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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 1970
… Why and how did the International Committee of the Red Cross commit itself? The reasons for its commitment were clearly expressed by the Delegate-General of the ICRC for Africa, even before the break was complete between the government of Nigeria and the leaders of the Eastern province. Concluding a report giving; an account, at the end of 1966, of the disturbances by which Nigeria had been torn during the year, Mr. Georges Hoffmann—under the title “Disaster relief in case of man-made disaster”—defined the task he wanted the ICRC to undertake: “A holocaust is taking place; there are victims, and care must be given to those who are not dead. As in the case of natural disasters, there must be teams of surgeons, supplies of surgical equipment, medical supplies, foodstuffs and blankets, and there must be means of transport, particularly ambulances and vans”. In short, it was necessary to set up in Geneva, in agreement with the League of Red Cross Societies, an organization which would make it possible to confront those “man-made disasters” similar to the one which the League had already created in Nigeria to deal with natural disasters.
page 67 note 1 By 1 September 1967, the ICRC had already allotted nearly 300,000 Swiss francs.
page 67 note 2 Still in the hands of the secessionist forces.
page 69 note 1 “…if the International Committee of the Red Cross persists in sending supplies by air at their own risk to the rebel-held areas, they may do so. Our Consul in Santa Isabel will be instructed not to examine the Red Cross boxes, in which case the ICRC would be operating entirely on their own. The Federal Military Government assures the ICRC that all possible precautions will be taken to avoid incidents. However, the ICRC is required to issue a statement absolving the Federal Military Government from all responsibility in this regard.”
page 73 note 1 A Swedish pilot who organized raids against Nigeria on behalf of the secessionist forces.
