DUSHANBE, May 26, 2014, Asia-Plus – Ms. Christine Beerli, the Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), arrived Sunday, May 25, on her first visit to Tajikistan.
During the visit she will meet senior Tajik officials and the leadership of the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan to discuss ICRC’s current activities and further humanitarian prospects, press release, issued by ICRC Dushanbe on May 26, said.
Ms. Beerli will also meet families benefiting from the ICRC economic assistance program and see, first hand, projects aiming to help families receiving a sustainable and regular income. A visit to the Dushanbe Orthopedic Center, supported by the ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled, will also take place.
Additionally, the Vice President will meet with the ICRC’s Afghanistan support structure, which has been set up in Tajikistan as of September 2013 with support of Tajik authorities.
“It is important that ICRC continues assisting populations affected by the consequences of past conflicts and other situations of violence,” said the ICRC Vice President. “ICRC is also committed to promoting international humanitarian law and other humanitarian norms with Tajikistan’s state authorities.”
The ICRC opened its representation in Tajikistan in January 1993 in response to the civil war.
Currently, the ICRC carries out programs in the country in accordance with its mandate and main humanitarian priorities in coordination with the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan, its main partner in the country: addressing humanitarian problems, such as mines and missing persons, preparing to respond to emergency situations, and promoting the International Humanitarian Law and other humanitarian norms.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization, whose exclusive humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. The ICRC also endeavors to prevent by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.
Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It directs and coordinates the international relief activities conducted by the Movement in armed conflicts and other situations of violence.
