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Visits to detainees
ICRC delegates visited 478,299 detainees held in 2,577 places of detention in 71 countries. Of this number, 25,369 detainees were registered and visited in 2006 for the first time. A total of 24,421 detention attestations were issued.
Restoration of family links
The ICRC collected 331,804 and distributed 302,157 Red Cross messages, thus enabling members of families separated as a result of conflict, disturbances or tension to exchange news.
It established the whereabouts of 11,569 people for whom tracing requests had been filed by their families.
The ICRC registered 1,555 unaccompanied/seperated children during 2006. Once their families had been located and with the agreement of the child and relatives concerned, it supported the reunification of 1,081 children with their families.
Assistance
In 2006, 53 of the ICRC's 80 delegations and missions ran assistance programs. The bulk of the work was carried out in Afghanistan, the Caucasus, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Israel and the occupied and autonomous Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Liberia, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Somalia and Uganda.
Economic security
During the year, ICRC activities to ensure economic security directly benefited households and communities in 27 countries worldwide. More than 2,650,000 internally displaced people, returnees, residents and people deprived of their freedom received aid in the form of food; 4,040,000 in the form of essential household and hygiene items and 3,460,000 through sustainable food-production programmes or micro-economic initiatives.
Water and habitat
In 2006, the ICRC's water and habitat unit was involved in water, sanitation and construction work in 40 countries. These projects catered for the needs of more than 15.9 million people worldwide. They were implemented by a team of 110 expatriate engineers and 770 local engineers and technicians.
Health care services
During the year, on average the ICRC regularly supported 193 hospitals and 303 other health care facilities around the world benefiting an estimated 2,366,000 people.
More than 9,900 weapon-wounded and 67,100 non weapon-wounded patients were admitted to ICRC-supported hospitals in 17 countries where more than 65,200 surgical interventions were performed. The ICRC regularly supported 28 first-aid posts located near combat zones, which provided emergency treatment mainly for war-wounded.
Care for the disabled
The ICRC's physical rehabilitation unit provided support to 77 centres in 24 countries enabling 141,961 patients to receive services. A total of 10,064 new patients were fitted with protheses and 18,384 with orthoses. In addition, 3,031 wheelchairs and 38,224 crutches were distributed. Training of local staff was a priority to improve sustainable services for patients.
ICRC cooperation with National Societies
The aim of the ICRC's cooperation with National Societies is to strengthen working relationships and dialogue with Movement partners for the greater benefit of people affected by conflict and internal strife.
In the vast majority of the countries where the ICRC operates, it does so in partnership with the National Societies. Overall, it is estimated that more than 30% of the ICRC's operational activities are carried out in cooperation with the National Society of the country concerned.
The ICRC spent CHF 81.5 million to assist National Societies in building and strengthening their capacities to carry out activities in the following areas:
- 139 National Societies in their work to promote and spread knowledge of International Humanitarian Law and the Fundamental Principles
- 122 National Societies in their work to restore family links
- 115 National Societies in their preparedness for health and relief assistance during conflict
- 20 National Societies in their community awareness programs for mines and explosive remnants of war.
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