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News and Notes
September 2011
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Greetings!
Almost three years ago, the ICRC in Washington, DC started this newsletter as a way to stay in touch with people in North America who are interested in humanitarian action. We wanted to bring you news of ICRC in the field, and share with you latest developments in humanitarian law and policy.
We are now taking a new step: today we Launch Intercross, the blog of the the ICRC in Washington, DC. At a time when conflict-related issues are at the forefront of so many important debates, we need to continue to find new and creative ways to inform and engage those interested in these issues. We join the digital conversation to make our voice and the voices of those who care about humanitarian action better heard. We will do this by featuring colleagues working in the field and by showcasing the work of outstanding photojournalists and reporters working in conflict. When you visit Intercross, we hope you will see that we have interesting things to say about war, its realities and the laws that apply when people take up arms.
This edition of the newsletter highlights some of the most interesting content now up on Intercross. This includes an interview with George Comninos, our head of delegation in Tripoli. Mr. Comninos explains that while the ICRC has been able to operate in many parts of Libya, some cities, including Sirte, where heavy fighting has been taking place, remain off limits. He once again calls for access to civilians in those cities and provides an overview of our delegation's priorities amidst ongoing hostilities.
An important part of Intercross will be an exploration of law and policy issues. Here we share an interview with Vincent Bernard, Editor-in-Chief of the academic journal International Review of the Red Cross. Mr. Bernard speaks about the most recent edition of the Review, which examines legal, policy and humanitarian issues in Afghanistan.
Finally, Intercross will regularly dig into the rich archives of the ICRC. The first historical post looks at the role the ICRC delegation in Washington from 1941 to 1947. We invite you to take a look, read a few posts, become a subscriber and let friends know about Intercross if you like what you see. We will continue to send you a monthly note, as we have come to appreciate this direct interaction with you. Like this month, future News and Notes will highlight the "best of blog" posts. Thank you for your readership over the years. We are excited about this new way to connect with you, and look forward to staying in touch. As always, we welcome your feedback and comments. Kind regards, The ICRC Washington Delegation |
| From the field - Libya Update
 An interview with Georges Comninos, head of the ICRC delegation in Libya. As we spoke last Thursday, residents were fleeing Sirte and Bani Walid, where heavy fighting has taken place in the last days. The following day, Mr. Comninos and his team chose to publicly express their concern for the persons who remain in and near the two cities. The ICRC requested immediate and safe access to them.
To listen to Mr. Comninos' update from Tripoli click here.
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International Review of the Red Cross:
Focus on Afghanistan
 The International Review of the Red Cross has just published a two-volume edition on the Afghan conflict. We hope that these volumes can become a valuable contribution to the rich Afghan policy debates taking place here in the US and in Canada almost ten years after Coalition forces invaded the country.
Continue to Intercross for an interview with Vincent Bernard, editor-in-chief of the Review, as he speaks about the journal, its place on the blog and the two volumes he recently edited, his firsts. |
The ICRC in the US, 1941 to 1947
 Most people think that the first operational discussions the ICRC ever had with the US were those that took place in the aftermath of 9/11. Not so.
Click here to read more about the early history of the ICRC in the United States.
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