1. Presence

2. Personnel

3. Visits to detainees

4. Restoration of family links

5. Assistance

6. ICRC cooperation with National Societies

7. Communication

The ICRC maintained a permanent presence in 80 countries around the world. Its delegations were distributed as follows.

Africa:	28
Asia:	17
Europe and the Americas:	24
Middle East/North Africa:	11

The average number of ICRC staff in 2005 was as follows:

Headquarters:	783
Field:	11,454 (1,219 expatriates, 43 national staff on temporary mission, 228 National Society staff, 9,964 local staff)
Total:	12,237

The ICRC collected and distributed 959,475 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 6,381 people for whom tracing requests had been filed by their families.
The ICRC also helped 1,650 people to rejoin their families. It issued travel documents that enabled 6,785 people to return to their home countries or to settle in a host country.

In 2005, 49 of the ICRC's delegations and missions ran assistance programmes. 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, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan (the southern part of the country and Darfur), Pakistan-administered Kashmir following the earthquake and, in the wake of the tsunami, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

Economic Security

During the year, ICRC activities to ensure economic security directly benefited households and communities in 26 countries worldwide. More than 1,105,000 internally displaced people, returnees, residents and people deprived of their freedom received aid in the form of food, 2,870,000 in the form of essential household and hygiene items and 2,642,000 through sustainable food production programmes or micro-economic initiatives. These included various response mechanisms ranging from the rehabilitation of traditional irrigation systems to small-scale community-based cash-for-work and livestock management/support projects.

Water and habitat

In 2005, the ICRC's water and habitat unit was involved in water, sanitation and construction work in 37 countries. These projects catered for the needs of some 11.2 million people worldwide. They were implemented by a team of 90 expatriate engineers and 720 local engineers and technicians.

Health-care services

During the year, the ICRC regularly supported 99 hospitals and 179 other health-care facilities around the world. Community health programmes were implemented in 12 countries, in many cases with National Society collaboration. An estimated 2,365,000 people benefited from ICRC-supported health-care facilities.

More than 6,300 weapon wounded and 77,400 non weapon wounded were admitted to ICRC-supported hospitals in 18 countries where more than 76,800 surgical interventions were performed. The ICRC regularly supported 15 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 69 centres in 23 countries, enabling 137,931 patients to receive services. A total of 20,559 were fitted with prostheses and 25,877 with orthoses. In addition, 1,979 wheelchairs and 19,445 crutches were distributed, most of them locally manufactured. Training of local staff was a priority to improve sustainable services for patients.

In 2005, a total of 34 National Societies in countries affected by armed conflict or internal strife participated in operational partnerships with the ICRC. In all, 27 National Societies participated in ICRC assistance programmes, 27 in tracing and protection activities and 25 in programmes to promote and spread knowledge of IHL and the Fundamental Principles. Furthermore, seven National Societies from third party countries capable of mobilizing support and taking a direct part in international relief activities were also involved in the implementation of ICRC objectives in 27 projects in 10 countries.

In 2005, the ICRC spent CHF 66 million on programmes to assist National Societies in building and strengthening their capacities to carry out activities in the following areas:

• 141 National Societies in their work to promote and spread knowledge of IHL and the Fundamental Principles
• 119 National Societies in their work to restore family links
• 105 National Societies in their preparedness for health and relief assistance during conflict
• 20 National Societies in their community awareness programmes for mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW)

The Communication Department's overall aim is to strengthen the ICRC's ability to carry out its activities and promote respect for IHL.

Numerous seminars were held worldwide throughout the year for armed and security forces, other weapon bearers and police forces. The ICRC participated in 15 military exercises in Europe and similar events elsewhere in the world. These activities were carried out by 23 specialized delegates supported by a multinational network of officer instructors.

In 2005, the Media Relations Unit in Geneva issued 76 press releases, 98 news items, 53 information bulletins, 105 briefing and information notes and organized 16 press conferences.

The Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) teaching module, launched in 2001, was tested in the classrooms of some 34 countries during the year.

Throughout the year, the ICRC provided advice and supported programmes relating to mines and ERW in 27 countries.

The Library and Research Service responded to some 3,000 requests from National Societies, NGOs, academics, government departments and the media. In addition, 3,260 films and 608,000 copies of 900 different publications were distributed worldwide and more than 6 million page views were registered on the ICRC website. The Visitor's Service at ICRC headquarters received nearly 10,000 people.