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The ICRC regional delegation in Dakar

Countries
Senegal
+ 3 more
Sources
ICRC
Publication date
Origin
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27-02-2014 Overview

The ICRC protects and assists the victims of violence in Casamance and Guinea-Bissau, and visits those detainees that fall under its mandate. It supports the National Societies and promotes international humanitarian law among armed forces personnel and other weapon bearers. The organization encourages implementation of IHL by the authorities in Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal.

The ICRC opened a regional delegation in Dakar in 1989 and an office in Guinea-Bissau in 1998. In 2004, it set up a sub-delegation in Ziguinchor, in Senegal's southern region of Casamance, in order to help displaced persons and returnees following clashes between government forces and the Mouvement des forces démocratiques de la Casamance (MFDC). The regional delegation in Dakar covers Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal.

In Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, ICRC delegates visit detainees and evaluate their conditions of detention to ensure they are treated with dignity and in conformity with international standards.

In the north of Guinea-Bissau and in Casamance, the ICRC is supporting health facilities, improving access to water and boosting agricultural and livestock production among displaced persons and those who have been able to return to the locations from which they had fled.

The Dakar regional delegation promotes international humanitarian law among the armed forces and other arms bearers and among the staff and students of certain universities. It offers governments aid and advice in ratifying and implementing IHL treaties.

In addition, the regional delegation supports the National Societes in Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal in their efforts to help those most in need.