Afghanistan: Essential field guides to humanitarian and conflict zones
Edited by Edward Girardet and Jonathan Walter, Crosslines Communications Ltd, Geneva and Dublin, 1998

This book is the first in a series of field guides covering some of the world’s major humanitarian and war zones. Intended to be a resource for journalists, aid workers, donors and travellers, this guide offers information and insights, from religion to drug trafficking, political agenda to media contacts, landmine clearance to the environment, and practical pointers on how to work and travel in the country.

Available in English from CROSSLINES Essential Field Guides, International Centre for Humanitarian Reporting, Villa de Grand-Montfleury, 1290 Versoix, Geneva, Switzerland.

Framework for National Society capacity building
International Federation, Geneva, 1998

This publication highlights the main components of capacity building and looks at the future direction of the Federation’s work in the field. In particular, it presents the Federation’s efforts to assist National Societies in their institutional development, financial and human resource development, and programmes and services. The intended audience is the government official, corporate executive and development expert who seeks a better understanding of the Federation’s approach to capacity building.

Available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic from the Federation. Sfr 5.

Annual Report 1997
ICRC, 1998, Geneva

The ICRC’s Annual Report is divided into chapters, each dealing with a specific area of ICRC activity: a summary of work in the field is followed by a review of tasks carried out at headquarters (legal matters, information, administrative affairs). It includes tables showing which states are party to the Geneva Conventions and their two Additional Protocols. The last section deals with finances and accounts for the year in question.

ICRC, Geneva, 1998. Available in English and French. Sfr 12.

Banning anti-personnel mines: The Ottawa treaty explained

An overview of the landmine problem, the Ottawa process and the content of the treaty banning anti-personnel mines. Written for the non-specialist in clear and simple language, it provides background information on the success of the international movement leading up to the signing of the Ottawa treaty in December 1997, and explains the treaty’s key provisions and accomplishments, and highlights the need for future action.

ICRC, Geneva, 1998. Available in English, French and Spanish. Sfr 3.

The silent menace : Land-mines in Bosnia-Herzegovina

A detailed study of the human, social and economic impact of mine contamination in Bosnia- Herzegovina. It describes efforts currently being undertaken to address the situation and offers some recommendations on how the response to the problem could be improved.

ICRC and UNHCR, Geneva, 1998. Available in English and French. Sfr 6.

Dunant’s Dream, War, Switzerland and the History of the Red cross
Caroline Moorehead, Harper Collins Publishers, London, 1998.

As a writer, biographer and journalist specialized in human rights issues, Caroline Moorehead focused her research on the origins of the Red Cross and its evolution during the twentieth century. Revealing the strengths and weak-
nesses of the Movement in this well-
documented work, the author emphasizes the difficulties met by the ICRC during the Second World War.

Available in English in bookshops, £24.99.

Somalia: Bio, that’s life
ICRC/Anglia Television Ltd., Norwich, 1995, 49 minutes 30 seconds

Following a war that has left Somalia devastated and divided by never-ending clan struggles, an almost-forgotten profession has made a comeback in Mogadishu: the water vendor. The city’s entire water-distribution system has been destroyed in the fighting and the ICRC has therefore sunk many wells in an attempt to supply water to Mogadishu’s population. As the poet Abdullah Raggé says, “Water is the source of life.” Raggé is helping the ICRC in its work, in particular by broadcasting messages on local radio to promote hygiene.

Azimuths/ICRC – 1998
Running time: 9 min. French, English. VHS. Sfr 20.