy,
etc.
In 1970, the Central Tracing Agency was particularly involved in
the hostilities in the Middle East. It continued to make enquiries into
the fate of Egyptian, Israeli, Jordanian, Saudi Arabian and Yemeni
soldiers who had been reported missing during military operations over
the previous three years, civilians w ho were presumed to have been
arrested and Palestinians and Jordanians w ho had given no sign of
life since the recent events in Jordan. It also made every possible effort
to reunite families and transmitted thousands of family messages.
In this connection, we w ould mention that, as there have been no
postal ties between Israel and the Arab countries since 1948, more
than 4 million family messages have been transmitted by the ICRC
(including its delegations and the Central Tracing Agency).
The sky-jacking of the three aircraft which fell into the hands of
the Palestinian movements provided the Central Tracing Agency with
some rather urgent and delicate enquiries. Anxious families everywhere
called on the Agency for news and, through its radio link-up w ith the
ICRC delegation in Amman, it was able to enquire into the fate of
the passengers and crews and eventually to pass on the news it
received on the liberation and evacuation of hostages. Also, in October,
just after the end of the civil war, it sent a staff member to Amman to
set up an office to enquire into the fate of those reported missing and
to transmit family messages.
In so far as South-East Asia is concerned, the Central Tracing
Agency is still receiving information from the Republic of Vietnam on the
prisoners that it has taken. It has also taken steps to try to discover the
fate of persons of various nationalities (journalists, teachers, mission
aries, etc.) w ho have been reported missing over the past year in
Khmer territory.
Apart from its current duties, the Central Tracing Agency is pre
sented also w ith many requests relating to World War II and the
conflicts that have taken place since 1945.
Lastly, it has prepared a handbook for National Red Cross Societies
which covers various problems relating to the creation and organization
of a national tracing office.
75
T h e In te r n a tio n a l T r a c in g S e rv ic e (A r o ls e n )
In 1970, the year of its 25th anniversary, the International Tracing

Service (ITS), which has been run by the ICRC since 1955, received
123,329 requests. This is only slightly less than the annual average of
the past fifteen years (149,381), the highest figure being 203,801 in
1957 and the lowest 100,799 in 1963.
Requests for incarceration and residence certificates relating to the
Compensation Act, which came into effect in the Federal Republic
of Germany in 1953, once again accounted for most of these requests
(71,169). There were 7,173 requests for death certificates, 6,270 re
quests for documents relating to illness, 5,640 requests for tracing
persons, and 2,208 requests for photocopies, the remainder (30,869)
concerning requests for miscellaneous information.
Having examined all these requests, the ITS gave 169,106 replies
in 1970. These took the form of incarceration and residence certificates,
death certificates, documents dealing w ith cases of illness, reports,
affirmative and negative replies, explanatory letters and photocopies.
The number of reference cards for old documents and those newly
acquired swelled from 632,006 items in 1969 to 1,046,869 in 1970.
The number entered in the central reference file was 1,075,265
(627,822 in 1969), this being the highest figure for fifteen years.
By the end of 1970, the central reference index contained 30 million
items.
Finally, we should mention the fact that we have acquired many
new documents from the concentration camps, the Gestapo, prisons
and other places of detention, as well as a very large number of docu
ments of a general nature, as has been the case in previous years.
S u p p o r t in g S e rv ic e s
DELEGATIONS SERVICE
In 1970, the ICRC set up a Delegations Service to recruit and

train delegates.
During its first year of activity, the Delegations Service processed
about 330 offers of services. Of these, 65 were chosen to take part
76
in tw o training courses held at the Meeting Centre in Cartigny (Geneva)
from 10 to 14 May and 22 to 26 November 1970. A third course for
eighteen members of the International Missions Group (IM G ) of Berne
was given on 10 and 11 December 1970.
These courses were organized in collaboration w ith the Institut
Henry-Dunant to enable trainee delegates to acquire a good knowledge
of the mission of the ICRC and of the Geneva Conventions. To this
end, the candidates, who had already received an adequate supply
of documents, participated both in theory courses and in practical
exercises in groups (interviews w ith prison authorities and detainees;
steps to take in case of conflict; assistance, etc.). Apart from courses
on the history and organization of the Red Cross, and on the delegate
and the delegation, other more specialized courses were given on pro
tocol, the Central Tracing Agency, and tropical health. Before leaving
on mission, candidates spent a further period of a few days at ICRC
Headquarters.
The Delegations Service also has to try to maintain a reserve of
aspirant delegates comprising both experienced delegates w ith several
missions behind them and who wish to repeat the experience and those
who have follow ed a training course.
Lastly, it has prepared a " delegate's kit " containing everything
that is needed to set up a delegation.
M ED IC A L PERSONNEL SECTION
During 1970, the Medical Personnel Section concentrated in par

ticular on answering the numerous requests from nurses w ith regard
to employment, vocational training, training courses, grants, recogni
tion of foreign diplomas as well as offers of services for missions.
In this connection, it also contacted professional organizations and
National Red Cross Societies. It also played an active role in the relief
action in Jordan 1, both from Headquarters and on the spot.
Missions : From 13 to 15 May, Miss Pfirter went to Bremen to
represent the ICRC at the General Assembly of German Red Cross
Nurses' Associations in the Federal Republic of Germany.
On the invitation of the President of the International Council of
Nurses, she took part in the first Seminar on Nursing Law, in Warsaw,
77
from 6 to 20 July. On that occasion. Miss Pfirter gave a talk on the
" Rights and Duties of Nurses as defined in the 1949 Geneva Con
ventions She was then the guest of the Polish Red Cross from 21 to
23 July.
Miss Pfirter was on the emergency medical mission sent to Jordan
to help the victims of the skyjackings of 10 to 14 September.
On 8 May and 24 November, she attended the thirteenth and
fourteenth Symposia on International Medical Law, held in Geneva.
Publications : In order better to acquaint nursing staff w ith the
Geneva Conventions, the Medical Personnel Section published, in
1969, a brochure in English, French, Spanish and German entitled
" The Rights and Duties of Nurses as defined by the Geneva Conven
tions of 12 August 1 9 49 ". This brochure, which was an immediate
success, was reprinted in 1970— 5,000 copies each in English and
French. It has also been translated into Arabic by the Lebanese Red
Cross, and into Finnish by the Finnish Red Cross. In all, 17,000 copies
were sold in English, French, Spanish and German in 1970.
W A R D IS A B LE M E N T SECTION
Following surveys carried out during previous years, the War Dis
ablement Section set up an artificial limb workshop in Sana'a, the
capital of the Yemen Arab Republic, in 1970. For this, it engaged the
services of a Dutch technician who was specialized in the manufacture
of artificial limbs. Once he had chosen the necessary materials and
equipment, he went to Sana'a in March. The authorities there provided
him w ith spacious premises, which he immediately started to fit up
while recruiting young Yemenis to receive basic training.
In June, the Orthopaedic Centre—the first of its kind created by
the ICRC in that part of the w orld—started to manufacture limbs
and, at the same time, a Swiss physiotherapist went to Sana'a. His job
was to prepare those who had undergone amputation to wear their
artificial limbs and, once they had been fitted, to help them slowly get
used to them by gymnastics, massage and sport.
The ICRC Artificial Limb Workshop was officially inaugurated on
8 August, in the presence of the Prime Minister and the Ministers of
Health and of Information and Culture of the Yemen Arab Republic
78
and of the representatives of the World Health Organization and the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
By the end of 1970, 108 invalids had been enrolled in the Centre
and thirty of them already had their artificial limb. The manufacture of
artificial limbs and physiotherapeutic techniques were being taught to
six apprentice limb-makers (carpenters and mechanics) and a trainee
physiotherapist who, himself, had been amputated.
The ICRC also bore the cost of fitting up tw o disabled prisoners
of war in Laos.
TE L E C O M M U N IC A T IO N S SERVICE
The ICRC Telecommunications Service was extremely active during

1970. The Service has tw o main stations in Geneva. One, inaugurated
in 1964, has tw o radio ham-type transmitter-receivers. They are still
in perfect working condition but they cannot provide a round-the-clock
service. The other, installed at the end of 1969, is fitted out w ith com
mercial equipment that can offer a 24-hour service. Messages can be
transmitted by Morse, telex or telephony on all frequencies from 2 to
30 megacycles.
Experience has shown that the new mobile stations issued in 1968
for use by missions have not only improved contact w ith the field but
have made it possible for any doctor or delegate to use the equipment
w ithout any special technical knowledge, after attending a short course
of instruction.
During 1970, the ICRC kept or installed radio stations in the fo llo w
ing countries :
Yemen Arab Republic : After a break of a few months, contact

w ith Sana'a was re-established on 18 January 1970. This communica
tion took place in radio-telegraphy until the end of September and
in radio-telephony thereafter.
A radio-telephonic station has been set up also between the ICRC
delegation in Sana'a and the ICRC medical mission in Sa'da and
subsequently at Hodeida.
Nigeria : Radio contact w ith Nigeria ended on 30 June 1970. That

was preceded by the interruption of radio contact w ith Umuahia (the
79
ex-secessionist zone) on 9 January, w ith Cotonou (Dahomey) on
16 February and w ith Santa Isabel (Equatorial Guinea) on 23 February.
In the last-mentioned country, radio contact had been maintained since
15 December 1967.
Brazil : The first radio-telephonic contact to be made w ith the
ICRC medical mission in the Brazilian Amazon was on 23 May. Regular
contact was maintained until 6 August. To manage this, the medical
mission had had to carry a generator. The doctors had been instruc
ted in the use of a radio transmitter-receiver and the placing of a direc
tional aerial on a telescopic mast.
Jordan, Lebanon and S yria: The day after the sky-jacking in
Jordan, that is 7 September, a radio operator and the necessary equip
ment were dispatched to Amman by the ICRC. As the Jordanian
authorities had given immediate permission for the operation of such
a radio station, radio-telegraphic contact was made w ith Amman on
8 September. After the civil war in Jordan, radio contact was estab
lished also w ith Beirut from 26 September and w ith Damascus from
28 October.
The total number of radiograms exchanged between Geneva and
the field increased from 2,850 in 1969 to 3,300 in 1970, which repre
sented about 165,000 words.
Finally, on 11 November 1970, the ICRC applied to the Director
of Telecommunications at the General Directorate of the GPO in Berne
for a special permit to train radio operators w ho were members of the
" International Missions Group " (IM G ) and who would be available to
be sent on mission w ithin 48 hours in cases of disaster or conflict.
This training is to be given by means of transmissions from the ICRC
HB C-88 station.
RELIEF
ICRC Economic Adviser's Relations w ith EEC
Among the many relief activities conducted, reference should be

made to the specific task of the ICRC Economic Adviser, who in 1970
endeavoured to develop contacts w ith the European Economic Com
munity (EEC) in Brussels.
80
The follow ing arrangements were made:
(1 ) Agreement, in the form o f an exchange o f letters between the ICRC

and the EEC, on the supply o f 600 tons o f baby food and 3,000 tons
o f enriched foo d to the victims o f the Nigeria conflict.
The ICRC was to take steps for the adjudication of the manufacture
of baby food and enriched food, including the supply of other ingre
dients in these foods. Manufacturing costs w ould be refunded by
the EEC.
By the end of 1970, the manufacture of 2,000 tons of enriched food
and 400 tons of baby food had been completed. The EEC had opened
a $600,000 credit for the purpose.
(2) Agreement between the ICRC and the EEC on the supply o f p o w
dered skimmed m ilk under the foo d assistance programme.
The agreement on the delivery by the end of September 1971 of

3,000 tons of powdered milk to a value of 3 million dollars, not includ
ing transport costs, was signed in Brussels on 25 March 1970 by
Mr. Raymond Courvoisier, Special Assistant to the President and
Director of the Operations Department. By the end of December 1970,
the powdered milk was allocated to India (League of Red Cross
Societies), Jordan and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen.
(3) Agreement between the ICRC and the EEC on the supply o f cereal
products under the foo d assistance programme.
The agreement on the delivery of 4,500 tons of grain to a value

of $700,000, not including transport costs, was signed by Mr. Cour
voisier in Brussels, on 25 May 1970.
By the end of 1970,1,550 tons of wheat flour had been distributed
in Jordan, the United Arab Republic, the People's Democratic Republic
of Yemen and the Sudan.
(4) Exchange o f letters on 17 December 1970 regarding food assistance

for East Pakistan.
The disaster which struck East Pakistan on 13 November 1970

prompted the ICRC to propose to the EEC the release, for the action
81
of the League of Red Cross Societies in East Pakistan, of the quota
earmarked for Nigeria, namely 200 tons of enriched food for children
(baby food) and 1,000 tons of enriched food for adults. The EEC
acceded to the request and instructed the ICRC to organize the transfer
to Dacca by air of food to a maximum value of $ 850,000.
Between 29 November and 7 December 1970, 23 planes carried
905 tons of foodstuffs from Europe to Dacca. The balance of 295 tons
was despatched to Chittagong on 22 December 1970.
(5) Letters exchanged (November 1970) regarding food assistance to

flo o d victims in Rumania.
The EEC asked the ICRC to act as intermediary in the despatch

to Rumania of 1,000 tons of powdered milk to a value of 1 million
dollars, not including transport costs. The League of Red Cross Socie
ties having undertaken to transmit the offer, the ICRC attended to the
matter of transport to the Red Cross of the Socialist Republic of
Rumania.
(6) N ew requests for 1971.
On 7 October and 1 December 1970, the ICRC applied to the EEC

for 5,000 tons of granulated sugar, in bags, and 10,000 tons of grain.
Besides the EEC, the ICRC obtained from the Swiss Confederation
533 tons of agricultural surpluses (powdered milk, flour and cheese,
to a value of $210,000). These foodstuffs were used in ICRC relief
actions in Greece, Jordan, the Yemen Arab Republic and the People's
Democratic Republic of Yemen, and also in the territories occupied
by Israel.
R elief Section
The Relief Section continued w ith the purchase and forwarding of

relief as shown in the table below. It overhauled its stocks and laid by
reserves for emergencies. The Head of the Relief Section went on mis
sions to Greece, South-East Asia, Syria, the United Arab Republic and
Jordan, to organize or co-operate in the institution of relief operations.
82
SUM M ARY OF RELIEF SUPPLIES FORW ARDED OR D ISTRIBUTED
BY THE ICRC IN 1970
C o u n tr ie s S w . Frs. 1
Boliv ia D espatch o f m edicam ents, vaccines, tents and vehicles to

B o livian Red Cross ...................................................................... 1 1 4 ,9 0 0 .—
C am bodia D espatch from Geneva o f plasma, m edicam ents, a n tib io tics,
o rth o p a e d ic appliances, hypoderm ic syringes, needles . . 1 1 4 ,3 5 0 .—
Forw arding o f a n tib io tics, a g ift from the Danish Red Cross. 7 ,5 00 .—
Supplies purchased lo ca lly : fo o d , c lo th in g , m osq u ito nets . 1 0 8 ,0 0 0 .—
Chad D espatch o f m edicam ents, pow dered m ilk, blankets and v a
rious f o o d s t u f f s ................................................................................ 1 2 5 ,2 5 0 .—
C o sta Rica D espatch from Geneva o f m edicam ents, dressings and first-
aid kits to th e Costa Rican Red Cross ................................... 12,85 0 .—
Ec u a do r Despatch from Geneva o f a C lin o m o b il vehicle to th e Ecua
d orian Red C r o s s ........................................................................... 3 0 ,00 0 .—
G re e c e Despatch fro m Geneva o f 5 to n s o f c h e e s e ......................... 2 0 ,00 0 .—
Supplies purchased lo cally : purchase vouchers, books,
games, c lo th in g and m e d ic a m e n t s ........................................ 15 4,430.—
G uatem ala Despatch from Geneva o f first-a id kits to Guatem alan Red
Cross .................................................................................................... 2 ,350.—
H a iti Despatch from Geneva o f 2 to n s o f pow dered m ilk and dres
sings to th e H aiti Red C r o s s ....................................................... 15,700.—
Honduras Despatch from Geneva o f firs t-a id kits and one Land-R over
to the H onduran Red C r o s s ....................................................... 22,35 0 .—
H ungary Despatch from Geneva o f m edicam ents to the Hungarian
Red C r o s s .......................................................................................... 17,700.—
In d on e s ia Despatch from Geneva o f m edicam ents to the Indonesian
Red C r o s s .......................................................................................... 23,80 0 .—
Israel and Despatch from Geneva o f 10 to n s o f dried pears, 300 tons of
O c c u p ie d w h e a t flo u r, proteins and vaccines ........................................ 2 0 4 ,7 4 5 .—
T erritories Supplies purchased lo c a l l y ............................................................ 3 4 2 ,5 7 0 .—
Ivory Coast Despatch from Geneva o f blankets, sheets, c lo th in g , sugar
and 5 to n s o f pow dered m ilk to th e Ivory Coast Red Cross
S ociety fo r refugee c h i l d r e n ....................................................... 8 9 ,32 0 .—
Jordan * Despatch from Geneva o f m edicam ents, dressings, stretch
ers, su rg ica l e q uipm ent, plasma and 4 00 tons o f flo u r sent
by the Sw iss C o n f e d e r a t io n ....................................................... 4 5 7 ,6 5 0 .—
Supplies purchased lo c a l l y ............................................................ 127,330.—
Laos F orw arding o f a g ift o f a n tib io tics from the Danish Red Cross 9 ,000.—
Supplies purchased lo ca lly : clo th in g , blankets, m edicam ents,
f o o d ................................................................................................... 14 4,000.—
L ebanon Relief supplies d istribu te d by the ICRC delegation in Beirut 3 8,670.—
Nicaragua Despatch from Geneva o f firs t-a id kits and m edicam ents to
th e N icaraguan Red C ro s s ............................................................ 12,300.—
N ig e r ia Despatch from Geneva o f m edicam ents and blankets . . 7 8 7 ,0 0 0 .—
Pa n a m a Despatch o f m edicam ents, firs t-a id kits and vaccines to the
Panam anian Red C r o s s ................................................................. 11,650.—
' Exclusive of freight.

* For the c o n flic t o f Septem ber 1 970 see p. 85 o f this Report.
83
C o u n tr ie s S w . F rs. 1
Paraguay Despatch o f m edicam ents to th e Paraguayan Red Cross. . 7 ,2 30 .—

Peru Despatch o f m edicam ents to th e Peruvian Red Cross . . 2,000.—
Po la nd Despatch from Geneva o f m edicam ents to the Polish Red
C r o s s .................................................................................................... 2 3 ,5 9 0 .—
Sudan Despatch o f 10 to n s o f p o w dered m ilk and 500 to n s o f w h e a t
flo u r to the Sudanese Red C r e s c e n t ........................................ 34 8 ,1 0 0 .—
U n ited Arab Despatch from Geneva o f 10 tons o f dried pears and 500 tons
R e p u b lic o f w h e a t flo u r fo r Suez Canal e v a c u e e s ................................... 31 4 ,5 0 0 .—
Supplies purchased lo c a l l y ............................................................ 4 5 ,4 8 0 .—
V en ezuela Despatch from Geneva o f firs t-a id kits to Venezuelan Red
Cross .................................................................................................... 1,360.—
R e p u b lic Despatch from Geneva o f m edicam ents, surgical instrum ents
of V ietnam and d r e s s in g s ..................................................................................... 2 7 ,21 0 .—
Supplies d istrib u te d lo ca lly in prisons and orphanages . . 4 5 ,3 2 0 .—
Yemen Despatch, by sea, o f 60 to n s o f p o w dered m ilk fo r the civilia n
Arab p o p u l a t io n .......................................................................................... 3 3 3 ,6 0 0 .—
R e p u b lic Despatch from Geneva o f m edicam ents, surgical instrum ents.
plasma and one L a n d - R o v e r ....................................................... 5 7 ,66 0 .—
A rtific ia l lim b w o r k s h o p ................................................................. 1 2 7 ,1 5 0 .—
P e o p le 's Despatch o f m edicam ents, perfusion kits, 2 to n s o f rice,
D em o cratic 76 tons o f p o w dered m ilk and 50 to n s o f w h e a t f lo u r . . . 4 9 1 ,1 2 0 .—
R e p u b lic
of Yemen
G .R .A .E . Despatch from Geneva o f m edicam ents to the G.R.A.E.
Health Service in Kinshasa (S w e d ish Red Cross g ift) . . . 2 3 ,2 7 0 .—
F R E L IM O Despatch from Geneva o f m edicam ents and dressings to the
FRELIM O Health Service in Dar es S a l a a m ......................... 1 2 ,93 0 .—
P .A . I . G . C . Despatch from Geneva o f m edicam ents to the P.A.I.G.C.
Health Service in D a k a r ................................................................. 9 ,2 00 .—
T o t a l S w . Frs. 4 ,8 6 3 ,4 9 5 .—
' Exclusive o f fre ig h t.
84
ICRC RELIEF A C T IO N IN C O -O PER A TIO N W ITH THE
LEAGUE OF RED CROSS SOCIETIES FOR V IC T IM S
OF THE C IV IL W A R IN JO R D A N
(1 ) List o f contributions
G ift s in k in d
N a tio n a l S o c ie tie s S e rv ic e s T o ta l
G ift s in cash (value stated
a n d G o v e rn m e n ts ( s t a f f , e tc .) S w . Frs.
w here know n)
A b u D h a b i .................................................... not specified

A l g e r i a ......................................................... 31,000.— 93,140.— 124,140.—
A u s tr a lia (Red C r o s s ) ............................ 23,825.— 23,825.—
A u s tr ia (Red C r o s s ) ................................. 66,000.— 66,000.—
B e lg iu m * .................................................... 2,300.— 530,500.— 532,800.—
C an a d a (Red C r o s s ) ................................. 71,600.— 8,526.— 72,240.— 152,366.—
( G o v e r n m e n t) ............................ 210,500.— 210,500.—
C y p ru s ......................................................... not specified
D e n m a rk * .................................................... 648,102.— 648,102 —
D u b a i ............................................................. not specified
E th io p ia (Red Cross) ............................ 10,000.— 10,000.—
F in la n d * .................................................... 51,600.— 316,922.— 76,295.— 444,.817—
F ra n c e (Red C r o s s ) ................................. 20,000.— 52,360.— 72,360.—
(G overnm ent) ............................ 1,193,500.— 74,382.— 1,267,882.—
G e rm a n y (Dem. Rep.) (Red Cross) . . 216,114.— 216,114.—
G e rm a n y (Fed. Rep.) * ............................ 96,022.— 528,203.— 624,225.—
G re a t B r ita in (Red C r o s s ) ................... 20,600.— 20,895.— 71,490.— 112,985.—
(G overnm ent) . . . . 2,000,000.— 2,000,000.—
Ic e la n d (Red C r o s s ) ................................. 2,500.— 2,500.—
In d o n e s ia ( G o v e r n m e n t) ........................ 22,800.— 22,800.—
I r a q .................................................................. not specified
Ire la n d (Red C r o s s ) ................................. 20,600.— 20,600.—
Is ra e l ( G o v e r n m e n t) ................................. (400 tons)
Ita ly (Red Cross) * ...................................... 94,551.— 175,000.— 269,551.—
J a pa n (Red C r o s s ) ...................................... 8,640.— 10,035.— 18,675.—
K u w a it (Red C re s c e n t) ............................ not specified 618,100.— 618,100.—
L e b a n o n (Red Cross) ............................ 58,700.— 58.700.—
L ie c h te n s te in (Red C r o s s ) ................... 5,000.— 5,000.—
L u x e m b o u rg (Red C r o s s ) ........................ 3,000.— 3,000.—
L i b y a ............................................................. not specified
M o n a c o (Red C ro s s )................................. 1,560.— 1,560.—
M o r o c c o (Red C r e s c e n t) ....................... 250,000.— 250,000.—
N e th e rla n d s (Red C r o s s ) ........................ 210,000.— 35,700.— 190,281.— 435,981.—
( G o v e r n m e n t) ................... 120,000.— 714,000.— 834,000.—
• Including government contribution.
85
N a tio n a l S o c ie tie s G ift s in k in d
S e rv ic e s T o ta l
G ift s in cash (value stated
and G o v e rn m e n ts ( s ta ff , e tc .) S w . Frs.
where know n)
N e w Z e a la n d (Red C r o s s ) ................... 24,480.— 24,480.—

N o r w a y (Red Cross) ............................ 60,400.— 30,200.— 513,400.— 604,000.—
(G o v e rn m e n t)............................ 120,800.— 120,800.—
P h ilip p in e s (Red C r o s s ) ........................ 1,080.— 1,080.—
P o la n d (Red C r o s s ) ................................. 10,500.— 10,500.—
Q a ta r (G o v e rn m e n t)................................. 300,000.— 300,000.—
R u m a n ia (Red C r o s s ) ............................ 112,700.— 112,700.—
S a u d i A ra b ia .......................................... not specified
S o u th A fr ic a (Red Cross) ................... 3,005.— 3,005.—
S p a in (Red Cross) ................................. 10,000.— 135,000.— 145,000.—
Sudan ........................................................ not specified
S w e d e n * ................................................... 248,930.— 127,922.— 1,529,970.— 1,906,822.—
S w itz e r la n d (Red C r o s s ) ........................ 25,000.— 100,000.— 125,000.—
( G o v e r n m e n t) ................... 100,000.— 2,900,000.— 3,000,000.—
S y ria (Red Crescent) ............................ 15,600.— 15,600.—
T u n is ia (Red C r e s c e n t) ............................ not specified
T u rk e y (Red C r e s c e n t) ............................ 135,512.— 135,512.—
U n io n o f S o v ie t S o c ia lis t R e p u b lic s
(Red C r o s s ) ............................................... 23,088.— 86,400.— 109,488.—
U n ite d A ra b R e p u b lic ............................ not specified
U n ite d S ta te s o f A m e ric a (Red Cross) . 216,000.— 71,755.— 287,755.—
(Governm ent) ................................. 432,000.— 4 ,320,000.— 4,752,000.—
Y e m e n (P e o p le 's D e m . R ep .) . . . not specified
Y u g o s la v ia (Red Cross) ....................... 15,000.— 15,000.—
O THER C O N T R IB U T IO N S
E u ro p e a n E c o n o m ic C o m m u n ity . .
P riv a te I n d i v i d u a l s ................................. 1,000,000.— 1,000,000.—
27,300.— 27,300.—
L u th e ra n F e d e r a t i o n ............................
O X F A M ........................................................ 43,200.— 43,200.—
1 54,500.— 154,500.—
S ave th e C h ild re n F u n d .......................
259,250.— 259,250.—
C A R E ............................................................. included in
US Government (150 tons)
contribution
C a th o lic R e lie f S e rv ic e s ...................
U N H C R ........................................................ 14,500.— 14,500.—
21,600.— 21,600.—
U N R W A ........................................................
40,000.— 40,000.—
" W e s t B a n k " P riv a te G ro u p s . . .
(490 tons)
2,277,971.— 9,360,242.— 10,637,462.— 22,275,675.—
* Including government contribution.
86
(2) Financial report
S w i s s fra n c s
R e l i e f f o r v i c ti m s
1. Food ........................................................................... 151,429 —
2. C l o t h i n g ...................................................................... 2 7 ,49 7 .—
3. Shelter, household articles, bedding . . . . 1 5 7,227.—
4. M ed ica l treatm ent and s u p p lie s ......................... 6 0 3 ,4 4 0 .—
5. T ra n s p o rt...................................................................... 24 2 ,4 3 3 .—
6. S t o r a g e ...................................................................... 1 1 3,245.—
7. Special relief supplies and m a te r ia l.................... 6 4,427.—
8. C o n trib u tio n to re h a b ilita tio n and a rtificial lim b
centre in J o r d a n ....................................................... 2 5 0 ,0 0 0 .— 1 ,609 ,6 9 8 .—
A d m in is tra tiv e e xp en diture (headq uarters

a nd f ie ld serv ices)
9. S a l a r i e s ...................................................................... 9 7,443.—
10. Insurance ................................................................. 6 9,387.—
11. Per diem and travel e x p e n s e s .............................. 3 0 1 ,0 1 8 .—
12. C o m m u n ic a tio n s ....................................................... 4 3 ,0 2 3 .—
13. O ffice m aterial and personal e q u ip m e n t . . . 8 1 ,35 7 .—
14. M aintenance and storage, in a Beirut w a re
house, o f material and supplies ready fo r use in
th e a r e a ...................................................................... 7 6 ,04 5 .— 6 6 8 ,2 7 3 .—
T o t a l A and B 2 ,2 27 ,9 7 1 .—
Total credits prom ised and r e c e i v e d ......................... 2 ,2 77 ,9 7 1 .—
T o t a l v a lu e o f aid rendered to the victim s o f the

Jo rd a n c o n flic t :
In cash ................................................................................ 2 ,2 77 ,9 7 1 .—
In k i n d ................................................................................ 1 0 ,63 7 ,4 6 2 .—
In services ........................................................................... 9 ,3 60 ,2 4 2 .—
G ra n d t o t a l 2 2 ,27 5 ,6 7 5 .—
87
II. PRINCIPLES A N D LAW
Legal D iv is io n
IM P L E M E N T A T IO N A N D D E V ELO PM EN T OF
IN TE R N A TIO N A L H U M A N IT A R IA N LAW
G ENEVA C O N VE N TIO N S
N ew accessions.— In 1970, three new States formally became par

ties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions. They were the Yemen Arab
Republic (accession, 16 July 1970, w ith effect from 16 January 1971 ),
the Republic of Chad (accession, 5 August 1970, w ith effect from
5 February 1971 ), and Mauritius (declaration of continuity, 18 August
1970, w ith effect from 12 March 1968). The dates shown are those
on which the official deeds of participation were received by the Swiss
federal authorities.
Thus, at the end of 1970 the number of States explicitly bound by
the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 was 128.
Dissemination.— In the world today, with the endemic conflict and

trouble which cause so many victims, it is essential that the spirit
rather than the letter of the 1949 Geneva Conventions should be pro
moted. While the situations created by events do not always come
w ithin the original legal setting, the victims are the very people whom
the Conventions propose to help. The ICRC is thus acting at a tw ofold
level : at governmental level it endeavours by means of special agree
ments to ensure implementation of texts which in theory apply to d if
ferent legal situations, w hile at other levels it encourages a general
distribution of simplified texts frequently accompanied by illustrations.
An overall description of the ICRC's activities is given in the chapter
on the Documentation and Dissemination Division.
On 15 June 1970, the ICRC sent Latin American countries a circular
letter reading as follow s :
" F o llo w in g the c o n flic t w h ic h broke o u t on 14 J u ly 1969 betw een H onduras

and El Salvador, the delegates o f the In ternational C om m ittee o f the Red Cross
88
su ccessfully intervened to arrange repatriation o f prisoners o f w a r and interned
c iv ilia n s detained by each o f th e Parties to th e co n flict. These operations were
com p le te d on 6 O ctober 1 969 w h e n the last H onduran civilia n s detained in
El Salvador w ere repatriated.
Such events give ne w im petus to interest in the ever present problem o f
d issem inating kn o w le d g e o f the Geneva C onventions o f 12 A u g u st 1949 fo r
the p ro te ctio n o f victim s o f war.
True, d ire c t c o n flic t betw een States Parties to these C onventions is unusual,
b u t there can nevertheless be a num ber o f related situ a tio ns w h ic h , alth o ug h o f
less im portance and on a lesser scale, call fo r the ap p lica tio n o f certain provisions
o f hum anitarian law . Those situ a tio ns are a cause o f concern to the International
C om m ittee o f the Red Cross w h ic h is con vin ce d that, to meet them , the best
safeguard is th e dissem ination o f kn o w le d g e o f the Geneva C onventions o f 1949.
On th e grounds o f th e rig h t o f in itia tive conferred on it by articles 9 (or 10)
com m on to the fo u r Geneva C onventions and by its long tra d itio n , th e ICRC
has th e ho n ou r to su b m it some proposals to the authorities concerned in Latin
Am erican States w h ich are Parties to those C onventions.
In all countries, the problem o f dissem inating k n o w le d g e o f the Geneva
C onventions is tw o fo ld : basic in stru ctio n in schools to young people and the
p o p u la tio n in general on the one hand, and practical in stru ctio n on co n d u ct
in certain situ a tio ns in the event o f operations by armed forces on the other hand.
In th e first case, nam ely basic in stru ctio n , the Fourth M ee tin g o f Presidents
o f N ational Red Cross Societies o f N orth Am erica, M exico, Central Am erica
and Panama, w h ic h m et in M exico from 18 to 22 Novem ber 1969, adopted
a num ber o f resolutions w ith w h ich the In ternational Com m ittee fu lly associates
and w h ic h it recom m ends to th e a tte ntio n o f the authorities concerned. The same
applies to like resolutions adopted by other Red Cross Conferences. They were
concerned essentially w ith th e in tro d u c tio n in to school program m es, and into
program m es o f m ilita ry in stru ctio n , o f courses on the h isto ry and fundam ental
principles o f the Red Cross and on the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
C o n cu rre n tly w ith th a t basic effort, th e In ternational Com m ittee w o u ld
suggest as another practical measure th e issue to each soldier in the fie ld of
a bo o kle t sum m arizing the essential rights and o b lig a tio n s arising from acces
sion to the 1949 Geneva Conventions. A t the same tim e th e soldiers should
be given appropriate explanations. If deemed expedient, a coloured Illustrated
b o o kle t co u ld replace th e printed te x t w h ic h m ig ht be issued to officers only.
In each case su itable explanations co u ld also be given.
In regions as large as the Am erican c o n tin e n t the soldier in th e fie ld may
often be considered the a u tho ritie s' sole representative in the m ost fo rw a rd
position, c o n fro n te d by a m ission ca llin g fo r a p p lica tio n o f the hum anitarian
principles. The International Com m ittee is o f th a t o p in io n , b u t it has no p o w e r
to decide in place o f the authorities, nor should it undertake a task w h ic h is
beyond it.
It has how ever prepared docum entary material w h ic h it makes available
to all Parties to the 1949 Geneva C onventions w ith a vie w , in particular, to the
a p p lica tio n o f th e essential provisions o f article 144 o f th e Fourth C onvention
relating to dissem ination, and w h ic h reads as fo llo w s :
' The High C ontracting Parties undertake, in tim e o f peace as in tim e o f war,
to dissem inate the te xt o f the present C onvention as w id e ly as possible in th e ir
respective countries, and, in particular, to in clu d e the stu d y th e re o f in th e ir
89
program m es o f m ilita ry and, if possible, civil Instruction, so th a t the principles
th e re o f may becom e kn o w n to th e entire p o pulation.
A n y c ivilia n , m ilitary, police or other authorities, w h o in tim e o f w a r assume
responsibilities in respect o f protected persons, m ust possess th e te x t o f the
C onve n tion and be specially instructed as to its provisions.'
The In ternational C om m ittee expresses beforehand its thanks fo r all replies
w h ic h are sent to it. It w ill n o t fail to co n ta ct the au tho ritie s concerned to convey
to them th e result o f th is first c o n s u lta tio n ."
A number of governments immediately put the International Com

mittee's proposals into effect.
As regards ICRC publications, it is worth mentioning that a revised
Spanish edition of the 1949 Conventions has been re-published, with
the co-operation of the Spanish Red Cross. We might also mention a
booklet by Mr. K. Ereksoussi entitled " The Koran and the Humanitarian
Conventions ", which was published in 1969.
C O N T R IB U T IO N TO W O R LD RED CROSS DAY
The Legal Division participated in preparations for World Red Cross

Day 1, the theme of which, in 1970, was " Protect Man—Thwart War ".
The documents sent to all National Societies on that occasion ( D 1120 b)
included the follow ing articles of general information :
(a) The XXIst International Conference of the Red Cross.
(b) New Development Trends in Humanitarian Law.
(c) The Red Cross Contribution to the Framing of International
Humanitarian Law.
(d) The Red Cross and the Protection of Civilian Populations
against Hostilities.
(e) The Red Cross and Non-International Conflicts.
(f) Knowledge of the Geneva Conventions.
(g) The Individual and Humanitarian Law.
(h) The Red Cross and Bacteriological and Chemical Weapons.
(i) The Red Cross and Peace.
A number of these articles were printed in the bulletins and publi

cations of many National Societies, either in full or in part.
90
R E A FF IR M A TIO N A N D DEVELO PM ENT OF IN T E R N A T IO N A L
H U M A N IT A R IA N LAW A P P LIC A B LE IN A R M E D CO NFLICTS
In its previous annual report, the ICRC referred to several resolu

tions adopted by the XXIst International Conference of the Red Cross
(Istanbul, 1969). Resolution XIII was the main basis of the ICRC's
work to reaffirm and develop international humanitarian law. This
resolution comprises tw o essential elements:
— fully confirming the ICRC's views, it " underlines the necessity and
the urgency of reaffirming and developing humanitarian rules of
international law applicable in armed conflicts of all kinds, in order
to strengthen the effective protection of the fundamental rights of
human beings, in keeping w ith the Geneva Conventions of 1949 " ;
— it outlines a precise programme for subsequent ICRC studies. Thus
it " requests the ICRC, on the basis of its re p o rt1, to pursue actively
its efforts in this regard with a view to :
(1) proposing, as soon as possible, concrete rules which would
supplement the existing humanitarian law ;
(2) inviting governmental, Red Cross and other experts represent
ing the principal legal and social systems in the world to meet
for consultations w ith the ICRC on these proposals;
(3) submitting such proposals to Governments for their comments,
and,
(4) if it is deemed desirable, recommending the appropriate authori
ties to convene one or more diplomatic conferences of States
parties to the Geneva Conventions and other interested States,
in order to elaborate international legal instruments incorpor
ating those proposals."
Five further resolutions of the same Conference (XIV to XVIII)

assigned to the ICRC specific tasks to supplement and strengthen the
general mandate embodied in resolution XIII. An important point to be
borne in mind is that three of the resolutions (XIII, XV and XVI)
requested the ICRC to prepare and put forward to a meeting of experts
1 The report is en title d " R eaffirm ation and D evelopm ent o f International
H um anitarian Law A p p lica b le in Arm ed C o n flicts " (D S 4, a, b, e) subm itted by
th e ICRC to the XX Ist International C onference o f th e Red Cross.
91
concrete proposals for rules. Thus the Istanbul Conference clearly
showed that it intended to leave the stage of mere study for that of
formulated drafts for rules. The ICRC was guided by that basic idea
when it prepared the documentation for the Conference of Government
Experts scheduled to be held in May 1971.
ICRC ACTIVITIES SINCE THE IS T A N B U L CONFERENCE
Consultations w ith experts
In drawing up the concrete proposals for rules which it had been

asked to prepare, the ICRC decided to obtain expert advice and to
consult individually and privately a number of authorities— altogether
about fifty — from the principal regions of the world. Most of them were
consulted in w riting or in the course of meetings held in their own
country. Some consultations were held at ICRC headquarters.
The consultations dealt w ith the follo w in g three points:
1. N on-international conflicts and guerrilla warfare /The ICRC con

sulted the persons listed below, in alphabetical order, by means of an
extensive questionnaire:
Dr. M. Belaouane, President of the Algerian Red Crescent Society,
Algiers; Professor I. Blishchenko, M oscow ; Mr. S. Dabrowa, Legal
Adviser, W arsaw; Major T. Dale, President of the Norwegian
Red Cross, Oslo; Colonel G .I.A . D. Draper, London; Professor
Duncanson, Canterbury, Great Britain; World Veterans' Federation
(WVF), Paris; Mr. H. Ford, President of the Panamanian Red Cross,
Panama C ity; Mr. E. García-Sayán, President of the Peruvian Red
Cross, Lima; Professor G. Herzegh, Budapest; Professor F. Kals-
hoven, Leyden ; Judge Keba M'Baye, Dakar ; Colonel I. Krasnopeev,
Leningrad; Mr. Sean MacBride, Secretary-General of the Inter
national Commission of Jurists, Dublin and Geneva; Mr. Henri
Meyrowitz, Lawyer, Paris; Mr. J. Murumbi, Nairobi; Dr. C. Rossell,
President of the Bolivian Red Cross, La Paz; Professor M. Sahovic,
Belgrade; Mr. A. Schlogel, Secretary-General of the German Red
Cross in the Federal Republic of Germany, Bonn; Colonel J. M.
Simpson, Ottawa ; Professor N. Singh, New Delhi ; Mr. P. Villetorte,
92
Secretary-General of the International Federation of Senior Police
Officers, Paris, and Lieutenant-Colonel J. P. Wolfe, Ottawa.
Moreover, in the case of a number of States involved in conflicts,

the ICRC managed to ascertain through its delegates the private and
unofficial views of public figures, by means of the questionnaires. This
procedure made it possible to secure opinions at Algiers (from repre
sentatives of movements fighting the Portuguese authorities in southern
Africa) ; at Amman (from representatives of Palestinian movements),
and at Lisbon, Cairo, Phnom-Penh and Tel Aviv.
In the context of its co-operation with the United Nations 1 and
bearing in mind the programme of work of the United Nations Secre
tariat and, more particularly, that of the Human Rights Division, the
ICRC decided to give priority to consultations on non-international
conflicts and guerrilla warfare, so as to be in a position to draw up a
preliminary report 2 which it submitted to the Secretary-General of the
United Nations at the beginning of August 1970.
2. Protection o f civilians against the dangers o f hostilities : This

problem, which had long been a matter of active concern for the ICRC,
also gave rise to a series of private and personal consultations w ith a
number of persons who expressed their views in a " Questionnaire on
the Protection of the Civilian Population against the Dangers of
Hostilities". They were :
Mr. W. Bargatzky, President of the German Red Cross in the Federal
Republic of Germany, Bonn ; General A. Beaufre, Paris ; Professor
I. Blishchenko, Moscow ; Colonel K. Brunner, Berne ; Major-
General Odd Bull, Oslo; Professor E. Castren, Helsinki ; Lieutenant-
General Chatterjee, New Delhi ; Colonel G. I. A. D. Draper, London ;
Professor F. Feliciano, Manilla and New York ; Professor L. S. Green,
Canada ; Professor F. Kalshoven, Leyden ; Colonel I. Krasnopeev,
M oscow ; Professor W. Ludwig, President of the German Red Cross
in the German Democratic Republic, Dresden ; H. E. Minister
E. Makonnen, Addis Ababa ; Colonel T. Malik, Warsaw; Mr. R.
Neidl of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

2 Prelim inary report on co n su ltatio n s w ith experts regarding n o n -in te rn a tio n a l
c o n flic ts and guerrilla w arfare (D 1153 b ), Geneva, J u ly 1970.
93
(SIPRI), Stockholm ; Lieutenant-General van Rolleghem, Brussels;
Professor M. Sahoviç, Belgrade; Professor N. Singh, New Delhi,
and Professor Y. Takano, Tokyo.
3. Protection o f the wounded and the sick / W hile it is not proposed

to describe the century-old concern of the Red Cross, and of the ICRC
in particular, about the wounded and the sick, or in fact the efforts
made since 1949, it should be mentioned that, follow ing the XX 1st Inter
national Conference of the Red Cross (Istanbul 1969), the ICRC has
taken three important steps in this field :
— the dispatch, in February 1970, to all Governments of States parties
to the Geneva Conventions of a questionnaire on Istanbul resolu
tion XVI (" Protection of Civilian Medical and Nursing Personnel "),
to which more than 71 Governments have replied;
— the holding, at ICRC headquarters in Geneva, of three " Symposia
on International Medical L a w " (the tw elfth in 1969, and the th ir
teenth and fourteenth in 1970), attended by representatives of the
World Medical Association, the International Committee of M ilitary
Medicine and Pharmacy, and, w ith observer status, the World
Health Organization, the League of Red Cross Societies, the Inter
national Law Association, the Commission médico-juridique de
Monaco, and the International Committee for Neutrality in Medicine ;
— and, lastly, the convening, again in Geneva, of an experts' meeting
on the safety and identification of medical transport, which was
held on 28 and 29 October 1970, under the chairmanship of
General E. Evrard. The experts consulted are listed below, in
alphabetical order :
Mr. A. Blanc, International Electrotechnical Commission ; Mr. H.
Bosly, Director of the Revue internationale de droit pénal m ili
taire et de droit de la guerre', Mr. J. Danton, Engineer; Mr. Ph.
Eberlin, former convoying officer for ICRC ships ; Mr. K.
Emanuelson, Swedish Board of Civil Aviation, Expert of the
International Electrotechnical Commission; Major-General Dr.
E. Evrard, of the Commission médico-juridique de Monaco ;
Mr. R. Grosclaude, Head of Administration for Maritime Affairs,
Inter-Govern mental Maritime Consultative Organization ; Capi
taine de corvette Guillot, Section d'Etude et de Coordination
94
S.A.R.; Mr. R. Kay, International Electrotechnical Commission ;
Mr. A. Munch, Deputy Director, Office fédéral de l'Air, Berne;
Professor P. de la Pradelle, Vice-President of the Commission
médico-juridique de Monaco-, Mr. J. Queguinier, Head of
Administration for Maritime Affairs ; Mr. C. J. Stanford,
Secretary-General, International Electrotechnical Commission;
Mr. Th. Wettstein, Head of Department, Specialized Secretariat
of the International Frequency Registration Board, International
Telecommunication Union ; Group Captain T. H. Whiteside,
R.A.F. Physician, Institute of Aviation Medicine.
Relations w ith th e U nited Nations
On 16 December 1969, the United Nations General Assembly

adopted resolution 2597 (XXIV) on respect for human rights in armed
conflicts, requesting the Secretary-General " to consult and co-operate
closely w ith the International Committee of the Red Cross in regard
to the studies being undertaken by that body on this question ".
In the context of this co-operation, as mentioned above, the ICRC
was to give some priority to consultations on problems arising from
the application of humanitarian law in non-international armed con
flicts and guerrilla warfare, and to send the Secretary-General early in
August 1970 a " Preliminary Report on the Consultation of Experts con
cerning Non-International Conflict and Guerrilla Warfare " (D 1153 b).
On that document the Secretary-General largely based his report on
agenda item 47 (" Respect for Human Rights in Armed Conflicts ",
A/8052, 18 September 1970). The ICRC supported the efforts of the
Secretary-General of the United Nations by delegating Mr. René-Jean
Wilhelm, Assistant Director of the ICRC, to a meeting of experts at
United Nations headquarters in New York.
The discussion of agenda item 47 at the tw enty-fifth session was
followed by Mr. Claude Pilloud, Director of the ICRC, and Mr. André-
Dominique Micheli, ICRC Delegate to the International Organizations.
On 2 October 1970, Mr. Marcel A. Naville, President of the ICRC, wrote
to U Thant, Secretary-General of the United Nations, setting forth the
ICRC's programme of work for 1971 in the field of international
95
humanitarian law 1 and, in particular, stating his intention to convene
a conference of government experts.
Among the various resolutions on item 47 adopted by the tw enty-
fifth United Nations General Assembly was one which emphasized
" the importance of continued close collaboration between the United
Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross" (A /R es/
2677 (XXV)) and requested the Secretary-General " t o transmit his
reports and the comments of Governments thereon, together w ith the
records of relevant discussions and resolutions of the General Assembly,
the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human
Rights, to the International Committee of the Red Cross for considera
tion, as appropriate, by the conference of government experts ", and
" to present the comments received to the General Assembly at its
twenty-sixth session and to report at that session on the results of the
conference of government experts to be convened by the International
Committee of the Red Cross and on any other relevant developments
Relations w ith non-governm ental organizations
The ICRC also has reason to feel gratified regarding the excellent
co-operation established w ith a number of non-governmental organi
zations in the reaffirmation and development of humanitarian law.
Istanbul resolution XIII encouraged the ICRC to co-operate, in
addition to the United Nations, " w ith all other official and private
organizations w ith a view to ensuring the co-ordination of such
studies ", In 1970, the ICRC therefore participated in the follow ing
conferences and meetings : Conference on " Humanitarian Law and
Armed Conflicts ", organized by the Centre de droit international de
l'Université Ubre de Bruxelles (Institute of Sociology), from 28 to
30 January (the ICRC was represented by Mr. René-Jean Wilhelm,
Assistant Director, and Mr. Michel Veuthey, Legal Adviser) ; the Fifth
International Congress of the International Society for M ilitary Law
and Law of War, held in Dublin from 25 to 30 May (Mr. Claude
Pilloud, Director of the Department of Principles and Law) ; the
1 The te x t o f th is letter, a co p y o f w h ic h w a s sent to th e perm anent m issions

in N e w York fo r th e ir in fo rm a tio n , w as reproduced in " The ICRC in A c tio n ,
In fo rm a tion Notes " No. 151 b (6 N ovem ber 1 9 7 0 ), pages 12 and 13.
96
54th Conference of the International Law Association, held at The
Hague from 23 to 29 August (Mr. Frédéric Siordet, honorary member
of the ICRC), and the International Conference on Humanitarian Law,
organized by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law at San
Remo, from 24 to 27 September (Mr. Siordet). In addition to the
meetings mentioned above, regular contacts were established or con
tinued w ith a number of other non-governmental organizations.
Lastly, the ICRC regularly attended, w ith observer status, meetings
of the NGO Committee on Disarmament and the NGO Committee on
Human Rights. Mr. Claude Pilloud, Director, and Mr. Jean Mirimanoff-
Chilikine, Legal Adviser, represented the ICRC and the League. The
ICRC was also represented by the League of Red Cross Societies at
the meeting of the NGO Committee on Development. Moreover, some
associations and organizations particularly concerned w ith international
humanitarian law w ill be invited to send a representative to a meeting
w hich is to be held in 1971 at a date yet to be fixed.
Relations w ith National Red Cross Societies
The ICRC cannot fail to stress the invaluable co-operation it has

received from the National Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Lion
and Sun Societies, as well as from the League of Red Cross Societies.
National Societies have made an important contribution to the
reaffirmation and development of international humanitarian law,
whether in the organization of World Red Cross Day, in expert con
sultations (frequently organized or facilitated by National Societies) or
in regular contacts.
In order to associate the Red Cross world more closely w ith this
undertaking, the ICRC, in its Circular 478 1, informed National Socie
ties of a meeting on international humanitarian law at which they might
exchange views among themselves and w ith the ICRC. Owing to the
largely favourable reaction, the ICRC in its Circular 481 2 called upon
1 C ircular 478. D evelopm ent o f international hum anitarian law. Geneva,

15 A p ril 1970.
I 2 C ircular 481. C onference o f Red Cross Experts on th e Reaffirm ation and
D evelopm ent o f In ternational Hum anitarian Law A p p lica b le in A rm ed C onflicts.
Geneva, 28 O ctober 1970.
97
all National Societies who wished to do so to take part in a " Con
ference of Red Cross Experts on the Reaffirmation and Development
of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts ", to
be held at The Hague from 1 to 6 March 1971.
Preparation of 1971 C onference of G overnm ent Experts
Pursuant to resolution XIII 1 adopted by the XX 1st International

Conference of the Red Cross, the ICRC wrote on 22 October 1970
to thirty-nine Governments inviting them to take part in the Conference
of Government Experts on the Reaffirmation and Development of
International Humanitarian Law scheduled to be held from 24 May
to 12 June 1971.
In its letter, the ICRC stated, inter alia :
" In accordance w ith the a b o ve-m e ntio n e d resolution, w h ic h provides for
a m eeting o f governm ental experts representing the p rincipal legal and social
systems in the w o rld , and ta kin g in to consideration th e active interest w h ich
m any G overnm ents have s h o w n so far in the efforts o f the Red Cross in this
field, th e In ternational C om m ittee has d raw n up a list o f th irty -n in e G o ve rn
m ents (. . .) in c lu d in g yo u r o w n G overnm ent. It has th u s the h o n ou r o f in v itin g
yo u r G overnm ent to delegate experts to th is conference.
The In ternational C om m ittee also encloses a p rovisional list (. . .) o f the
subjects to be subm itted to the conference. The latter co u ld d istribu te the study
o f these am ong tw o or three com m issions to be set up by th e conference,
in order th a t a th o ro u g h exam ination o f each item should be more easily carried
out. S h o u ld it tu rn o u t th a t n o t all the subjects are exam ined w ith in th e period
decided upon, or th a t the stu d y o f some o f them ca n n ot be com pleted, a second
session o f the Conference o f governm ental experts co u ld be held in the autum n
o f 1971.
In order to bring to a successful co n clu sio n th e task assigned to it by the
said R esolution X III, the In ternational C om m ittee, w h ic h , fo r over a hundred
years, has exerted itself fo r the co n stan t adaptation o f in ternational la w to the
ne w requirem ents o f m ankind, intends to have recourse to the w e ll-trie d m ethods
it has fo llo w e d in order to prepare the draft projects o f the Geneva C onventions.
Since the XX 1st International C onference o f the Red Cross, it has a ctively
pursued its studies w ith a v ie w to w o rkin g o u t concrete proposals o f rules in
the fie ld s under consideration. In particular, it has consulted, in th e ir private
capacity, a large num ber o f experts from the p rincipal regions o f the w o rld
and it has taken part in m ost p u b lic and private m eetings w here discussions
have taken place on connected questions.
On the basis o f these co n su ltatio n s and o f the in fo rm a tio n thus obtained,
the International C om m ittee is at present engaged in th e preparation o f relevant
d o cu m e n ta tio n on the w h o le o f the problem s m entioned. This docu m e n ta tio n.
1 See page 91 above.
98
to g e th e r w ith concrete proposals, w ill be sent early next year to the G overnm ents
w h ose experts w ill particip a te in the conference.
In a d d itio n , th e In te rn a tio n al C om m ittee is keeping in close to u ch w ith the
U n ite d N ations, and, in particular, w ith the Secretary-G eneral, in accordance
w ith the c o -o p e ra tio n urged by the General A ssem bly in its resolution 2 597
(X X IV ). It is ca re fu lly fo llo w in g th e proceedings o f the tw e n ty -fifth session o f
th e General Assem bly, especially w ith regard to item 47 on its agenda, c o n
cerning ' Respect o f Hum an R ights in Tim e o f Arm ed C o n flic ts '."
The thirty-nine Governments invited by the ICRC were the follow ing :
Algeria, A rg e n tina , A ustralia, Austria, Belgium , Brazil, Burma, Canada,
People’s R epublic o f China, Cuba, Ethiopia, Finland, France, German D e m o
cratic R epublic, Germ any (Fed. Rep. o f), H ungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Kenya, M exico, Netherlands, N igeria, N orw ay, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland,
Rum ania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Sw eden, S w itzerland, U nion o f S oviet
S ocialist Republics, U nited Arab R epublic, United Kingdom o f Great Britain and
N orthern Ireland, U nited States o f Am erica, Yugoslavia.
The provisional list of subjects for discussion comprised :
(1) Measures intended to reinforce the implementation, in armed con

flicts, o f existing international humanitarian law (Dissemination of
humanitarian principles and rules, national legislation for their
application and instructions to be given to the armed forces—
reinforcement of rules relative to the supervision of the regular
observance of existing law and to the sanction of violations—
Protecting Powers and their substitutes— problem of reprisals).
(2) Strengthening o f the protection o f civilian populations against dan

gers o f hostilities (Reaffirmation of the immunity of the civilian
population as such— distinction to be observed between non
military elements and military objectives in case of attacks— precau
tions to be taken as to fighting methods or the choice between
different means of combat in order to spare the population—
precautions to be taken by the authorities of the State to which
it belongs— creation of zones or localities enjoying a particular
status in view of their special protection— guarantees to be afforded
to the personnel of non-m ilitary civil defence bodies).
(3) Humanitarian rules relative to behaviour between combatants (Reaf

firmation and determination of the rules limiting needless forms
of suffering and prohibiting certain methods of warfare: treatment
99
of an enemy w ho surrenders— quarter— prohibited ruses— viola
tion of protected emblems— problem of parachutists).
(4) Protection o f victims o f non-international armed conflicts (Notion

and qualification of non-international armed conflicts— effective
observance and development of rules applicable in these con
flicts and which concern the treatment of victims and the conduct
of hostilities— possible extension of certain rules to situations of
internal disturbances and tensions).
(5) Status o f combatants and the problem o f guerrilla warfare (Pos

sible definition and development of humanitarian rules with regard
to the qualification of combatants, as well as the status and treat
ment of prisoners— rules relative to the conduct of hostilities in
guerrilla warfare and duties incumbent upon parties to the conflict
to spare the civilian population).
(6) Protection o f the wounded and sick (Strengthening of existing

guarantees— protection and marking of civilian medical personnel—
strengthening of the safety of civilian medical transports and the
problem of marking them— extension of certain rules to non-inter
national armed conflicts).
It should be noted that the indications between brackets under

each chapter-heading were not exhaustive and were mentioned
chiefly as examples. The order in which the subjects were listed did
not mean that the International Committee of the Red Cross would
suggest that the conference should examine those items in that same
order.
OTHER A C TIVITIES
REC O G N ITIO N OF N A T IO N A L SOCIETIES
In the course of 1970, the ICRC officially recognized the Botswana

Red Cross Society, on 5 February, and the Malawi Red Cross, on
23 July. The number of officially recognized National Societies thus
rose to 114.
100
R ELA TIO N S W IT H IN T E R N A T IO N A L O R G A N IZ A T IO N S
The U N and its Specialized Agencies : Mrs. Danièle Bujard, Legal

Adviser to the ICRC, follow ed w ith observer status the proceedings of
the thirteenth session of the Commission on the Status of Women,
held at the European seat of the United Nations, Geneva, from 23 March
to 10 April.
The agenda included (item 6) " Protection of Women and Children
in Emergency or War-time, Fighting for Peace, National Liberation and
Independence ". A number of delegations expressed a wish for a better
application of the rules of humanitarian law at present in force, and
largely favoured the establishment of new international instruments.
A resolution was adopted calling upon States, inter alia, to fulfil all
their obligations under the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949.
Mr. Claude Pilloud, Director, and Mr. Jean Mirimanoff-Chilikine,
Legal Adviser, attended as observers the forty-ninth session of the
Economic and Social Council, held in Geneva from 6 to 31 July.
In particular, they follow ed the question of assistance in cases of natural
disasters.
Non-governmental Organizations : Mr. Melchior Borsinger, Dele

gate-General for Europe and North America, represented the ICRC at
the International Seminar on Mediation Techniques and International
Control of Violence, held in Vienna from 22 August to 10 September,
under the auspices of the International Peace Academy.
P R O M O TIO N OF THE 1 925 GENEVA PROTOCOL
Following the negotiations consistently conducted by the Com

mittee since 1918, first to ban the use of gas in war, and subsequently
for the accession of all States to the Geneva Protocol of 17 June 1925
for the prohibition of the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or
other gases, and of bacteriological methods of warfare, on 25 June
1970 the President of the ICRC wrote to seventy-seven Governments.
An extract from the letter is given below :
" A lth o u g h the num ber o f States expressly b o und by th e Protocol is n o w
seventy, it sh o u ld be noted th a t this fig u re is w e ll b e lo w the num ber o f States
expressly b o und by the Geneva C o nventions o f 1 949, w h ic h , at present, is 125.
W h ile sharing the consensus o f o p in io n th a t the norm s established by the
P rotocol represent the expression o f com m on la w and sh o u ld co n stitute , co n -
101
sequently, an im perative fo r all countries th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld , th e In te r
national C om m ittee believes th a t a form al accession by States w h ic h are not
already Parties to the Protocol w o u ld strengthen the a u th o rity o f the la w and
w o u ld u n deniably serve as a valuable exam ple. That is w h y it has been decided
to appeal to the G overnm ents o f all States th a t are not ye t Parties to th is Protocol,
and to request them to exam ine m ost ca re fu lly the p o ssib ility o f th e ir accession.
It is the earnest hope o f th e C om m ittee th a t yo u r G overnm ent w ill ju d g e
it possible to envisage fa vo ura b ly yo u r co u n try's fo rm a l accession to this
Protocol, the instrum ents o f w h ich are deposited w ith th e French G o ve rn m e nt."
After this appeal, the follow ing States had acceded to the Geneva
Protocol by 31 December 1970: Kenya, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Central
African Republic, Brazil, Malawi, Ecuador, Malta, Morocco, Panama,
Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, Mauritius.
Other States communicated, either in w riting or through the ICRC's
regional delegates, that they w ould be considering the possibility of
acceding at an early date. These were : Barbados, Cambodia, Colombia,
Gabon, Jordan, Kuwait, Philippines, San Marino, People's Democratic
Republic of Yemen.
Thus, according to the information obligingly confirmed by H.E.
Ambassador Jean Fernand-Laurent, French Permanent Representative
to the United Nations office at Geneva, by the end of 1970 the States
parties to the Geneva Protocol numbered 84. It is worth noting that
Japan had acceded to that important legal instrument, w ithout any
reservations, shortly before the President of the ICRC made his appeal.
Furthermore, through its regional delegations, the ICRC conveyed
all the desired information to the Governments concerned and prepared
for them specimen letters regarding accession or a declaration of
continuity.
D o c u m e n t a t io n a n d D is s e m in a tio n D iv is io n
D IS S E M IN A T IO N OF PRINCIPLES A N D C O N V E N TIO N S
C A M P A IG N A M O N G N A T IO N A L SOCIETIES
In accordance w ith the wishes expressed by the International Con

ferences of the Red Cross held at Vienna (1965) and Istanbul (1969),
and by the Meeting of Heads of Information and Public Relations of
102
National Red Cross Societies (Geneva, 9 to 12 June 1970) \ on
26 August 1970 the ICRC sent the National Red Cross Societies a
circular letter relating to the dissemination of the Geneva Conventions.
It asked them to intensify their efforts in this field, particularly among
youth and the army, and suggested a world campaign of dissemination.
To this end, it proposed a wider and more systematic use of the material
available, including publications. The ICRC also appealed to National
Societies to inform it of their experiences, and to make suggestions
w ith a view to organizing the world campaign of dissemination.
By the end of the year, 22 National Societies had answered the
ICRC, and each of their replies represented a survey that was both
elaborate and instructive. There was obviously a consensus on the need
to ensure a better knowledge of the Geneva Conventions as well as a
wish to make sure that dissemination :
— went beyond a purely legal fram ework;
— adjusted itself to the public at large by means of suitable publica
tions;
— reached youth and children above all, and
— was carried out by competent national information and press
services.
Moreover, the ICRC received large orders for material suitable for
dissemination.
W O R LD RED CROSS DAY
In 1970, the theme of World Red Cross Day, held every year on
8 May, was "P rotect Man— Thwart W a r". In selecting this theme,
the ICRC, which was responsible for preparing the documentary
material and for co-ordinating the various events to be held on that
occasion, wished to draw attention to one of the principal subjects
dealt w ith at the XXIst International Conference of the Red Cross
(Istanbul, 1969), namely the development, application and dissemina
tion of humanitarian law.
The ICRC therefore sent each Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red
Lion and Sun Society a kit containing printed documentary material 2.

2 See p. 90 o f this Report.
103
National Societies were also offered a poster, various small articles
and the follow ing audio-visual material :
— three messages recorded for the radio and television by Mr. Marcel
A. Naville, President of the ICRC; Lady Limerick, Chairman of the
Standing Commission, and Mr. José Barroso, Chairman of the
Board of Governors of the League of Red Cross Societies;
— a half-hour radio programme recorded in five languages;
— a film made by the Télévision suisse romande dealing w ith one of
the ICRC's actions in the field.
In Burundi, Rwanda and Cyprus, where National Societies are
being established, ICRC representatives took part personally in the
events organized for World Red Cross Day. In Cameroon, too, the
arrival of a regional delegate at Yaoundé coincided with the 8 May
celebrations.
W ith a view to drawing up a record of the events organized by
National Societies, in June the ICRC issued a questionnaire regarding
this 22nd celebration of World Red Cross Day in different countries. By
the end of the year, the ICRC had received replies from 75 National
Societies, including Societies already recognized and Societies which
were in the process of formation. A report was then drawn up which
showed that all those 75 National Societies had organized Red Cross
Day events— 57 at Society headquarters plus 46 in various local
branches. Besides this, 51 National Societies had chosen World Red
Cross Day for the launching of their fund-raising drives.
As regards the mass media used, all the National Societies which
answered the questionnaire said that the events had been reported
in the press. The special articles prepared by the ICRC and the League
of Red Cross Societies had been w idely reproduced. Thirty-one Socie
ties broadcast the messages from the three Presidents over the radio.
Twelve television networks used the message recorded by the President
of the ICRC, while seven showed the film on the ICRC action. It is
worth mentioning that 23 National Societies made arrangements for
a special television broadcast.
D IS S E M IN A T IO N OF THE CO N VE N TIO N S A M O N G THE A R M E D FORCES
In 1970, the ICRC finalized the layout of a new pocket edition of

the " Soldier's Manual ". The new edition was to appear early in 1971,
104
Burma, School te xtb o o k "T h e Red Cross and M y C o u n try Photo J .- M . Laverrlère/IC R C
Mali. Lesson on th e Red C ross. P hoto ICRC
100.000 copies being printed in three versions (English, French and
Spanish).
With encouragement from the ICRC, a number of National Red
Cross Societies launched a drive to have the manual adopted by the
army staff in their respective countries, and a number of Asian countries
reported that they w ould take steps to have the manual translated into
a local language.
The ICRC sent the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, at its request,
2.000 copies in English of the " Summary of the Geneva Conventions
of August 12, 1949 ".
On the occasion of missions to Latin America \ ICRC delegates
actively encouraged the dissemination of the Conventions among the
armed forces. Following these visits, 12,000 copies of the " Summary "
were sent to Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica and
Venezuela.
One thousand copies of the " Soldier's Manual ", in French, were
sent to Chad, and the Rwandese authorities were supplied w ith 800
further copies of the Manual and w ith 300 copies of the Summary.
RELATIO NS W ITH UNESCO A N D THE OAS
UNESCO. The ICRC maintained relations with the United Nations

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) through
out 1970. It brought to UNESCO’s attention resolution IX (D is
semination of the Geneva Conventions) 2 and resolution XX (The
Red Cross as a Factor in World Peace) 3 adopted by the XX 1st Inter
national Conference of the Red Cross, and raised the question of
UNESCO assistance in the dissemination of Red Cross principles and
ideas, during International Education Year.
These contacts were reflected in articles on the Geneva Conven
tions and on Red Cross principles in the monthly bulletin of Inter
national Education Year (August issue), as well as in the distribution
of 15,000 copies of the tw o aforementioned resolutions in UNESCO
clubs. UNESCO proposed that the ICRC should study, jointly with
the League of Red Cross Societies, projects of educational programmes
1 See page 14 o f this Report.

2 Cf. A nnual R eport 1969, p. 74.
3 Cf. A n n u a l Report 1969, p. 84.
105
on peace, for the schools which it sponsored, as well as for radio
networks and stations co-operating w ith UNESCO.
OAS. A t the ICRC's request, the Organization of American States

instructed its representatives in Latin America to approach member
Governments and suggest that a lesson about the Red Cross be
given in all primary schools on the occasion of 8 May, World Red
Cross Day. The ICRC, for its part, sent a telegram to all the National
Societies concerned, asking them to approach the Ministries of National
Education jointly w ith the OAS representatives.
" T H E RED CROSS A N D M Y C O U N T R Y " A N D

THE "T E A C H E R 'S M A N U A L "
in Africa. The ICRC's regional delegates in Africa had occasion

to observe the excellent reception given the 220,000 copies of the
school textbook and the teacher's manual which had been sent to
some tw enty-five African countries. The ICRC received further orders
for more than 840,000 copies, but owing to lack of funds it was
unfortunately unable to have a new edition printed in 1970.
In Asia. In 1970, Mr. Jean-M arc Laverrière, a Delegate, went to

Asia on tw o missions, to co-operate w ith the National Societies and
the authorities of fourteen countries in finalizing the different versions
of the school textbook in vernacular tongues. His first mission, from
January to April, took him to Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore,
while the second mission, which lasted from August to December,
was to Burma, Ceylon, India, the Republic of Korea, Nepal, Pakistan,
the Philippines and Singapore.
By the end of the year, an Asia edition was available for ten coun
tries— Burma, Ceylon, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia,
Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand— in eleven different
languages, representing about 600,000 copies of the school textbook
" The Red Cross and My Country " and 70,000 copies of the " Teacher's
Manual The printing was done in Singapore, and the Singapore
National Society, to which the ICRC tenders its thanks, offered to see to
the packing, storage, routing and loading of some 120 tons of textbooks
106
and manuals on board ship and by rail. Printing costs were covered by
the balance of the special credit granted by the Swiss Confederation.
In Latin America. In 1969, the ICRC asked all Latin American

Governments and National Societies whether they favoured the
introduction of the school textbook in Latin America. The fo llo w
ing nine countries replied in the affirmative : Argentina, Colombia,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.
Orders have already been placed for several million copies, w hich is
far beyond the ICRC potential.
A limited Spanish edition (3,000 copies) of " The Red Cross and
My Country " and the " Teacher's Manual "— a Latin America version—
came out in October 1970. That first edition, copies of w hich were sent
to all National Societies and all Governments in Latin America, is
intended inter alia to facilitate ICRC fund raising.
The Latin America version of the school textbook was presented
at the Ninth Inter-American Red Cross Conference held at Managua
from 27 November to 3 December. Resolution V adopted by the
conference called upon the National Societies and the Governments
of Latin America to adopt the school textbook and contribute to its
financing.
It should be noted that the Spanish Red Cross also approached
the ICRC w ith a view to submitting a school textbook inspired by the
booklet " The Red Cross and M y Country ".
M iddle East. The Lebanese Red Cross has assured the ICRC of
its co-operation in the translation and adaptation of the school textbook
in Arabic.
D O C U M E N T A T IO N A N D PUBLICATIO NS
Exhibitions : In 1970, the ICRC organized or participated in a

number o f exhibitions.
In co-operation w ith the League of Red Cross Societies and the
Henry Dunant Institute, an exhibition on Red Cross activities during
the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871 was held in the International
Red Cross Museum at Castiglione delle Stiviere (Italy). This exhibition,
for w hich the ICRC prepared a large collection of documents, opened
on 12 June and closed in September 1970.
107
The ICRC co-operated in an exhibition organized by the French
Red Cross at Rouen, from 17 to 21 October, w hich again dealt w ith
the 1870 war.
From 8 July to 10 August, on the occasion of the tw enty-fifth anni
versary of the United Nations, the ICRC participated in an exhibition
of documents held at the Palais Eynard, in Geneva, illustrating ICRC
co-operation w ith the League of Nations and subsequently w ith the
United Nations.
In October, the ICRC helped organize an exhibition held in Berne
in connection w ith a meeting of the Officiers du D roit des gens. The
exhibition centred on the Geneva Conventions.
Lastly, the ICRC presented its mobile exhibition "T h e ICRC
Today " 1 on the occasion of the follow ing events : Consultative
Assembly of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, in April ; Biennale des
loisirs, Geneva, in June; International Congress on Humanitarian Law,
San Remo, in September.
Documentation : The Documentation and Dissemination Division

responded to numerous requests from National Red Cross Societies,
various other institutions and private individuals, for information on
recent activities and earlier events.
Publications : In 1970, the ICRC published a booklet prepared by

the Central Tracing Agency and entitled " How to set up a Tracing
Service ". This booklet, which was issued in three languages (English,
French and Spanish), was essentially for the use of National Societies
in quest of information on the subject.
The ICRC had reprints made of tw o articles written by ICRC legal
advisers and published in the International Review of the Red Cross :
"T h e Red Cross and Non-International Conflicts ", by Mr. Michel
Veuthey, and " The Red Cross and Biological and Chemical Weapons ",
by Mr. Jean Mirim anoff-Chilikine.
1 Cf. A n n u a l Report 1969, p. 100
108
R E L A T IO N S W I T H RED C R O S S IN S T IT U T IO N S
N A T IO N A L SOCIETIES
Missions o f the President o f the ICRC : A t the invitation of the

Polish Red Cross, headed by Professor Ian Rutkiewicz, the President
of the ICRC, Mr. Marcel A. Naville, stayed in Poland from 3 to 9 May.
He was received by Mr. Josef Cyrankiewicz, then President of the
Council of Ministers, and later by Mr. W iniewicz, Vice-M inister for
Foreign Affairs. He also met the Chairman of the Katowice Town
Council in the course of a visit to Silesia.
On 11 March, Mr. Naville visited the Swiss Red Cross, w ith
Mr. Jean-Louis Le Fort, Secretary-General of the ICRC, Mr. Raymond
Courvoisier, Special Assistant to the President and Director of the
Operations Department, and various officials.
The President of the ICRC, accompanied by Mr. Jean Pictet, Chair
man of the Legal Commission and a member of the ICRC, and Mr. Le
Fort, attended the European Regional Conference of the Red Cross
held at Cannes from 20 to 25 April. This conference was organized by
the French Red Cross, w ith the assistance of the League of Red Cross
Societies, and had as its general theme "T h e Red Cross and the
Evolution of Modern Europe ". Mr. Naville and Mr. Pictet also attended
the meeting of the Standing Commission held on 22 April, under the
chairmanship of Lady Limerick.
From 22 to 24 June, Mr. Naville was in the Soviet Union, at the
invitation of the Alliance of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
In Moscow, the President of the ICRC was welcomed by Dr. Fiodor
Zaharov, First Deputy to the President; Mrs. Zoia Maiorova, Vice-
President, and Mrs. Lilia Tcherkaskaya, Head of International Relations.
He had an audience w ith Mr. Nikolai Podgorny, Chairman of the
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Mr. Naville also visited
the Red Cross at Riga and Leningrad.
On 11 July, the President of the ICRC attended ceremonies com
memorating the tw enty-fifth anniversary of the Liechtenstein Red Cross,
in the presence of H.S.H. Princess Gina of Liechtenstein, President of
the Society.
At the invitation of the German Red Cross in the Federal Republic
of Germany, Mr. Naville stayed in that country from 14 to 19 November.
109
He was received at the seat of the Red Cross, in Bonn, by Mr. Walter
Bargatzky, President; Mrs. Beate Bremme, Vice-President; Dr. Anton
Schlogel, Secretary-General, and various Red Cross officials. He had
an audience w ith Dr. Gustav Heinemann, President of the Federal
Republic of Germany, and Mr. Sigismund Freiherr von Braun, Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, for talks. The President of the ICRC also
went to Munich, where he visited the National Society's Tracing Bureau
and was received by Dr. Alphonse Goppel, Minister-President of
Bavaria and President of the Bavarian branch of the German Red
Cross in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Mr. Naville attended the Ninth Inter-American Red Cross Confer
ence held at Managua from 27 November to 3 December. He was w e l
comed by Mgr. Donaldo Chávez Núñez, President of the Nicaraguan
Red Cross, and had numerous talks w ith the Presidents of the National
Societies taking part in the Conference as well as w ith Nicaraguan
authorities. At a reception held in the Presidential Palace, Mr. Naville
had occasion to speak with General Anastasio Somoza Debayle, Presi
dent of the Republic.
Before proceeding to Managua, the President of the ICRC made
a stop-over in Venezuela and Panama, for a visit to the Presidents of
the National Societies of those tw o countries, Mrs. Maria Eugenia de
Alvarez and Mr. Henry Ford, respectively. At Caracas, he had interviews
w ith the Venezuelan Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Justice,
while at Panama City he met Mr. Demetrio Lakas, President of the
Provisional Government Junta, and various Ministers.
In addition to the President's missions referred to above, on 22 Feb
ruary Mr. Courvoisier went on a tour of the Scandinavian countries.
Accompanied by Mr. Hoffmann, he contacted officials of the govern
ments and Red Cross Societies of those countries. On 27 and 28 June,
Mr. Le Fort attended the Annual Assembly of Swiss Red Cross
Delegates.
The ICRC also took part in several regional seminars and round
table information meetings organized jointly w ith National Red Cross
Societies.
Regional seminars. With a view to training staff to co-operate with

the ICRC and the League in cases of conflict or disaster, the Danish
and Swedish Red Cross Societies asked those tw o international insti-
110
tuitions to participate in training courses which were being organized
for the senior staff of the four Scandinavian Societies, at Copenhagen
(in m id-M ay and again from 29 August to 5 September) and at
Stockholm (in m id-June). The ICRC appointed Mr. Alain Modoux,
Head of the Press and Information Division, and Mr. Stephan Svikovsky,
a member of the Documentation and Dissemination Division, as
" teachers ".
The League held jointly w ith the ICRC a Meeting of Heads of
Information and Public Relations of National Societies,1 at the League's
headquarters in Geneva, from 9 to 12 June. The ICRC was represented
by Mr. Pierre Gaillard, Assistant Director, and Mr. Modoux.
In July and August, the ICRC sent Mr. Jacques Moreillon, a dele
gate, to Japan to attend the " Konnichiwa 70 " seminar (1970 Tech
nical Seminar for the South-East Asian and Pan-Pacific Region in the
Field of Red Cross Youth) jointly organized by the League of Red
Cross Societies and the Japanese Red Cross. The seminar was attended
by about tw enty young people from Asian National Societies.
From 3 to 27 November, the ICRC participated in a League seminar
at Dar es Salaam for training senior staff of the East African Red Cross
Societies. The ICRC was alternately represented by its tw o regional
delegates in East Africa, Mr. Roger Santschy and Mr. René Weber, as
well as by Mr. Modoux.
Round Table Information Meetings : Two Round Table Meetings

on Red Cross Information, organized by the Algerian Red Crescent
Society, were held at Tizi Ouzou, on 19 May, and at Constantine,
on 22 May. The ICRC was represented by Mr. Gaillard while the League
was represented by Mr. Gómez and Mr. Khiamouche. In both places,
the speakers, w ho were introduced by Dr. Belaouane, President of the
Algerian Red Cross Society, told local Red Cross officials and notables
about the activities of their respective institutions.
Information meetings were held on the occasion of the General
Assembly of the Cameroon Red Cross Society, at Yaoundé from 29 to
31 July. Mr. Gaillard and the ICRC regional delegate, Mr. Tschiffeli,
represented the ICRC, w hile Mr. Alcantara, Vice-President of the League
and President of the Senegalese Red Cross Society, represented the
111
League. The Society's local sections were all represented at Yaoundé,
which provided an opportunity for contacts w ith all the officials of the
Cameroon Red Cross Society, whose President is Dr. S. P. Tschoungi.
In the course of his missions to Latin America, Mr. Leemann,
ICRC delegate, in co-operation w ith the National Societies concerned,
also organized a number of Round Table Information Meetings, at
Tegucigalpa, San Salvador, Guatemala City, and other places.
Lastly, at the invitation of Mr. Warras, Secretary-General of the
Finnish Red Cross, Mr. Gaillard stayed in Finland from 17 to 23 August.
Fie visited the National Society's headquarters in Helsinki, and held
talks w ith its senior officials, w ith the Helsinki blood transfusion service,
with the Kovoula District Committee and w ith the local Lappeenranta
branch (Karelia).
Training course: From 17 August to 22 September, Mr. André

Beaud, Chief of the Relief Section, attended a training course at the
American National Red Cross in order to get acquainted w ith the
methods and organization of a major National Society in case of
disaster and the practical relief w ork it has to do. He had an oppor
tunity to see the American National Red Cross in action in Texas after
a hurricane had devastated the Corpus Christi area. He also visited
various national chapters, including the New Orleans chapter (relief
in case of fire) and the Miami chapter (hurricane relief preparations).
N ational Societies in process o f formation : In 1970, the ICRC con

cerned itself particularly w ith Malawi, Mauritania and Chad. Mr. Gaillard
paid a visit to the Red Cross Society of Cyprus, which is in process of
formation, from 4 to 9 May.
LEAGUE OF RED CROSS SOCIETIES
On the occasion of the 88th session of the Executive Committee

of the League of Red Cross Societies, which was held in Geneva from
16 to 25 September, an information meeting was held at ICRC head
quarters, on 22 September, for the benefit of National Societies. On the
same day, a meeting of the Standing Commission was held at ICRC
headquarters. It was chaired by Lady Limerick.
112
R e la tio n s w i t h In te rn a tio n a l In s titu tio n s
U nited Nations and Specialized Agencies
On 13 February, Mr. Marcel A. Naville, President of the ICBC,

attended the ceremony held at the International Labour Office (ILO),
Geneva, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of World University
Service.
In March, Mr. Claude Pilloud, Director of the Department of Prin
ciples and Law, went to New York to attend a session of the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights.
From 17 to 26 August, Mr. Jacques Moreillon, delegate of the ICRC,
attended the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Prevention of
Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, at Kyoto.
Mr. André-Dom inique Micheli, ICRC delegate to International
Organizations, attended as an observer the tw enty-first session of the
Executive Committee of the Office of the United Nations High Com
missioner for Refugees, in Geneva, from 28 September to 7 October.
From 15 October to 17 December, Mr. Micheli followed the pro
ceedings of the tw enty-fifth session of the United Nations General
Assembly, in New York. He contacted a great many members of the
United Nations Secretariat as well as members of the numerous delega
tions and permanent missions.
Intergovernm ental organizations
The representative of the ICRC at the Consultative Assembly of

the Council of Europe at Strasbourg was, from 22 to 30 January,
Mr. Claude Pilloud, and from 17 to 24 April, Mr. Raymond Courvoisier,
Special Assistant to the President and Director of the Operations
Department.
Mr. Marcel Boisard, Head of the ICRC Delegation in Cairo,
attended w ith observer status the Arab Socialist Union's meeting for
international organizations, held in Cairo from 14 to 16 April.
On 26 June, Mr. Jean de Preux, Legal Adviser, represented the
ICRC at the thirty-second extraordinary session of the Intergovern-
113
mental Committee for European Migration, w hile Mr. Melchior Bor-
singer, Delegate-General for Europe and North America, attended the
opening ceremony of the thirty-third session of that organization in
Geneva on 23 November.
N on-G overnm ental O rganizations
On 26 January, Mr. Pilloud went to New York to attend a meeting

of the American Society of International Law.
He also attended the National Conference on the Human Rights
of the Man in Uniform, held in Washington from 19 to 22 March.
On 18 June, Mr. Marcel A. Naville, President of the ICRC, parti
cipated in the ceremony commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the
International Union for Child Welfare (IUCW ), in Geneva.
Mr. Roger Gallopin, a member of the ICRC, was in Vienna from
27 to 31 July, to take part in the seminar for younger professionals
organized by the International Peace Academy Committee of the Inter
national Research Fund, Inc.
114
III. IN F O R M A T IO N
Press a n d In fo r m a tio n D iv is io n
Second M e etin g o f Heads o f In fo rm atio n and Public

Relations
The second Meeting of Heads of Information and Public Relations

of National Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Lion and Sun Societies
was held at the headquarters of the League of Red Cross Societies,
in Geneva, from 9 to 12 June 1970. Representatives of 23 National
Societies of Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America
took part in the meeting, which was organized by the League in close
co-operation w ith the ICRC. The first meeting was held at the head
quarters of the International Committee in January 1967. At the second
meeting the ICRC was represented by Mr. Alain Modoux, Head of the
Press and Information Division, and by Mr. Pierre Gaillard, Head of the
Documentation and Dissemination Division, both of whom were
accompanied by a number of officials.
The main items on the agenda were : information in the service of
spreading the Red Cross idea ; information in emergency situations and
in the service of the permanent tasks of the Red Cross; co-operation
in this field between the National Societies and the international Red
Cross organizations; relations w ith mass media ; information in devel
oping countries; fund-raising and publicity; World Red Cross Day.
The exchange of views laid special stress on the need for the Red
Cross w orld to study jointly, and particularly on a regional basis, the
various ways of providing the public w ith better information. In this
context, the participants gave special thought to the use of thoroughly
modern techniques and to the quest for new methods whereby the
young might become interested in Red Cross work and ideas.
Press Service
The end of the civil war in Nigeria and the events in Jordan during
the autumn of 1970 gave the ICRC Press Service an opportunity to
115
establish closer contacts w ith representatives of the press, radio and
television. Thus, during those crises, besides the usual press conferences
which in theory were to be held once a month, the ICRC held a large
number of information meetings; at the time of the Zerka incident as
many as tw o a day. In addition, countless telephone calls came from
the press the world over. During peak periods such calls follow ed one
another day and night at a rate of several hundred every 24 hours.
A great many radio and television networks devoted some of their
programmes, either entirely or partly, to the Red Cross in general and
to the ICRC in particular. At the time of the above-mentioned events,
several teams went to West Africa and to the M iddle East or else came
to Geneva to make sound and pictorial recordings of the work carried
out by ICRC delegates and by various ICRC services. The news docu
mentary reports and interviews, most of w hich dealt w ith what was
the main event of the day, were relayed across continents, frequently
over several networks and often through the medium of international
television bodies.
In addition to its press releases and news flashes, in 1970 the ICRC
continued publication of its bim onthly information notes "T h e ICRC
in Action ", issued in English, French, Spanish and German. By the
end of the year the circulation exceeded 3,500 copies. Although pri
marily intended for the press, " The ICRC in Action " is also distributed
to Governments, National Red Cross Societies and international organ
izations, many political, economic and cultural societies and asso
ciations, and to several hundred persons who fo llo w the ICRC's
activities w ith interest.
Audio-visual Service
In connection w ith World Red Cross Day 1, the ICRC Audio-visual

Service filmed or recorded in its own studio a series of messages from
leading figures in the Red Cross world, as well as a 30-m inute radio
programme. These films and recordings were produced in English,
French, German, Spanish, Italian and Arabic, and several dozen copies
were sent to National Red Cross Societies for dissemination on radio
and television networks.
116
A great many radio reporters also made use of the services of the
technicians of the Audio-visual Service in recording their interviews in
the ICRC studio or transmitting radio programmes by landline, in Europe
or even overseas.
Lastly, under its radio programme, the ICRC made six experi
mental broadcasts in 1970 from the Schwarzenburg station, near Berne,
on 7210 KHz (41.60 m). The broadcasts drew 2,487 reports sent in by
596 listeners from 32 countries.
V isitors Service
During 1970, the Visitors Service received more than 4,300 persons
at ICRC headquarters, including nearly 1,200 members of National
Red Cross Societies and about 800 nurses. The visitors, who came,
either in groups or individually, from all parts of the world, usually
went round on a visit lasting tw o to three hours; the programme included
talks w ith ICRC officials about the institution's various activities, a visit
to the Central Tracing Agency and the radio station, and one or more
films made in the field.
In te r n a tio n a l R e v ie w o f t h e R e d Cross
Two versions of the International Review o f the Red Cross are pub
lished by the ICRC every month, one in English and the other in French.
A supplement in German and one in Spanish are also issued. The
Review contains illustrations allowing readers to fo llow the work which
the ICRC does in a number of countries as well as the specific activities
of some National Societies.
In 1970, the Review commemorated several anniversaries which
were important from a humanitarian standpoint. First, there was the
150th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, on which occa
sion the Countess of Limerick contributed a notable article in which
she recalled the profound implications of the humanitarian struggle of
" the Lady w ith the lamp ", in Crimea and later in Great Britain. This
was follow ed by the centenary of the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian war,
which saw the birth on the battlefield of Red Cross solidarity among
117
several nations. Then there was the fact that, in 1970, the 1906 Geneva
Convention became a purely historic document. Lastly, Interna
tional Education Year was celebrated by a searching study on " Educa
tion and Tomorrow's World ",
Among the leading articles in the Review we may mention one by
Mr. J. Freymond, Vice-President of the ICRC, on aid to the victims of
the civil war in Nigeria, and a study by Mr. P. Laroque on teaching
solidarity as a factor contributing to growing interdependence among
men, as well as tw o articles by members of the Legal Division of the
ICRC : " The Red Cross and Biological and Chemical W eapons" by
Mr. J. M irim anoff-Chilikine and " The Red Cross and Non-International
C onflicts" by Mr. M. Veuthey. The August and September issues
contain the report drawn up by the ICRC on its activities in the M iddle
East from June 1967 to June 1970.
There were special articles devoted to World Red Cross Day, which
was commemorated on 8 May 1970. W ith the League's full agreement,
the ICRC undertook to prepare the documentation for the National
Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Lion and Sun Societies, w ho received
a kit enabling them to inform a major proportion of the public in their
countries regarding the essential principles of the Geneva Conventions
and the humanitarian activities of the Red Cross in times of conflict.
In addition, the Review published a number of articles w ritten on that
occasion by ICRC officials on problems of peace and the Geneva
Conventions.
But apart from the theoretical studies and information of a general
nature, the Review also reports on the ICRC's relief and humanitarian
activities in various countries. There have always been illustrations to
show the activities carried out in different places, as for instance in
Jordan, where, from September 1970, the ¡Red Cross rendered steadily
increasing assistance, w hich was described in considerable detail.
On reading the articles one realizes all that has been accomplished
in various fields, particularly in the matter of relief, in regard to which
the Review has reported meaningful figures from time to time.
Under the heading " In the Red Cross World ", there are reports
on the activities of National Societies as well as articles submitted to
the Editor. There is information on some aspects of the practical and
theoretical work carried out. A perusal of the list of countries in w hich
National Societies are operating shows the universal nature of the
118
information published in the International Review of the Red Cross,
which has included, too, reports on legal subjects and on the work of
international organizations. One can thus fo llo w what have been the
most effective efforts made throughout the world to defend essential
human rights, ensure better health, and disseminate the principles of
maternal and child hygiene. If one further considers the records and
the very considerable bibliography published, one can see that the
Review is a living periodical in close touch w ith current events.
In this context, it may be recalled that a table of contents to the
Review (in French) has been issued covering the years 1939 to 1961.
This document, which may be obtained from the ICRC, comprises an
author's index and a table of contents, and is a useful instrument for
research into recent Red Cross activities, faithfully recorded by the
ICRC's own publication.
119
IV. FINANCIAL POSITION
I. BALANCE SHEET
1. The increase of the balance sheet total (see table I) from 20,551 million francs
at the end of 1969 to 31,926 million francs as at 31 December 1970, is explained
mainly by the follow ing :
1970 1969 D iffe r e n c e

(a) ASSETS
(in th o usa n d s o f francs)
S e c u r it ie s ............................................................ 10,794 7,2 62 3.5 32

Vehicles, f u r n it u r e ............................................. 657 207 450
Funds in T rust Receivable ......................... 4 ,528 4,528
D e fic it on Relief and other A ctio n s . . . 10,000 6,468 3 .5 32
2 5,979 1 3,937 12,042
O ther i t e m s ....................................................... 5,947 6,614 (6 6 7 )
T o t a l s ................................................................. 31 ,92 6 20,551 11,375
(b) L IA B IL IT IE S
S h o r t -t e r m :
A cco u n ts p a y a b le ........................................ 2,720 1,582 1,138
Funds in Trust, Bank advances . . . . 4,5 28 4 ,528
7,248 1,582 5,666
L o n g -te rm :
Swiss G overnm ent a d v a n c e .................... 9,500 6,340 3 ,1 60
G e n e ra l R e s e r v e ............................................. 5,644 2.647 2,997
The increase o f ............................................. 11,823

is reduced by th e lo w e r figures o f other
lia b ilitie s, i.e................................................ (4 4 8 )
T o ta l ................................................................. 11,375
120
Two of the above items call for a word of explanation :
F unds in T ru s t R e c e iv a b le . This item represents EEC co m m itm e nts in contracts

relating to th e disposal o f cereal surpluses as relief donations. The co n tra -e n try in
the liab ilitie s is s h o w n under Funds in T ru s t— B a n k a d v a n ce s . The high am ounts
concerned, w h ic h w ere fu lly refunded at th e beg in ning o f 1971, are explained by the
w a y in w h ic h relief action fo r flo o d vic tim s in East Pakistan developed.
In th o u s a n d s o f fra n c s
G e n e ra l R e serve
— Balance b ro u g h t fo rw a rd from 31 Decem ber 1969 . . 2,647
Special g ift from th e Sw iss C o n fe d e r a tio n .................... 8,000
A p p ro p ria tio n added to receipts fo r 1 970 .................... (3,0 0 0 ) 5,000
— General Reserve before a llo w in g fo r th e d e fic it . . . 7,647
— D e d u ctio n o f:
D e f i c i t .......................................................................................... 2,001
Refund o f an a n n u ity in respect o f a m ortgage . . . 2 (2 ,0 0 3 )
— G e n e ra l R e s e rv e as at 3 1 . 1 2 . 7 0 ................................... 5,644
121
2. R elief A ction in Nigeria
As announced in the 1969 Annual Report, we have estimated the

Swiss franc value of all aid supplied by all governments, National
Societies, organizations and institutions w hich participated in the
operations co-ordinated for nearly 18 months by the ICRC.
Figures available have enabled us to draw up the follow ing
table which is a statistical guide, not an accurate statement of
expenditure.
In th o u s a n d s o f
S w . fr.
1. S E R V IC E S
— P e rs o n n e l...................................................................... 17,800
— V e h i c l e s ...................................................................... 5,300
— Charter o f s h i p s ....................................................... 2,100
— A ir tr a n s p o r t................................................................. 51 ,10 0
2. G IF T S IN K IN D
— Food ........................................................................... 2 46 ,6 0 0
— M ed ica l s u p p lie s ....................................................... 1 00,900
3. G IF T S IN C A S H
— Special p r o j e c t s ....................................................... 91,200
— O t h e r s ........................................................................... 1 48.000
663 .0 0 0
The above table sh o w s th a t to ta l expenditure d u ring th e eighteen m onths w h e n

the action w as under IC BC c o -o rd in a tio n am ounted to 663 m illio n Sw iss francs.
122
II. S T A T E M E N T OF EXPENDITURE A N D IN C O M E
Table II shows the nature of the financial system adopted by the

ICRC in 1970 in order to bring into relief the three main types of
expenditure incurred in the discharge of its various activities :
1. P e r m a n e n t s tr u c tu r e (second co lu m n o f th e ta b le ), th e expenses fo r w h ich
can be predicted from year to year, as in any undertaking ;
2. T e m p o r a r y s tr u c tu r e (th ird c o lu m n ), representing the a d d itio n a l hum an

and m aterial resources required fo r operations. B udget estim ates in th is case
are su b je c t to considerable change, dep en d in g on circum stances ;
3. O c c a s io n a l o p e ra tio n s (fo u rth c o lu m n ), p a rticu la rly some em ergency relief

operations. The co st m ust the re fo re be a llo w e d fo r over and above the budget.
Three distinct methods of financing should be adopted in respect

of these three types of expenditure, namely:
1. R e g u la r a n n u a l c o n trib u tio n s to cover the cost o f the perm anent structure
and the re b y ensure th e c o n tin u a tio n o f th e in s titu tio n 's independence and
m ission ;
2. A c r e d it on w h ic h th e ICRC may d ra w , according to needs, fo r its tem porary

s tru ctu re ;
3. E x tra o rd in a ry fin a n c in g th ro u g h appeals to governm ents and N ational

S ocieties in order to m eet e xceptional situations.
A. Expenditure and financing o f perm anent and tem p o rary

structures in 1970
1. E x p e n d itu re
The sum m ary statem ent (table lia ) sh o w s costs fo r the perm anent and tem porary
structures a m o u n tin g to Sw . Fr. 1 5 ,6 1 6 ,0 0 0 , as com pared w ith the Sw . Fr.
1 3 ,4 7 7 ,1 5 5 w h ic h w as th e to ta l o f all fixe d and operating expenses in 1969
(cf. p. 113, ta b le lia and p. 115, table lie, in th e A n n u a l Report fo r th a t year).
2. R e c e ip ts
The in s u ffic ie n c y o f receipts (ta b le lia ) co m p e lle d th e ICRC to d ra w Sw . Fr.

2.0 01 .0 0 0 from its General Reserve, in order to cover th e d e fic it incurred for
its perm anent structure.
The co st o f its tem porary structu re w as covered by an advance o f Sw. Fr.
3.5 32 .0 0 0 and a do n atio n o f Sw . fr. 3 ,0 00 ,0 0 0 fro m the Sw iss G overnm ent.
123
B. Expenditure and financing of occasional operations
Table lib summarizes the accounts for the ICRC's action in Jordan
from 6 September to 10 December 1970.
The net amount of the annual public collection in Switzerland in

1970, Sw. Fr. 883,000, is not included in the above accounts. It,
together w ith other donations, is assigned to the provision of material
relief which is distributed by the ICRC delegates in the course of their
work.
Table IV shows the situation of this Special Fund fo r R elief
Actions.
III. OTHER A C C O U N TS
Table V shows the situation of the Special Funds managed by the

ICRC.
IV. A U D IT IN G
As in previous years, the ICRC accounts have been checked by

the Société Fiduciaire Romande OFOR S.A., w hich issued its report
on 8 March 1971. A translation of that report completes the section
dealing w ith the Financial Position.
124
IN T E R N A T IO N A L C O M M IT TE E
Balance Sheet as
(In thousands
ASSETS
1970 19 6 9
C A S H ......................................................................................................... 734 1,263
CURRENT ASSETS
— S e c u r it ie s .......................................................................................... 10,794 7,2 62

— A c c o u n ts r e c e iv a b le ...................................................................... 1,771 1,994
— A ccruals and prepaid e x p e n s e s .................................................. 464 211
13,029 9,467
FIXED ASSETS
— Relief s u p p l ie s ................................................................................ 162 229

— E q u ip m e n t.......................................................................................... 657 207
819 4 36
A D V A N C E S TO D E L E G A T IO N S .................................................. 482 311

FU N D S IN T R U ST
— R e c e i v a b le ..................................................................................... 4,528 —
— S e c u r it ie s .......................................................................................... 2 ,334 2,606
6,862 2,606
DEFICIT ON RELIEF A N D OTHER A C T IO N S
— Yemen ............................................................................................... 2,050 1,708

— Vietnam .......................................................................................... 3,036 1,299
— M id d le E a s t ..................................................................................... 6,014 2,793
— A den .................................................................................................... 723 3 44
— G r e e c e ............................................................................................... 7 63 279
— T e x t b o o k .......................................................................................... 256 45
— D onation from Sw iss G o v ' t ....................................................... (2,8 4 2 ) —
10,000 6,468
BALANCE SHEET TOTALS 31,926 20,551
SURETY FOR G U AR ANTEE ............................................................ 400 4 00
126
OF THE RED CROSS
TABLE I
a t 31.12.70 and 31.12.69

o f Sw iss francs)
LIABILITIES
1970 1969
SH O R T -TE R M LIA B ILIT IE S
— S undry c r e d i t o r s ........................................................................... 2,132 1,401

— A ccrued lia b ilit ie s ........................................................................... 588 181
2,720 1,582
OTHER DEBTS
— A dvance from Sw iss G o v ' t ....................................................... 9,500 6,340
S U N D R Y P R O V IS IO N S ...................................................................... 452 584
FU N D S FOR RELIEF A C T IO N S
— Cash .................................................................................................... 996 1,176

— Relief actions under w a y ............................................................ 752 616
1,748 1,792
FU N D S IN TR UST
— Banks and s u p p lie r s ...................................................................... 4,528 _

— O ccasional o p e r a t io n s ................................................................. 1,773 —
— O t h e r s ............................................................................................... 561 2,606
6,862 2,606
C A P ITA L RESERVE FU N D S
— General R e s e r v e ........................................................................... 7,645 3,168

— Less d e fic it fo r th e y e a r ................................................................. (2 ,0 0 1 ) ( 521)
5,644 2,647
— Reserve fo r general c o n f l i c t ....................................................... 5,000 5,000
10,644 7,647
BALANCE SHEET TOTALS 31,926 20,551
G UAR AN TEE .......................................................................................... 4 00 400
127
FINANCE
The ICRC's financial difficulties arise mainly from the fact that some
of its expenditure can be predicted and some cannot. The predictable
expenses include those for relief work by delegates in prison camps,
for drafting legal provisions designed to protect and improve conditions
for war victims, as well as the tracing of missing persons, the reuniting
of families and the transmission of family messages.
Expenditure incurred in relief operations, when many medical
teams and thousands of tons of medicines, foodstuffs and clothing,
must be provided to meet emergency situations, fall into the unpredict
able category. Nevertheless, the ICRC must obviously finance not
only its permanent missions but also its emergency operations.
The ICRC's expenses may be divided into :
1. those which are permanent, to cover the w ork of its permanent

staff, and which are predictable as in any undertaking ;
2. those covering short term and occasional operations for which

temporary staff are taken on during conflicts (although these
expenses are variable, they can be provided for in the ICRC's
annual budget) ;
3. those covering unexpected relief operations for which the budget

makes no provision and which are covered by appeals and special
assistance.
Obviously the ICRC can carry out its activities only if it can rely on
annual contributions which enable it to discharge its permanent duties.
128
T ABLE II
Permanent Temporary Occasional

Expenses Expenses Expenses
224
S taff strength permanent 34 delegates on time S hort-term staff varying
31.12.1970 employees contracts. 84 local staff according to needs
Varying according to
Expenditure in 1970 9,084 6,532 operations. Special
('0 00 Swiss francs) total 15,616 budget fo r each
operation.
Nature of permanent occasional

expenditure
from 50 % decrease
Predictable variability ± 10% to 500 % increase, unpredictable
o f expenses depending on conflicts
Nature of Should be M ust be found despite ad hoc financing

financing regular variation in expenses
A llo ca tio n of Funds provided for,

ICRC must have sole discretion
resources and allocated to,
in the allocation o f resources
specific operations
Annual Report 8- Ad hoc report on

Report to Annual justifica tio n of resources
Donors each operation.
involved
Annual Annual Donations in response

Type of co n trib u
financing Appropriations to special appeals
tions
129
IN T E R N A T IO N A L C O M M IT TE E
Sum m ary sta tem en t o f expenditure
EXPENDITURE
Sw. Fr.
C O M M IT TE E , SECRETARIAT OF THE PRESIDENCY, PRO TOCOL 5 5 5 ,5 0 5
D E P AR TM E N T OF PRINCIPLES A N D LAW . . . 1,584,139
O PER ATIO N S D E P A R T M E N T:
M anagem ent, Logistics D ivisio n , 1
9 3 4 ,5 6 0
D elegation S ervicing J
Europe and N orth Am erica . . . . 6 86,967
A f r i c a ....................................................... 5 67 ,6 9 5
A s ia - O c e a n ia ........................................ 1 ,8 79 ,9 3 8
M id d le E a s t ............................................. 4,0 90 ,4 4 0
Latin A m e r i c a ........................................ 2 47 ,6 4 5
Central Tracing A g e n c y .................... 6 39,067
9 ,0 46 ,3 1 2
G ENERAL A N D P E R M A N EN T SERVICES * . . . . 4,0 07 ,0 4 6
C o s t o f a c t i v i t i e s ................................... 15 ,19 3 ,0 0 2
E x tra o rd in a ry d e p re c ia tio n . . . . 4 2 3 ,2 5 0
Total 15 ,616,252
* Includes :
General Secretariat,
Press and In fo rm a tion D ivision,
Personnel D ivision,
Finance and A d m in istra tio n D ivision
130
OF THE RED CROSS
T ABLE lia
and incom e fo r 1970
IN C O M E
Sw . Fr.
C o n trib u tio n s
G overnm ents : Sw iss— a n n u a l ........................................ 2,5 00 ,0 0 0

e x tra o r d in a r y .............................. 3 ,0 00 ,0 0 0
current a cco u n t advance . . 3 ,5 32 ,0 0 0
9 ,0 32 ,0 0 0
Rest o f E u r o p e ........................................ 1,138,523
A f r i c a ............................................................ 145 ,2 0 0
N orth A m e r i c a ........................................ 3 1 7 ,8 0 0
Latin A m e r ic a ............................................. 72 ,9 0 0
A s ia - O c e a n ia ............................................. 4 6 8 ,5 0 0
11 ,174,923
N ational S o c ie tie s ................................................................. 7 3 7 ,6 1 0

11 ,91 2 ,5 3 3
D o n a tio n s from Sw iss firm s ........................................ 33 9 ,2 2 7
O th e r d o n a tio n s and l e g a c i e s ................................... 6 4 3 ,7 9 4
R e v e n u e from in v e s t m e n t s ............................................. 7 1 9 ,8 8 4
13 ,615,438
D r a w in g s on General R e s e r v e s ................................... 2 ,000,814
Total 15 ,616,252
131
T ABL E lib
Expenditure and incom e fo r th e re lie f action

in Jordan, 1970
Expenditure
S w . Fr.
Personnel (salaries, expenses, expatriate allow ances, insurances) . . . 4 6 7 ,8 4 8
D elegation operating costs, in clu d in g e q u i p m e n t ........................................ 124 ,3 8 0
Storage, h andling and p o rt charges, e tc ............................................................... 2 53,717
Transport and d i s t r i b u t i o n ..................................................................................... 2 42,433
Purchase o f relief and local expenses fo r fo o d, clo th in g , tents, m edicines,

9 39,593
Provision fo r a rtificial lim b w o rksh o p and re h a b ilita tio n centre . . . . 2 5 0 ,0 0 0
2,277,971
Receipts
G overnm ent d o n a t i o n s .......................................................................................... 1 ,011,100
N a tio n a l S ociety d o n a tio n s ..................................................................................... 1 ,030,720
D o n a tio ns from other organizations and private i n d i v i d u a l s .................... 236,151
2,277,971
The overall cost o f th e relief action in Jo rd a n , inclusive o f do n atio n s in kin d and services, is
s h o w n on page 87.
132
T ABLE III
C ontributions to th e ICRC
fro m G overnm ents and N ational Societies
N a tio n a l
C o u n trie s G o v e rn m e n ts
S o c ie tie s
Sw. Fr. S w . Fr.

A f g h a n is ta n ................................................................................
A lbania ..................................................................................... --------- 7 0 0 .—
A lg e r ia .......................................................................................... — .— — .—
A u s t r a l i a ..................................................................................... 72,015.— 3 7 ,50 0 .—
A ustria 1 ..................................................................................... 2 5,000.— 15,000.—
B e l g i u m ..................................................................................... 1 0,800.— 1 2,500.—
B o ts w a n a ..................................................................................... — .— 1 ,500.—
B r a z i l .......................................................................................... 15,000.— ---------
B u l g a r i a ..................................................................................... 3 ,000.— 6 ,250.—
B u r m a .......................................................................................... 6 ,400.— 3 ,000.—
B u r u n d i ............................................................ 2 ,160.—
Cam eroon ................................................................................ 3 ,895.—
Canada ..................................................................................... 84,500.— 4 0 ,15 0 .—
Central A frica n R e p u b lic ....................................................... 3 ,130.— — .—
C e y lo n .......................................................................................... 2,560.— — .—
Chile .......................................................................................... 8 ,640.— 6 ,315.—
China (People's R e p u b l i c ) .................................................. — .— 5 ,000.—
C o lo m b ia ..................................................................................... 17,280.— ---------
Congo ( K i n s h a s a ) ................................................................. 10,825.— — .—
Costa R i c a ................................................................................ — .— 4 8 0 .—
C y p r u s .......................................................................................... — .— — .—
C zechoslovakia ...................................................................... — .— 3 ,0 00 .—
D e n m a r k ..................................................................................... 57,485.— 4 ,0 00 .—
D om inican R epublic ............................................................ — .— 3 ,070.—
Ecuador ..................................................................................... 2 ,265.— 3 ,000.—
El S a lv a d o r ................................................................................ — .— 2 ,720.—
E t h i o p i a ..................................................................................... — .— 3 ,2 25 .—
F in la n d .......................................................................................... 20,600.— 3 ,0 00 .—
F r a n c e .......................................................................................... 170,685.— 4 1 ,0 8 0 .—
Gam bia ..................................................................................... — .— — .—
German D em ocratic R e p u b lic .................... 6 ,0 00 .—
German Federal R e p u b lic ....................................................... 2 3 7,000.— 4 9 ,05 6 .—
G h a n a .......................................................................................... 6,390.— —.—
G r e e c e .......................................................................................... 29,38 8 .— 1 4,000.—
H a i t i ............................................................................................... —.— 2,390.—
H o n d u ra s ..................................................................................... 4,320.— —.—
H u n g a r y ..................................................................................... —.— 6,000.—
I c e la n d .......................................................................................... 2,500.— 2,000.—
India .......................................................................................... 4 4 ,80 0 .— 1,704.—
In d o n e s ia ..................................................................................... 15.000.— 3 ,5 65 .—
I r a n .............................................................................................. 2 0 ,00 0 .— 1 5,450.—
I r a q ............................................................................................... 8 ,000.— 4,585.—
I r e la n d ......................................................................................... 7 ,500.— 4 ,7 55 .—
133
N a tio n a l
S o c ie tie s
Sw . Fr. Sw . Fr.
Is ra e l............................................................................................... 15,025.— ---------
I t a l y ............................................................................................... 8 6 ,50 0 .— — .—
Ivory C o a s t ................................................................................ 3 ,2 10 .— — .—
J a m a i c a ..................................................................................... — .— — .—
Japan .......................................................................................... 6 4 ,80 0 .— 43 ,2 0 0 .—
J o r d a n .......................................................................................... 12,480.— — .—
Korea, D em ocratic People's R epublic o f ......................... -— .— 2,000.—
Korea, R epublic o f ................................................................. 1 2,960.— 7 ,3 00 .—
K u w a i t ..........................................................................................
Lebanon ..................................................................................... 3 4 ,30 5 .— 3 ,5 65 .—
L ie c h t e n s t e in ........................................................................... 1 0,000.— 3 ,5 65 .—
3 ,0 00 .— 5,000.—
M alagasy R e p u b l ic .................................................................
M a l a y s i a ..................................................................................... 5 ,5 00 .— — .—
M a l t a .......................................................................................... 1,535.— — .—
M e x ic o .......................................................................................... 17,280.— — .—
M o n a c o ..................................................................................... 3 ,8 90 .— 3 ,5 00 .—
15,020.—
840.—
N e th e rla n d s ................................................................................ 15,000.— 5 5 ,00 0 .—
N ew Z e a l a n d ........................................................................... 28,61 0 .— 10,865.—
Nicaragua ................................................................................ 2 ,160.— 2 ,7 65 .—
N ig e r ia .......................................................................................... 6,000.— — .—
N o rw a y .......................................................................................... 2 0 ,00 0 .— — .—
P a k is t a n ..................................................................................... — .— — .—
P e r u ............................................................................................... — .— 4 ,2 50 .—
P h i li p p in e s ................................................................................ 15,06 5 .— 1 0 ,75 0 .—
P o la n d .......................................................................................... 30 .0 0 0 .— 1 5 ,00 0 .—
P o r t u g a l ..................................................................................... 1 5 ,00 0 .— 1,000.—
R o m a n ia ..................................................................................... — .— 1 0,000.—
San M a r i n o ................................................................................ 2 ,720.— 2 ,720.—
Saudi Arabia ........................................................................... — .— — .—
S e n e g a l ..................................................................................... — .— 2 ,0 00 .—
Sierra L e o n e ................................................................................ 6 ,850.— — .—
S outh A frica , R epublic o f ....................................................... 4 8 ,3 2 0 .— 1 5,010.—
S p a i n .......................................................................................... 8 ,0 0 0 .— 7 ,4 25 .—
S w e d e n ..................................................................................... 8 3 ,0 9 0 .— 1 0,020.—
S w itz e r la n d ................................................................................ 2 ,5 0 0 ,0 0 0 .— -— .—
Syria .......................................................................................... — .— 2 ,795.—
T a n z a n ia ..................................................................................... 1 ,705.— — .—
T h a i l a n d ..................................................................................... 18,000.— 6 ,0 00 .—
T o g o .......................................................................................... — .— — .—
T rin id a d and T o b a g o ............................................................ 2 ,160.—
T u n is ia .......................................................................................... 2 ,0 00 .— 3 ,0 0 0 .—
T u r k e y .......................................................................................... 9 ,6 50 .— 1 6 ,30 0 .—
U g a n d a .......................................................................................... 2 ,975.— — .—
U n ited Arab R e p u b li c ............................................................ 3 9 ,86 0 .— — .—
U n ited K in g d o m ...................................................................... 1 0 3 ,4 7 5 .— 3 1 ,0 3 5 .—
U nited S t a t e s ........................................................................... 2 1 6 ,0 0 0 .— 1 0 8 ,0 0 0 .—
U pper V o l t a ................................................................................ — .— — .—
134
N a tio n a l
S o c ie tie s
Sw. Fr. Sw . Fr.

U.S.S.R .......................................................................................... 16,200.—
Venezuela ............................................................................... 1 9,45o'—
Vietnam , R epublic o f ............................................................ 4 ,0 00 .—
Y u g o s la v ia ............................................................................... 2 ,5 00 .— 3 ,0 0 0 '—
T o tal o f con trib u tio n s 4 ,3 80 ,0 7 3 .— 7 0 2 ,2 6 0 .—
1 Austria, extra d o n atio n .................................................. 16 6 ,9 3 0 .—

S ettlem ents fo r previous years as s h o w n in separate table
b e l o w ......................................................................................... 95,92 0 .— 3 5 ,35 0 .—
T o tal o f contrib u tio n s 4 ,6 4 2 ,9 2 3 .— 7 3 7 ,6 1 0 .—
SETTLEM ENTS FOR PREVIOUS YEARS
N a tio n a l
S o c ie tie s
Sw. Fr. Sw. Fr.

A f g h a n is ta n ................................................................................ 4 ,000.— — .—
B u l g a r i a ..................................................................................... 3,000.— — .—
Ecuador ..................................................................................... 1,485.— — .—
Gam bia ..................................................................................... 515.— — .—
G h a n a .......................................................................................... 4,220.— — .—
G r e e c e .......................................................................................... 695.— — .—
I r a q ............................................................................................... 12,000.— — .—
Is ra e l............................................................................................... 15,000.— — .—
Japan .......................................................................................... — .— 4 3 ,50 0 .—
Korea, R epublic o f ................................................................. 10,795.— — .—
L ib e r ia .......................................................................................... 2 1,600.— — .—
M a l a y s i a ..................................................................................... 5,500.— — .—
M o n g o lia ..................................................................................... 1,075.— — .—
10,000.—
N ig e r ia .......................................................................................... 6,000.— — .—
N o rw a y .......................................................................................... — .— (3,0 0 0 .— ) *
S w e d e n ..................................................................................... — .— (1 0 ,0 0 0 .— ) *
T u r k e y .......................................................................................... — .— 4 ,8 50 .—
Upper V o l t a ................................................................................ 390.— — .—
Exchange d i f f e r e n c e s ............................................................ (35 5 .— ) — .—
9 5,920.— 3 5 ,35 0 .—
* Included in the G overnm ent's 1968 co n trib u tio n
135
IN T E R N A T IO N A L C O M M IT TE E OF THE RED CROSS
TABLE IV
Special fund fo r relief actions
Sw. Fr. Sw . Fr.
S um m ary o f m ovem ents in 1 970 . . . .
1. Balance carried fo rw a rd from 31 Decem ber 1969 . 1 ,791,870
2. RECEIPTS IN 1970
2.1. Net p ro d u ct o f p u b lic co lle ctio n in S w itzerland 8 8 3 ,0 0 0
2.2. O ther d o n atio n s fo r sp e cific actions . . . . 1,228,963 2 ,111,963

3,9 03 ,8 3 3
3. EXPENDITURE IN 1970
Purchases and fo rw a rd in g charges:
— E u r o p e .................................................. 199,627
— A f r i c a .................................................. 9 8,449
— Latin A m e r i c a ................................... 221,627
— S outh-E ast A s i a .............................. 423 ,2 4 8
— M id d le E a s t ........................................ 7 2 8 ,7 2 8
— Arab Peninsula (Y e m e n -A d e n ) . . 4 76 ,4 0 6
— S u n d r i e s ............................................. 3,748
2 ,151,833
— M ainte n a n ce o f firs t-a id stores . . 4,000 (2,1 5 5 ,8 3 3)
4. Balance as at 31 Decem ber 1970 1,748,000
136
T ABLE V
S P E C IA L F U N D S
1. F O U N D A T I O N FOR TH E IN T E R N A T IO N A L C O M M IT T E E
O F T H E RED C R O S S
BA LAN C E SHEET AS AT 31 DECEM BER 1970
ASSETS L IA B ILIT IE S
S w . Fr. S w . Fr. S w . Fr. S w . Fr.

Public Securities, nominal value : Inalienable capital 1,028,252.52
— Swiss Funds (market value Inalienable reserve fund :
Fr. 8 4 9 , 2 0 0 ) ............................. 91 5,000.—
b /f from 1969 . . . .175,087.85
— Foreign Funds (market value
Statutory allocation o f 15 % of
Fr. 1 8 4 , 1 9 3 ) 172,410.— 1,087,410.—
net revenue in 1970 . . . . 7,373.35 182,461.20
Deposit w ith Swiss National Bank,
G e n e v a .......................................... 150,531.02 T o ta l value o f cap ital 1,210,713.72
Am ounts receivable:
International Committee o f the
— A dm inistration Fédérale des Red Cross :
Contributions, Berne (tax paid
funds in current account 41,782.50
in advance, to be refunded) . 10,912.50
— German Federal Government
(tax deducted at source, to be
r e f u n d e d ) .................................. 3,642.70 14,555.20
1,252,496.22 1,252,496.22
RECEIPTS A N D EXPENDITURE A C C O U N T FOR 1970
EXPENDITURE RECEIPTS
S w . Fr. S w . Fr.
Fees for safekeeping o f securities and bank Income from securities 48,975.55
c h a r g e s .................................................................. 588.40 Extraordinary income . 1,203.70
Auditors' f e e s ........................................................ 435.—
1,023.40
Statutory allocation to inalienable reserve fund :

15 % o f net revenue (Art. 8 of the Statutes) . 7,373.35
Allocation to the ICRC of balance of net revenue

(Art. 7 o f the S t a t u t e s ) ...................................... 41,782.50
50,179.25 50,179.25
137
2. AUGUSTA FUND
B A LA N C E SHEET AS A T 31 DECEM BER 1970
S w . Fr. S w . Fr. S w . Fr. S w . Fr.
Swiss and other Government Inalienable c a p i t a l ........................ 100,000.—

securities ...................................... 84,000.—
Reserve for price fluctuations . . 8,727.65
Other Swiss securities . . . . 22,285.05
108,727.65
106,285.05
ICRC
Less: Provision fo r price flu ctu a
— Florence Nightingale Medal
tions (adjustm ent of value) 8,205.05
Fund, current account . . . 3,166.25
Total market value of securities 98,080.— — Creditor (allocation to Red
Cash in b a n k s ................................. 14,842.50 Cross o f the Republic of V iet
nam still to be w ith d ra w n ) . . 2,000.— 5,166.25
Adm inistration fédérale des co n tri
tions, Berne (tax paid in advance
to be r e f u n d e d ) ............................ 971.40
113,893.90 113,893.90
RECEIPTS A N D EXPENDITURE A C C O U N T FOR 1 9 7 0
RECEIPTS
S w . Fr.
Income from s e c u r it ie s ................................................................................................................. 3,430.—
Interest on bank d e p o s it................................................................................................................. 15.95
Appropriation o f part o f the reserve for price f lu c tu a tio n s .................................................... 1,385.75
4,831.70
EXPENDITURE
Auditors' f e e ................................................................................................................................... 200.—
Safekeeping and bank c h a r g e s ................................................................................................... 79.70
Book loss on sale o f s e c u r it ie s ................................................................................................... 1,385.75
1,665.45
RESULT
Excess o f rec e ip ts ov e r e xp e n d itu re in 1970 allocated to the Florence Nightingale
Medal Fund, pursuant to resolution VI of the XXIst International Conference of the
Red C r o s s ........................................................................................................................................ 3,166.25
138
3. F L O R E N C E N I G H T I N G A L E M E D A L F U N D
BA LAN C E SHEET AS A T 31 DECEMBER 1970
ASSETS LIA B ILIT IE S

S w . Fr. S w . Fr. S w . Fr.
Swiss Government securities (market value C a p i t a l .................................................................. 25,000.—

Fr. 2 8 , 8 0 0 ) ........................................................... 32,000.—
Reserve:
Deposit at Swiss National Bank, Geneva . . 16,803.05
— Balance brought forw ard from
Adm inistration fédérale des C ontributions,
1969 ............................................... 24,322.05
Berne (tax paid in advance to be refunded) . 288.—
— Excess of receipts over expendi
ICRC, Augusta Fund, a / c ............................... 3,166.25
ture in 1970 ................................. 2,935.25 27,257.30
52,257.30 52,257.30
EXPENDITURE RECEIPTS
S w . Fr. S w . Fr.
Safekeeping and banking c h a r g e s ................... 17.— Income from s e c u r it ie s ..................................... 960.—

Printing charges............ ......................................... 974.— Transfer o f balance as at 31 December 1970
A u d it f e e s ............................................................. 200.— o f Augusta Fund Receipts and Expenditure
Account, pursuant to resolution VI o f the
1,191.—
XXIst International Conference o f the Red
Excess o f receipts over expenditure in 1970 2,935.25 C r o s s ...................................................................... 3,166.25
4,126.25 4,126.25
139
4. T H E C L A R E R. B E N E D I C T F U N D
BA LAN C E SHEET AS A T 31 DECEM BER 1970

(expressed in US S: appropriations not included)
S S $
Securities : C a p i t a l ............................................................. 1,000,000.—

— Book v a l u e ............................. 1,021,204.04 Reserve for market flu c tu a tio n s ................... 26,213.73
Less : A djustm ent fo r market Accounts p a y a b le .......................................... 221.44
flu c tu a tio n ................... 14,302.69 Excess o f incom e over expenditure . . . 60,665.70
— Market v a l u e ........................ 1,006,901.35
Cash in b a n k................................. 80,199.52
1,087,100.87 1,087,100.87
RECEIPTS
$
Income from s e c u ritie s ................................................................................................................. 60,031.80

Interest on bank d e p o s its ............................................................................................................ 2,573.94
W ritten o ff from Reserve for M arket F lu c tu a tio n s .................................................................. 7,636.20
70,241.94
EXPENDITURE
$ S
Safekeeping, administrative and other fees and e x p e n s e s ................... 2,634.46
Net loss on sale of securities :

— Book lo s s ....................................................................................................... 11,904.22
— Less : Book p r o f i t 4,268.02 7,636.20
10,270.66
RESULT 5
Excess o f revenue over e x p e n d itu re in 1970 59,971.28
140
S o c i é t é F id u c ia ire R o m a n d e O F O R S .A ., G e n è v e
IN TE R N A TIO N A L C O M M IT T E E OF THE RED CROSS
Geneva
A uditors' R eport
on the accounts as at 31 December 1970
As the auditors of the accounts of the International Committee of

the Red Cross, Geneva, we have verified their books of account for
the year ended 31 December 1970 and report as follows :
— the Balance Sheet and the Receipts and Expenditure Account are
in accordance with the accounts;
— the accounts have been accurately maintained;
— the accounts ( . . . ) , and the note on the General Reserve1 which
must be read in conjunction w ith the accounts, truly reflect the financial
position of the International Committee of the Red Cross as at 31 De
cember 1970 and the financial results of its operations for the year
in question.
On the basis of our examination, we recommend that the accounts

submitted to you be approved.
Geneva, 8 March 1971.
SOCIÉTÉ F ID U C IA IR E R O M A N D E OFOR S.A.
(signed) M. Ecklin M. Laperrouza
1 See comments on the Balance Sheet on page 121 o f this Report.
141
CO NTENTS
Page
L is t o f I C R C M e m b e r s ...................................................... 4
I. O P E R A T IO N S ........................................................................ 5
1. A f r i c a ................................................................................. 5
West A f r i c a ........................................................................ 5
East A fr ic a ............................................................................ 12
Southern Africa and Portuguese Territories in Africa . . 13
2. L a tin A m e r ic a ................................................................... 14
B o l i v i a ................................................................................. 15
B ra z il..................................................................................... 16
C o lo m b ia ............................................................................ 17
Costa R ic a ............................................................................ 18
Dominican R e p u b lic .......................................................... 18
E cu a d o r................................................................................ 19
G uatem ala............................................................................ 19
G u y a n a ................................................................................. 20
H a i t i ..................................................................................... 21
H o n d u ra s ............................................................................ 21
J a m a ic a ................................................................................ 21
N ic a ra g u a ............................................................................ 22
Panam a................................................................................. 22
P a ra g u a y ............................................................................ 23
P e r u ..................................................................................... 23
El Salvador............................................................................ 24
Trinidad and T o b a g o .......................................................... 24
V e ne zu e la............................................................................ 24
3. A s i a ..................................................................................... 25
C a m b o d ia ............................................................................ 26
Democratic People's Republic of Korea........................... 30
142
Page
Hong K o n g ........................................................................ 31
I n d i a ..................................................................................... 31
In d o n e s ia ............................................................................ 32
Jap a n ..................................................................................... 33
L a o s ..................................................................................... 33
M a la y s ia ............................................................................ 34
Pakistan................................................................................. 35
Philippines............................................................................ 35
S in g a p o re ............................................................................ 35
Thailand................................................................................. 36
V ie tn a m ................................................................................ 36
4. E u r o p e ............................................................................... 41
G r e e c e ................................................................................. 42
Assistance to Victims of Pseudo-Medical experiments . 45
5. M id d le E a s t....................................................................... 46
Conflict between Israel and the Arab Countries. . . . 46

Events in J o r d a n ............................................................... 58
Arabian P eninsula............................................................... 70
Iraq and I r a n ................................................................... 74
6. C e n tra l T ra c in g A g e n c y ................................................ 74
7. In te rn a tio n a l T ra c in g S e rvice , A r o l s e n ................. 76
8. S u p p o rtin g S e r v ic e s ..................................................... 76
Delegation S e rv ic in g .......................................................... 76
Medical Personnel S e c t i o n ............................................. 77
War Disablement S e c tio n ................................................. 78
Telecom m unications.......................................................... 79
Relief ................................................................................. 80
143
Page
II. PRINCIPLES A N D LAW ................................................. 88

1. Legal Division ............................................................... 88
Implementation and Development of International
Humanitarian L a w ...................................................... 88
Other Activities ............................................................... 100
2. D ocum entation and D issem ination Division 102
Dissemination of Principles and Conventions . . . . 102
School Textbook and Teacher's M a n u a l .................. 106
Documents and Publications ........................................ 107
Relations w ith Red Cross I n s t it u t io n s ........................... 109
3. Relations w ith In tern atio n al In s titutions . . . . 113
The United Nations and its Specialized Agencies . . . 113
Intergovernmental O rg a n iz a tio n s .................................... 113
Non-governmental O rg an iza tio n s.................................... 114
III. IN F O R M A T IO N ........................................................................ 115

1. Press and In fo rm atio n D i v i s i o n ............................... 115
2. In tern atio n al R eview o f th e Red Cross . . . . 117
IV. FIN A N C IA L P O S I T I O N ...................................................... 120

1. Balance S h e e t................................................................... 120
2. S ta te m e n t o f Expenditure and Incom e . . . . 123
3. O th er A c c o u n ts ............................................................... 124
4. A u d i t i n g ............................................................................ 124
5. G overnm ent and N ational Society C ontributions 133
6. Special Fund fo r R elief A c t i o n s ............................... 136
7. Special F u n d s ................................................................... 137
Foundation for the International Committee of the Red
C r o s s ............................................................................ 137
Augusta F u n d ................................................................... 138
Florence Nightingale Medal F u n d .................................... 139
The Clare R. Benedict F u n d ............................................. 140
CI CR BI BLI OTHEQUE
Fam ily re -u n itin g ope ra tio n at El Q antara.
P hoto Dr. H. B ernath/IC R C

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O M M I T T E E OF T H E RED C R O S S

(1 9 7 0 eng) b XNNUAL REPORT 1970

7, avenue de la Paix, G EN EV A, Switzerland

P rin te d in S w itz e rla n d

This Report is published in French, English, Spanish and German

H a n s B A C H M A N N , D o c to r o f Law s, W in te rth u r S ta d tra t, V ic e -P re s id e n t (1958)

J a c q u e s F R E Y M O N D , D o c to r o f L itera ture , D ire c to r o f th e G ra d u a te In s titu te o f In te rn a tio n a l

M a rtin B O D M E R , H on. D o c to r o f P h ilo s o p h y (1940)

P a u l R U E G G E R , A m b a ssa d o r, P re sid e n t o f th e IC R C fro m 1948 to 1955 (1948)

R o d o lfo O L G IA T I, H on. D o c to r o f M edicine, D ire c to r o f th e D on S u is s e fro m 1944 to 1948

G u illa u m e B O R D IE R , C e rtific a te d Engineer E.P.F., M .B .A . H arvard, B anker (1955)

D ie tric h S C H IN D L E R , D o c to r o f Law s, P ro fe s s o r at th e U n ive rsity o f Z u ric h (1961)

H a n s M E U L I, D o c to r o f M edicine, B riga d e C olo n el, D ire c to r o f th e S w is s A rm y M edical

M a rjo rie D U V IL L A R D , n urse (1961)

M a x P E T IT P IE R R E , D o c to r o f Law s, fo rm e r P re sid e n t o f th e S w is s C on fe d e ra tio n (1961)

A d o lp h e G R A E D E L , m em ber o f th e S w iss N a tio n a l C o u n c il fro m 1951 to 1963, fo rm e r S ecre­

D e n is e B IN D S C H E D L E R - R O B E R T , D o c to r o f Law s, P ro fe s s o r at th e G ra d u ate In s titu te

R o g e r G A L L O P IN , D o c to r o f Law s, fo rm e r D ire c to r-G e n e ra l (1967)

J e a n P IC T E T , D o c to r o f Law s, C ha irm an o f th e Legal C o m m is s io n (1967)

W a ld e m a r J U C K E R , D o c to r o f Laws, S ecretary, U nion s yn d ica le s u is s e (1967)

H a ra ld H U B E R T , D o c to r o f Law s, Federal C o u rt Ju d g e (1969)

V ic to r H . U M B R IC H T , D o c to r o f Laws, M anaging D ire c to r (1970)

H o n o ra ry m e m b e rs: M r. J a c q u e s C H E N E V IÈ R E , H o n o ra ry V ic e -P re s id e n t: M iss Lu cie

D ire c to ra te : Mr. J e a n -L o u is LE F O R T , S e creta ry-G e ne ra l.

Following the events of 10 and 11 January 1970, which resulted

" The c iv il w a r in Nigeria is n o w ended. That does n o t mean, how ever,

Thereupon, the ICRC made arrangements for the withdrawal of

ICRC R EG IO N A L DELEG ATION IN WEST A F R IC A

After obtaining agreement from the Cameroon authorities—which

D em ocratic Republic o f th e Congo

Mr. Tschiffeli was in Kinshasa from 6 to 12 July for contact with

People's Republic o f th e Congo

The ICRC delegate was tw ice in Brazzaville, in July and in Novem­

Mr. Tschiffeli was in Equatorial Guinea from 28 November to

OTHER ICRC A C T IO N IN W EST A F R IC A

After the cessation of hostilities in Nigeria, some donors continued

The ICRC Delegate-General for Africa was in Conakry from 1 to

ICRC DELEG ATIO N FOR EAST A F R IC A

Following a mission by Mr. Hoffmann to Addis Ababa from 30 April

The ICRC Delegate-General for Africa was in Khartoum from 4 to

At the request of UNITA (National Union for the Total Indepen­

OTHER ICRC A C T IO N IN EAST A F R IC A

Mr. Hoffmann was in Lesotho from 21 to 24 April for contacts

In August and September, Mr. Hoffmann went to Pretoria in order

The ICRC Delegate-General for Africa went to Salisbury in August,

Portuguese te rrito rie s in A frica

The ICRC Delegate-General for Africa went to Lisbon in March and

Mr. Hoffmann went to Luanda to introduce to the Portuguese

Continuing the action which began in 1969, four further missions,

The ICRC Delegate-General for Latin America was in Bolivia from

Political detainees : Mr. Nessi obtained permission from the Com-

Relief supplies : In order to help the Bolivian Red Cross which

1 See 1969 A nnual Report, p. 21.

M edical mission to the Brazilian Amazon region : It was towards

Nigeria. Photo U N IC E F /A la sta ir M atheson

From 20 September to 11 October 1970, Mr. Leemann was in

Political detainees : As in 1969, the Minister of Justice granted the

M edical m ission in the Am azon region. Photo R. Fuerst/IC R C

A d o lp h e G R A E D E L , m em ber o f th e S w iss N a tio n a l C o u n c il fro m 1951 to 1963, fo rm e r S ecre

The ICRC delegate was tw ice in Brazzaville, in July and in Novem

At the request of UNITA (National Union for the Total Indepen

The ICRC Delegate-General for Latin America was in the Domini

The ICRC Delegate-General for Latin America effected a brief mis

The Delegate-General of the ICRC stayed from 11 to 16 Decem

Persons missing : From the beginning of the hostilities on Cam

The ICRC delegates made 145 visits to ninety-five places of deten

Prisoners o f war : A medical commission, composed of tw o Viet

Civilian detainees : During 1970, the ICRC approached the Govern