In its November-December 1989 issue the International Review of the Red Cross inaugurated a series of articles on the Fundamental Principles of the Movement. By inviting eminent theoreticians and active members of the National Societies and the League to give their views, and by publishing planned ICRC studies on the subject, the Review intends to contribute to the broad reflection which the Movement has been carrying out for the past three years and to the collection of treatises and case studies on various means of implementing the Principles.

The historical importance of the principles and ideals that influence human activities can be measured by their expansion, their impact and their duration.

It is humanity's instinct for self-preservation that has made the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement what it is—a vital force that has for decades played a decisive part in enriching human values; after 125 years of life it has lost none of its attraction, its influence is widespread and its membership steadily growing. Unquestionably its influence extends throughout the world, even though its development is beset with difficulties.

Today, as in a dream, I look back on my life as a volunteer, on what I have learned and what it has taught me about the world. At once I am reminded of what the Red Cross meant to me as a child and young person, and what it now means to me as an adult, after twenty years' personal and professional experience. My experience as a volunteer has led me to a post in which I am both a professional and an individual working as a volunteer (National First-aid Director of the Colombian Red Cross Society). The following thoughts arise from that experience.

The starting point of the present study is the clash between the warrior instinct inherent in human nature and Islamic law, the realistic character of which is unanimously acknowledged.

Islam, in fact, cannot tolerate excessive displays of this instinct, which, as Professor Muhammad Taha Badawi points out, is the strongest of all the impulses to which man is inclined. Inseparably linked to all the factors inciting man to make war, and itself at times unleashing war, the warrior instinct, in any case, arouses violence and becomes a reflex action in anyone subjected to the danger of death.

Mention of Abd-ar-Rahman Al-Awzai (707-774), the Imam of the people of Syria, is found in many ancient Arabic texts such as Ibn an-Nadim's al-Fihrist and Ibn Abi Hatem ar-Razi's al-Jorh wa at Taâdil. More recent texts include the work on Al-Awzai by Dr. Sobhi Mahmassani on Al-Awzai (Beirut, 1978). This article gives a brief account of Al-Awzai's life and several of his ideas on the relationship between those who govern and those who are governed, and especially his contribution to the branch of learning of the siyar or the law of war.

The President of the ICRC, accompanied by Mr. Michel Convers, Head of the Operational Support Department, and Mr. Jean-Luc Blondel, Acting Head of the Division for Principles and Relations with the Movement, visited members of the Netherlands government and the National Red Cross from 22 to 24 January 1990.

Mr. Sommaruga was received by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hans van den Broek, and the Minister for Development Co-operation, Mr. J. P. Pronk, to whom he conveyed the ICRC's deep gratitude for the steady and substantial support it receives from the Netherlands.

As reported in the previous issue of the Review, surveys carried out regularly by ICRC teams to monitor the civilian population's nutritional status showed that the food situation in several districts of southern Huambo and Benguela provinces was worse than at the same season in previous years. During the period under review, the ICRC therefore stepped up its programme of food assistance to civilian victims of the combined effects of drought and conflict. A fifth Twin Otter aircraft was sent to reinforce the system established to transport food from the Atlantic coast to towns in the provinces of Benguela, Bie and Huambo. The nutritional status of the people in Ganda (Benguela province) made it necessary to set up a therapeutic feeding centre, in addition to the large-scale food distributions carried out in the area. The centre was opened on 7 February. The ICRC also provided support to Caritas, which was organizing “soup kitchens” for particularly needy groups. In all, the ICRC distributed 2,270 tonnes of food to some 100,000 people between 1 January and 28 February.