Red Cross celebrates 150 years of humanitarianism

The regional delegation of the international Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for Central Africa will celebrate its 150th anniversary on Friday.

An opportunity for the institution to return to the origins of its efforts to bring relief to millions of people and to improve the lives of countless of people affected by armed conflicts.

It was noted that in 2013, the ICRC posted more than 12,500 patients who received surgical care, over 9,000 others who received prostheses, more than 32 000 tonnes of rice and wheat distributed, 12,700 employees in 84 delegations, 1476 family reunification, 112,000 diffuse Red Cross messages and 756 detainees visited throughout the world.

Peter Maurer, president of the ICRC, revealed that this anniversary is not only an opportunity to take a look at the past, but also to better identify the strengths that have enabled the institution to carry out its activities for millions of victims of armed conflicts and other situations of violence.

"Today more than ever, we need not only remain faithful to our principles, but also find new ways to better serve the people who need help", he said. In Central Africa, the priorities are among other; the protection and assistance for victims of violence, the re-establishment of links between internally displaced persons, the promotion and the implementation of international humanitarian law (IHL).

The regional delegation of the ICRC for Central Africa also visited the detainees and supported the development of national societies of Red Cross in the region. It covers Cameroon, Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Angola and Sao Tome and Principe.

To mark the event, a photo exhibition retracing the history of the ICRC will be organized in Yaoundé, under the leadership of Thomas Merkelbach, head of the regional delegation for Central Africa.