19279: Esser: Latest report on ICRC activities in the field (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. E s s e r <torx@joimail.com>

26-02-2004  ICRC News  
Haiti bulletin – 26 February 2004

Latest report on ICRC activities in the field

Assisting hospitals

Following armed incursions into the premises of Canapé-Vert Hospital
in Port-au-Prince, and in preparation for a possible larger influx of
wounded, the ICRC is doing its utmost to ensure that the hospital is
protected. The building is now marked with the red cross protective
emblem and the Haitian authorities have pledged to take steps aimed
at improving security within the hospital premises.

Messages have been broadcast on the main radio stations and
television channels urging respect for Canapé-Vert Hospital staff and
facilities. (The radio spots can be heard on www.icrc.org, in the
section on Haiti.)

Since the town of Cap-Haitien was taken by the insurgents, four ICRC
delegates have been able to travel there over land and by air. On 24
February two delegates based in Gonaives were authorized to go there
by road. Once in Cap-Haitien, they prepared for the arrival of a
small plane, which the ICRC had chartered the same day in
Port-au-Prince, with on board two more ICRC delegates, one of them a
doctor, and emergency supplies for the Haitian Red Cross in
Cap-Haitien. On 25 February an ICRC convoy left Port-au-Prince for
Gonaives and Cap-Haitien. It was transporting an ICRC doctor and
protection delegate, a water engineer from the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and material for
medical facilities in Saint Marc and Gonaives provided by the World
Health Organization. The convoy reached its destination safely.

Medical activities

A third operating theatre is being set up at Canapé-Vert Hospital,
which is also being equipped with more beds. In the coming days, an
ICRC team, including a surgeon, will be able to work with hospital
staff to treat wounded persons, who will be cared for free of charge.
If necessary, the capacity of the hospital (currently 42 beds) can be
tripled rapidly.

The ICRC also plans to distribute first-aid material to other
hospitals in Port-au-Prince.

An ICRC doctor is currently based at the hospital in Cap-Haitien,
where Haitian and Cuban doctors are using the surgical material
provided two weeks ago by the ICRC to treat people wounded in the
recent clashes.

Surgical kits (1.3 tonnes of surgical instruments and medicines) have
already been pre-positioned at Canapé-Vert Hospital in Port-au-Prince
and the hospitals in Gonaives and Jacmel. Each kit contains enough
material to treat 100 wounded people.

Detention

ICRC delegates regularly visit the Prison Civile (former National
Prison) and the four police stations in Port-au-Prince. During the
visits, they make sure that the physical and mental integrity of the
detainees is being respected at all stages of their incarceration.

Cooperation

In the activities it is carrying out in direct response to the armed
violence, the ICRC is working closely with the Haitian Red Cross.
First-aid kits supplied by the International Federation have been
sent to the regional committees in Gonaives and Cap Haïtien.

The joint ICRC/National Society reinforcement mission sent to
Gonaives on 25 February included a water and sanitation engineer from
the International Federation.

The ICRC is supervising the strengthening of the Haitian Red Cross
Society’s ambulance service and providing spare parts for the
vehicles.

The Haitian Red Cross has 13 regional committees and 105 local
committees. It has around 3,500 qualified first-aiders.

ICRC presence

The ICRC delegation in Haiti currently comprises 15 expatriates and
14 national employees.

For further information, please contact:
Simon Pluess, ICRC Port-au-Prince, tel. ++ 509 256 78 24
Adolfo Beteta, ICRC Mexico, tel. ++ 5255 52 55 43 55
Annick Bouvier, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 41 22 730 24 58 or ++ 41 79 217 32
24
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