http://www.iquango.org//news/icrc A feed from www.iquango.org. en-gb rss@thegovernmentsays.com 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 1 daily http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-7N4ML3?OpenDocument The situation in Sudan has been relatively stable in recent weeks in comparison with earlier months. Nevertheless, the ICRC has been keeping up its efforts, in Darfur and Southern Sudan especially, to provide support for people adversely affected by the consequences of armed conflict. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/FBUO-7N4HM3?OpenDocument Addis Ababa/ Asmara (ICRC) – In 2008, 1,714 persons were repatriated from Eritrea to Ethiopia, including 56 minors, in a number of repatriation operations under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/FBUO-7N4GU8?OpenDocument Geneva (ICRC) – Ambulances in Gaza must be given systematic round-the-clock access to the wounded everywhere in the territory so that they can save as many lives as possible, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MYAI-7N438S?OpenDocument The ICRC had requested safe passage for ambulances to access this neighbourhood since 3 January but it only received permission to do so from the Israeli Defence Forces during the afternoon of 7 January. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-7N3NDY?OpenDocument After nearly two weeks of uninterrupted fighting, obtaining access to the wounded remains difficult and is the highest priority in the Gaza Strip. Humanitarian organizations must be able to carry out their activities in safety. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-7N2LBT?OpenDocument and called on the parties to the conflict to make it possible for the ICRC and the Palestine Red Crescent Society to reach people in need. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MCOT-7N2DTL?OpenDocument Drought, floods and the effects of 17 years of armed violence and lawlessness have driven much of the Somali population into destitution. The ICRC has been providing hundreds of thousands of Somalis with food, http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-7MZQC7?OpenDocument As the number of casualties continues to rise in the Gaza Strip, the ICRC is focusing on arranging safe passage for Palestine Red Crescent ambulances, which collect the wounded and transport them to hospitals. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-7MZMSM?OpenDocument like 60-year-old Nunu Doliashvili, the holiday season would have been very bleak indeed, were it not for some much-needed assistance from ICRC. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-7MZLX9?OpenDocument Mohammed and Amin are surgeons. For 14 months, they left their well-equipped hospital back home to work at Keysaney and Medina Hospitals in Mogadishu. During a brief stop in Geneva on the way home, they took time out to talk about surgery, http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JBRN-7MZHNB?OpenDocument and by fighting on the ground. The ground attack has forced a number of people in the north of the Gaza Strip to flee their homes. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JBRN-7MZEJP?OpenDocument Khartoum/Juba (ICRC) – An estimated 35,000 disabled people in Southern Sudan, including many war victims, can look forward to vastly improved access to care and support as the region's first-ever physical rehabilitation reference centre starts work in Juba. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MUMA-7MZ4L7?OpenDocument The firing of rockets from Gaza at towns in southern Israel is also causing suffering among the civilian population there. Both parties to this conflict must fully meet their obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL), http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MUMA-7MZ4NM?OpenDocument and by fighting on the ground. The ground attack has forced a number of people in the north of the Gaza Strip to flee their homes. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/RMOI-7MXN8K?OpenDocument even though the Erez crossing between Gaza and Israel has been open for other humanitarian workers and foreigners to leave the Strip. The team, which consists of four specialists led by an experienced ICRC war surgeon, http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-7MWPYU?OpenDocument Israeli air strikes continue to hit Gaza, resulting in further casualties, including women and children. The streets are almost empty, with the population too frightened to venture out. Most only leave their homes in an emergency, http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MCOT-7MWE4E?OpenDocument including one child, and 17 were injured. Further damage was reported to homes and administrative buildings, including hospitals. This morning, the streets of Gaza were largely empty. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-7MUPRQ?OpenDocument The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains extremely worrying, especially in terms of the medical situation, following a fifth day of Israeli military operations. Meanwhile, Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli towns continued Wednesday.