The Second Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea received its baptism of fire in 1982, during the conflict in the south Atlantic. The author of this article was present as one of the members of the ICRC delegation. This article is based largely on his experiences at the time and on the thoughts and considerations to which they have given rise.

At the beginning of the afternoon, we were received by the Japanese authorities in what remained of the former police headquarters. We were offered a frugal lunch. Each guest was given a can of Japanese food: seaweed, meat and beans, and a can of mandarin oranges. A piece of brown bread, with rather a strange taste, completed this meal; for drinks, we had water. This fare showed to what extent the Japanese themselves were short of supplies.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition, by the International Committee of the Red Cross, of the Red Cross Society of the Republic of Rwanda. This recognition, which came into effect on 6 October 1982, brings to 130 the number of National Societies members of the International Red Cross.

Mr. Jakob Burckhardt last summer requested the ICRC Assembly to release him from his functions on the Executive Board. The Assembly has expressed its profound gratitude to Mr. Burckhardt for the outstanding services he had rendered since July 1978, during his four years as a member of the Board. Mr. Burckhardt will continue to be a member of the Assembly.

At its meeting on 15 December 1982 the ICRC Assembly accepted the resignation of Mr. Harald Huber, Vice-President, who has reached retirement age. The President of the ICRC, Mr. Alexandre Hay, warmly thanked him on behalf of the International Committee, which appointed him an honorary member.

The Government of the Republic of Vanuatu, by a note dated 11 October 1982 addressed to the Swiss Federal Department for Foreign Affairs and received on 27 October 19S2, has deposited its instruments of accession to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of war victims.

On 7 October 1982 Saint Lucia deposited with the Swiss Government an instrument of accession to the Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts (Protocol I) and non-international armed conflicts (Protocol II), adopted at Geneva on 8 June 1977.

At the end of September new security problems arose, compelling the ICRC delegation in Angola temporarily to suspend its activities on the Planalto. In the night of 24 to 25 September the ICRC premises in Katchiungo (Huambo province), where fortunately no one was present at the time, were attacked and ransacked. After this incident the delegate general for Africa, Mr. J. M. Bornet, went to Angola from 29 September to 7 October to reexamine the situation with the delegation and to discuss with the authorities. At the end of October, the danger in the field had not diminished and continued to prevent a resumption of activities.