ICRC in Irian Jaya<\/p>\n
In your article titled Churches back calls for Irian Jaya
\nindependence published on Aug. 3, 1998, in the last paragraph it
\nis stated that the International Committee of the Red Cross
\n(ICRC) had never received permission from the government to enter
\nthe province.<\/p>\n
As a matter of fact, the ICRC has been present in Irian Jaya
\nsince 1988 when it monitored the repatriation of \"border
\ncrossers\" from Papua New Guinea to Irian Jaya. More recently, in
\nthe course of 1997 and 1998, the ICRC together with the
\nIndonesian Red Cross (PMI), conducted a relief operation for the
\nvictims of the drought and distributed more than 400 tons of food
\nto the local population of the mountainous areas of Wamena and
\nMapnduma (Jayawijaya and Mimika regencies). Medical mass
\ntreatment of the population in more than 50 villages were carried
\nout by the PMI-ICRC teams in order to reduce the epidemic of
\nmalaria ravaging the central mountains. In addition, the Red
\nCross distributed seeds and agricultural implements to help these
\ncommunities regain self-sufficiency.<\/p>\n
The ICRC is an independent humanitarian institution, which
\nendeavors to bring assistance and protection worldwide to the
\nvictims of armed conflict and internal disturbances, including
\nthe victims of unrest in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
The ICRC is thus concerned with the situation in the province
\nand is ready to carry out its traditional activities like visits
\nto people detained in connection with the tensions. Since the
\nrecent events of July 1998, the ICRC is in discussion with the
\nconcerned authorities of the Republic of Indonesia to gain access
\nto the people in need of medical care and those still detained in
\nconnection with the unrest.<\/p>\n
PIERRE GERBER<\/p>\n
Deputy Head of ICRC<\/p>\n
Regional Delegation in Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/icrc-in-irian-jaya-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }