The Red Cross / Red Crescent in Kyrgyzstan
May 8th is designated as The World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.
This date was chosen because it was the birthday of the man who is generally held to be responsible for inspiring the foundation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, (ICRC) – Jean Henri Dunant, (or, as in the anglicized version, Henry Dunant).
A Swiss businessman he happened to be on a business trip and found himself in the neighbourhood when the battle of Solferino was underway in 1859, between the French and Austrian armies. He was actually on his way to visit the French emperor, Napolean III, with an appeal on a land rights case, but when he saw the aftermath of the battle, with some 38000 dead and wounded left lying on the battlefield he decided that action had to be taken. Organizing the local population, arranging for the purchase of supplies and the release of doctors that had been taken as prisoners of war, he set about cleaning up the battlefield, taking care of all the casualties regardless of which side they had fought on.
On his return to Geneva he wrote a book about his experiences which he published, privately, in 1862, sending copies to many leading figures, (military and political), throughout Europe. As well as describing the battle, he also developed in the book the idea of a neutral, independent body that would exist for the purpose of providing care to fallen soldiers.
It was as a direct result of this book that on 17th February, 1863, that the International Committee of the Red Cross was established, with Dunant as one of its five founder members. Just one year later the Swiss government hosted a meeting of 16 nations which approved what was to become the first of the Geneva Conventions which govern, in particular, the treatment of victims of war. At the same time conditions were developed for the establishment of a network of national Red Cross societies, (of which there are now 186, including one in Kyrgyzstan).
The ICRC is an “impartial, neutral, and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance” and it is one of the largest and most respected of the humanitarian and non-state organizations in the world working in this field, with a unique legal status according them rights and responsibilities in their work. They have been involved in providing humanitarian assistance in most human conflicts that have erupted since their inception.
When the inter ethnic violence erupted in Southern Kyrgyzstan last year, members of the ICRC were active in the area trying to ascertain needs and give assistance.
In Kyrgyzstan their work goes far beyond dealing with conflict situations. They also have projects in trying to combat tuberculosis in the prison population, visiting detainees in an effort to ensure that their treatment and detention conditions meet international standards, and educational projects in both the school and Higher Education sectors. It also provides support and advice to the Kyrgyz Red Crescent Society, in particular aiming to strengthening its capacity to respond to natural disasters and situations of violence, in restoring family links and carrying out education on the risks associated with mines.
Most recently, at the end of April they ran a three-day workshop in Bishkek on emergency trauma care for health workers and managers of health care organizations in the northern regions of Kyrgyzstan. The course was aimed at training medical staff, senior and middle managers, those working casualty departments, general practitioners and family physicians first aid skills acquired during armed conflicts, accidents and the in the application of low-tech emergency techniques.
The Ministry of Health noted that prior to the events related to armed conflict in Batken region, (in 1999 and 2000), and the more recent events of April-June, 2010, many health professionals didn’t have the skills to provide emergency assistance to victims, (and in particular to those with gunshot wounds, which affected more than 60% of those presenting themselves for treatment as a result of last year’s troubles).
They have also started special training courses for people in schools, universities, large companies and state institutions in the capital, about the risks associated with earthquakes: what to expect during and after such a natural disaster; how to prepare their homes and workplaces for such an incident; how to behave during an earthquake, as well as first aid techniques to apply before specialist help arrives. ”Particular attention will be given skills to keep calm and make informed decisions in the event of emergencies, because it exacerbates the risk of panic,” they reported in their press statement announcing the project, which is being supported by the American Red Cross and will work for the next five years. It is hoped that it will prepare citizens for such a catastrophe, reduce the risk of injuries and deaths, as well as reducing the impact of earthquakes, including financial losses, and helping to facilitate timely and organized relief efforts to restore normal life.
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You can find out more about the work of the ICRC in Kyrgyzstan here.
Bishkek