Pathological investigation in a number of countries over the past twenty years has shown that prisoners of war are prone to certain ailments. Papers on considerable and valuable scientific research in this field were delivered at the First International Medical Congress on the Pathology of Captivity in Brussels in 1962, organized by Mr. R. Nachez, President of the International Confederation of Former Prisoners of War, and by Dr. P. Houssa. In 1964 a second congress took place in Cologne, of which an account was given in the February 1965 issue of International Review.

In our last month's issue we gave an account of ICRC relief work up to the end of October 1968 in Nigeria and the secessionist province Biafra. This clearly brought out the scale and very considerable cost of the mission which will continue for months to come. As the financial situation had reached the crisis stage, the International Committee invited representatives of governments, National Societies and international institutions, able to help it, to a meeting in Geneva, in order to explain the facts which justify not only the massive scale of, but also support for, the Red Cross action. There were in fact three meetings, one of National Societies, the second of representatives of governments and inter-governmental institutions and the third of voluntary agencies.

No human institution is perfect and the International Committee of the Red Cross is no exception. The criticism most frequently levelled at this venerable body is its silence concerning some of its activities. How can it have a claim to eminence, how can it call powerful governments to account, without seeking the support of men of goodwill through divulgence of full information to the public?

We have the honour to inform you that the International Committee of the Red Cross on 6th June 1968 officially recognized the Kuwait Red Crescent Society.

According to the ICRC delegate on the spot working with the Lao Red Cross, a further 25,000 persons fled the fighting areas in the first fortnight of January, to make their way to the region of the Mekongvbasin. Most of them are now in the northern provinces of Houa-Khong, Luang-Prabang and Sayaboury. Many others have sought refuge to the South in the provinces of Savannakhet, Saravane, Attopeu and Sedone. Others again, less numerous, have reached Paksane and Thakek in the central provinces. It is estimated that 15 % of these refugees are men, 25 % women and 60 % children.

Geneva Conventions.—Following the appeal on February 9 to all belligerents, urging them to respect the essential humanitarian rules in the conduct of the conflict in Vietnam, the ICRC received from the Republic of Vietnam and US governments the assurance that the Geneva Conventions would continue to be respected. The Vietnamese authorities denied the reports of summary executions.

Assistance to Refugees in Borneo.—In compliance with the Indonesian Red Cross request to the International Committee of the Red Cross in February, Mr. André Durand, delegate general for Asia, was in Indonesia from March 7-25 to examine the critical situation of some 50,000 people of Chinese descent who fled from their villages last October after violent demonstrations against them.

Famine is increasing daily in Biafra, as a result of the influx of refugees from Aba and other localities fallen into the hands of the. Federal forces. It is estimated that thousands of persons are dying every day in Biafra, especially in the numerous refugee camps where there are many cases of Kwashiorkor, a disease due to a lack of proteins and malnutrition.

In accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Conventions and with the agreement of the Powers concerned, the International Committee of the Red Cross has, for the past ten months, been pursuing its humanitarian action on behalf of the victims of the conflict of June 1967, through the intermediary of its delegations in the United Arab Republic, Israel, Jordan, Syria and the Lebanon, and of its sub-delegations in Jerusalem (occupied territory on the West Bank of the Jordan), Gaza (occupied territory of Gaza and the Sinai), and Kuneitra (occupied territory of the Golan Plateau).

In 1963, the ICRC undertook a large-scale assistance action in the Yemen where fighting was taking place between Royalists and forces of the Arab Republic of the Yemen. As the conflict was prolonged, involving a considerable number of civilian and military casualties, it set up a field hospital at Uqhd in the northern part of the country; it also increased the number of its medical teams working in the interior. In addition, delegates visited prisoners of both sides, brought them relief and arranged for them to communicate with their families.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has appointed Dr. Hans Meuli and Dr. Jacques de Rougemont to the Presidential Council for the next two-year period.

The International Review in its last issue published news of the ICRC relief action in Nigeria and in the seceding province (Biafra) during the month of July 1968. We now give some information summarizing the work carried out in August. In this connection, it should be pointed out that several meetings have enabled the directors of various National Societies and voluntary agencies taking part in this action, as well as the general public, through press, radio and television channels, to be in touch with a situation which, moreover, continues to fluctuate.

On receipt of messages from the Delegates in Saigon of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies concerning the new needs of the civilian population in the Republic of Vietnam as a result of recent events, the ICRC and the League sent the following joint appeal to the National Societies on the 9th February, 1968:

View new situation created by extension hostilities Vietnam ICRC and League appeal National Societies

Republic Vietnam Government request behalf 500,000 newly displaced persons whom 100,000 Saigon in order priority foodstuffs specially milk medicaments clothing. Vietnam Red Cross assisted by ICRC and League Delegates organising milk distribution to 100,000 displaced persons Saigon. Funds already sent enable commencement this first action in close liaison ICRC League Geneva and locally.

Under the title “The action of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Congo and Rwanda” the International Review published last month an article on ICRC relief work at the request of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). It described events up to the end of November 1967.

Exchange of prisoners.—The Israeli and Egyptian authorities have mutually decided to release all prisoners of war held by them as a result of the conflict in June 1967 and to carry out this exchange as soon as possible at El Kantara.

In its number for June 1968, the International Review mentioned that 118 States were parties to the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949. Since then, the International Committee of the Red Cross has been informed by the Federal Political Department in Berne of the participation by the Kingdom of Lesotho in these Conventions.

North Yemen. — The relief of the ICRC medical team in the country did not take place at the end of June because of unexpected difficulties. The ICRC, however, intends to install a fresh surgical team whose task will be to give treatment to casualties from the fighting. It should be pointed out that in addition to the risks caused by the hostilities to which the delegates are exposed, several ICRC representatives have, as a result of infectious diseases contracted, had recently to return to Switzerland where they are now receiving the necessary care.