The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Protection of War Victims
By François Bugnion, ICRC, Geneva, 1994

Although the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been present on almost every battlefield for over a century, it remains a relatively unknown entity. If everybody has heard of the “International Red Cross”, that institution which arrives on the scene of every calamity and is expected to work miracles, few are those who really understand its structure, its role and its field of action. Even fewer know of the International Committee.

So, what is the ICRC composed of? What are the tasks assigned to it? What are the principles that guide it? The 1,438 pages of this authoritative work set out to answer these questions by combining a historical and legal approach in a simple and direct style.

François Bugnion is the ICRC’s Deputy Director of Principles, Law and Relations with the Movement. He has been with the ICRC since 1970 during which time he has worked in Israel and the occupied territories, Bangladesh, Turkey, Cyprus, Chad, Viet Nam and Cambodia.

Available from the ICRC in French. English edition in preparation.
Sfr 59 (Sfr 30 for members of National Societies).

Under the Volcanoes: Rwanda’s Refugee Crisis
A World Disasters Report Special Focus
By John Sparrow, edited by Nick Cater, Federation, 1994

Aimed at humanitarian agencies, governments, aid observers, military officers, academics and the media, this publication aims to open up debate on today’s humanitarian dilemmas. The speed and complexity of Rwanda’s emergency has thrown into sharp focus these dilemmas, while its scale has exposed many practical problems that beset agencies in any disaster. It provides an overview of the disaster, the humanitarian response and closes with some suggestions as to how tomorrow’s total disaster should be managed.

Available from the Federation in English. French version in preparation.

Disaster Needs Assessment Manual
Federation, 1994

Providing checklists to help determine short-term and long-term disaster needs, this manual is designed for National Society staff and Federation delegates who carry out the initial needs assessment following a disaster. The manual deals both with rapid and slow onset disaster challenges, focusing on earthquakes and landslides, volcanic eruptions and mudslides, floods and cyclones, and food insecurity. It also includes helpful appendices with useful data from conversion tables to food rations.

Available from the Federation in English.

Institutional Development Handbook
Federation, 1994

Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are facing important development challenges. This handbook aims to meet National Societies’ need for a
tailored approach making use of current knowledge in the field of institutional development. The handbook offers a system of principles and methods for strengthening institutional development in National Societies, based on practices already applied within the Movement and on lessons learned in the private and public sectors and by NGOs. Complemented by a series of related application guides showing how the methodology is applied in particular situations experienced by National Societies, the handbook includes self-assessment tools, a set of National Society standards and a step-by-step process to move from assessment to improvement.

Available from the Federation in English.

L’Aventure humanitaire
By Jean-Christophe Rufin,
Editions Gallimard, Paris, 1994

As long as there has been misfortune, there has been a humanitarian response. This book traces the history of humanitarian endeavour from its earliest beginnings to the present and explores some of the issues and challenges confronting the humanitarian world today. Imaginatively illustrated and in a highly accessible format, the book provides a key to the complex world of humanitarian operations, which often figure prominently in the media but are at the same time little understood.

Jean-Christophe Rufin is a doctor who has carried out several missions to the field for Médecins sans frontières (MSF), of which he was also Vice-President. He is currently adviser on peace-keeping affairs to the French Minister of Defence.

Available in French from most bookshops worldwide. FF 85.

Family tracing: A good practice guide
Save the Children, 1994

This guide draws together Save the Children’s recent experiences in family tracing. It also provides an overview of the different stages of a tracing programme. The book ad-dresses the principles and values behind family tracing, provides examples of good practice, offers the perspectives of family, child, and tracing workers, and also covers the need for excellent documentation, staffing and funding. The book argues for a national education programme that highlights the importance of assessing the best interests of the child and of working with families and communities. It offers ideas, hints and checklists on tracing practice and resonates with the organisation’s sound judgement on children’s issues.

Available in English from Publications Sales, The Save the Children Fund, 17 Grove Lane, London SE5 8RD.

Henry Dunant: L’Avenir sanglant
Preface by Michèle Mercier,
Editions Zoé, Geneva, 1994

Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Move-ment, is a familiar name in humanitarian circles, but his written works are less well known. This pocket-sized booklet containing extracts from his writings shows how pertinent his message still is today. It covers subjects as varied as war, relief assistance after the battle, the exile of prisoners, international arbitration, and obligatory military service.

Available in French from the ICRC.

125th Anniversary of the 1868 Declaration of St Petersburg
Edited by Nicolas Borsinger, ICRC, Geneva, 1994

This is a summary of the proceedings of the international symposium on the law of war held in
St Petersburg in December 1993. The symposium was jointly organised by the Government of the Russian Federation and the ICRC and brought together top-level officers from almost all the armed forces of Europe and North America to discuss how best to implement and promote knowledge of international humanitarian law.

Available in English from the ICRC. Sfr 15.

Symposium on Humanitarian Action and Peace-keeping Operations
Edited by Umesh Palwankar, ICRC, Geneva, 1994

This is the published report of the proceedings of a symposium organised by the ICRC on the subject of peace-keeping operations. Parti-cipants included military and civilian personnel with field experience, members of the UN Secretariat from the Office of Legal Affairs and the Department of Peace-keeping Operations, government officials, representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, and academics working in this field. The discussions dealt with fundamental issues such as the interaction between humanitarian and military aspects of peace-keeping operations, the application of international humanitarian law, the consent factor in the State of operation, the possibility of resorting to coercive action in furnishing humanitarian assistance and its consequences, and the training of the troops involved.

Available in English from the ICRC. Sfr 12.

A museum for an idea
International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, 1994

This 57-minute video includes sequences that show the creation of and the first years of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum.

Available from the ICRC in French.

Beyond Survival
ICRC, Geneva, 1994

Agricultural reconstruction is the theme of this 13-minute video filmed in Mozambique and Somalia. In recent years the ICRC has greatly expanded its emergency aid programmes for war
victims. At the same time, as emergency aid often encourages total dependence, it believes that such programmes should be accompanied by measures to foster self-reliance. While hostilities are still going on, ICRC agronomists and veterinarians work with local experts to ensure that livestock survive and crops are planted. The ICRC has also produced a 16-page special brochure on the subject.

Video and/or brochure available from the ICRC in English, French and German.