continued its protection and assistance activities in aid of the victims of the conflict. During those two months, it distributed 541 tons of foodstuffs, 3,000 blankets, clothing, 12.5 tons of soap, and building material for huts, to a total value of 380,000 Swiss francs, to the 68,000 displaced persons throughout Rhodesia for whom the ICRC provides aid at regular intervals.

On 1 June 1979, the Republic of Cyprus deposited with the Swiss Government its instrument of ratification of Protocol I.

At the end of 1978 the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany showed its appreciation of the ICRC and of the work of the International Tracing Service at Arolsen by the award of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit to the former directors of the International Tracing Service, namely, Mr. N. Burckhardt, who was director from 1955 to 1970, and Mr. A. de Cocatrix, director from 1970 to 1977.

The ICRC delegation in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe continued its protection and assistance activities.

In November, work was begun near Salisbury on the building of 300 shelters for displaced persons who had fled from unsafe areas to seek refuge around the large urban centres. The Rhodesian authorities gave the land, laid drinking water mains and provided sanitation. The cost of the actual buildings will be covered by the ICRC and its delegates have undertaken to draw up the list of needy families to whom homes will be allocated. It is estimated that the project will take 18 months to complete and will cost 355,000 Swiss francs.

In its November-December 1978 issue, International Review announced that in October 1978 the ICRC had launched an information campaign in Southern Africa. This was a new venture, conducted by ICRC delegates based on Lusaka and Salisbury, which by now has gathered momentum. Its aim is to impart, as widely as possible, better knowledge and understanding of the red cross emblem and of its significance, and in this way to create conditions favouring the safety of Red Cross personnel in regions where their lives might be exposed to considerable danger because of military operations.