What is the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) ?
Carolin Engelhard
Youtube, ICRC, 6.3.2020
In this blogpost I want to focus on the International Committee of the Red Cross and the work this international organization is doing around the world. The goal is to ensure the protection of people and assist those that have been victim of armed conflict and violence. On one side, the organization steps in when emergencies occur and on the other hand, they work to make sure that countries and governments respect the already set international and national laws. The ICRC arose from the statues and protocols of the Geneva Conventions in 1949. Ever since then, they have been working closely with states that those goals are being implemented and humanitarian protection becomes a priority. In this context it is important to mention the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This describes the network that connects millions of people and members of National Societies around the globe under a shared name. The red cross on white background was the first symbol of the movement and prevails until today. It was officially supposed to be a reversal of the Swiss flag, as the idea was born in Geneva and not a way to represent Christianity. Countries like Venezuela and Japan formed Red Cross organizations in their countries in the late 19th century, which showed how fast the movement was spreading. It was not until the confrontation with the Ottoman Empire and their soldier’s refusal to wear a Red Cross on the battlefield that the Red Crescent movement was born. In 1929 it became officially recognized as an additional symbol. It especially made countries with a Muslim majority found their own national organizations. The Red Crystal was adopted in 2006 as another official representative symbol. The fundamental principles the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement follows are Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality.
Reminder 👇 pic.twitter.com/gGnNccjn6B
— ICRC (@ICRC) March 4, 2022
What are the ICRC’s missions?
The ICRC has many different missions and mandates that are oriented on humanitarian needs worldwide and the challenges that specific countries face. On their website the organization labels out their main projects that are all linked to the Geneva Convention, which every country in the world has signed and is supposed to protect victims of war. One of the main activities that the ICRC has put its focus on is addressing sexual violence and in that context violence against women. Coming along is providing and improving the access to education and building respect for the law in countries that have been disordered by war. They address current issues like the Covid-19 pandemic as well as Climate Change and conflicts that might erupt as a result. Additionally, they care about the health and dignity of the living and the dead as well as the right treatment of detainees. To achieve those things the organization works with the private sector and governments and uses technology and research to further lift the standard of living for these people. Lastly, the restoration of infrastructure and making water and habitat accessible is vital to the ICRC in accomplishing their mission.
What work have they and are still doing in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Sub-Saharan Africa, which mostly consists of developing countries, has been impacted a lot by war and violence which is why the ICRC is deployed in multiple countries to help. Forty Percent of the annual field budget is going into the region which shows how much need for action is there. In particular, it is 29 countries, in which the ICRC has send around 500 employees and is working with around 3,500 local people. One of the greatest challenges is to determine what humanitarian action fits the country and can ensure that the population is helped efficiently and effectively. In some countries like Liberia and South Sudan, there are national Red Cross organizations that work together with the ICRC on-site.
On the flip side, there are reports and studies of ICRC workers being exposed to violence and finding the working conditions harder than expected. Stress and risk-taking was a lot higher than expected and the participants had been exposed to those conditions during their time working for the ICRC. Especially in missions in Sub-Saharan Africa was this applicable. It shows that especially this region is extremely affected by violent conflicts and the situations people are put in and ICRC workers must endure require a lot of emotional and mental strength.
What mandates have they used in South Sudan and how has that played out?
As we can see the conflicts and problems in Sub-Saharan Africa are severe. That is why I want to focus on South Sudan in particular, to see what the exact mandate is that the ICRC used here and how it impacted the population in the country. In 2011, when South Sudan gained independence, the South Sudan Red Cross was founded as well. With the help of the volunteers committed to the cause, they are part of the world’s largest humanitarian network. The country’s population mostly consists of Christian and animist believing African cultures, which caused tension between Sudan’s largely Muslim and Arab government in the north. That was one of the reasons, the bottom half of the country was to become independent. However, the challenges of the country were not solved with that split. After 10 years and the signing of a peace agreement, South Sudan is still at risk for declining humanitarian conditions. After seven years of Civil War and a new national unity government, violence, conflict, and an insufficient infrastructure are still very present. Additionally, the country must deal with the direct and indirect effects of Climate Change and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Because of these happenings, the ICRC has worked in the area, sending in workers, and raising awareness for the “forgotten conflict”. Food Shortages are one of the most severe problems, that leave most parts of the population starving in a country where Covid-19 is raging and making a horrible situation even worse. Those are mainly caused by flooding and droughts that can be related to Global Warming and the economic impact of the pandemic. While the commitment to help the population must come from the leaders of the country, says ICRC representative Mardini, the mandate of the ICRC in the country is clear.
I want to focus on the work from the ICRC to help women and the most vulnerable in the communities of South Sudan. Their main mission is to make communities self-sufficient and reunite families that have been separated through Civil War, natural catastrophes or when they were displaced from their homes. With the pandemic enhancing all the grievances in the country, hygiene and clean water are very important. The ICRC made access to water through hand pumps possible. Health care facilities that are not run by government officials anymore are visited and staffed, as well as detention centers to ensure the well-being of captives. Reunification of families is mostly underappreciated but is very important for the mental health and stability in the country as it provides security and hope to the families. The ICRC provides the technology in the form of satellite phones and computers. In addition, communication is provided through Red Cross messages, a way to share news between family members. Tracking people down can seem impossible at times, but the ICRC is determined to trace and reunite loved ones, providing transport and accompanying minors on their journeys. Lastly, a big part of the ICRC’s work is also sensitization and raising awareness for this conflict on social media, the local governments, inter-governmental organizations, and the media worldwide.
Was the ICRC successful? Is there more that can be done?
Was the conflict in South Sudan and other Sub-Saharan countries is still ongoing, it is hard to determine if the mission of the ICRC has been successful. Reports from missions show that the efforts that are made by local and international personnel are appreciated and making an impact on the communities. The report from Mackenzie-Knowles Coursin is an example of the work, dedication, and selflessness that people working for the ICRC put in to help South Sudanese people. Not only are the living conditions rough but transportation to and from the villages to examine patients can take longer than the time spend treating them. That is the flipside of the missions, as it is the goal to help as many people as possible, there is still so many that are left with no examination or medication. It mostly lacks time and infrastructure to get to rural communities and not on personnel or equipment. Those are obstacles that are out the control of the ICRC and its employees. Those issues must be faced by local government and international organizations instead of humanitarian aid organizations. Another big part of the work of the ICRC that has become even more important in recent years, is social media and using the tool to their advantage. Not only is there a YouTube channel with explanatory videos and information but there are also accounts on Instagram and Twitter to spread information, raise awareness, and explain conflicts around the world. (There is not much criticism on the work of the ICRC in South Sudan. Most work is addressed by the ICRC itself, like the issue of neutrality and if it still makes sense to remain that way in conflicts. For the organization, neutrality is thing that they cannot give up, as it gives them access to help communities from various social, ethnic, and ideological backgrounds. Another important factor is the mental health and well-being of the workers that are in the field for the ICRC. The study mentioned above exposed that a lot of workers are exposed to violence and different partly even dangerous situations while working in regions of violent conflict. There is not much research of the care and rehabilitation of those workers once they come back from a mission.
What do I expect to learn from meeting in Geneva? What critical questions can I ask?
All this background information about the conflicts and the work of the ICRC in South Sudan gave me a better picture of the different aspects of the international organization. The visit of the International Committee of the Red Cross/Red Crescent and the museum as part of our study trip to Geneva, will hopefully give me an even deeper understanding of the institution and how the work in Geneva is affecting the work in a country like South Sudan. One of my first questions would therefore be, how specifically the work done in a western country like Switzerland is affecting the work on-site in a region with violent conflict and damaged infrastructure. Furthermore, Covid-19 is still prevalent to this day and affecting countries and people’s livelihoods. It is interesting to see how the ICRC is planning to deal with this in the future. A big part of this is the insufficient distribution of vaccines in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as the missing infrastructure to get them to the people. This is not only posing a risk to the local population but also workers coming into the country to help.
Another interesting question for me is what the work of western and developing countries looks like and what all goes into the organization of missions in rural areas. The story of Mackenzie-Knowles Coursin shows that it can be hard and challenging working in a country like South Sudan. It would be interesting to hear how a mission is organized and how equipment and personnel are being picked and transferred to the place they are needed most.
Lastly, it became evident in my research that it takes a lot of a person to be working in these conditions. Of course, it is a huge privilege for a western worker to be able to return to their home country afterwards, while the local population mostly has no other chance than to keep living in those conditions. However, seeing that much grief and not being able to help everyone, must take a toll on people. That is why I am interested in how returning ICRC workers are being supported and taken care of after their missions, especially those that have experienced or witnessed a large amount of violence and sorrow.
How can I use this for planning my next career steps?
Reading about the mission and the work of the ICRC were relevant to me, as I have always had an interest on the broad topic of Human Rights and the work of international humanitarian organizations. Violent conflicts and unrests in countries have always been present, but the problems that arise from that are being enhanced by the effects of Climate Change and the Covid-19 pandemic. That gives me an even bigger urge to pursue a career in this field to be able to help and reduce poverty, improve people’s standard of living and ensure medical aid gets to communities that need it most. Most importantly I am looking for work that fulfills me and gives me the feeling that I am making a positive impact. The ICRC gives you an opportunity to do this, either from the “safety” of western locations or with hands-on work in the countries. That is why I am excited to learn more about the work of this International Organization, find out what my next career steps in this field could look like and get the relevant experience that I need.