As the rest of the world marked May Day, more than 140 people from the Caprivi Strip of Namibia were rejoicing from a different perspective: they were celebrating the long-awaited opportunity to visit their relatives who are behind bars since the secessionist Caprivi uprising of 1999.

The provincial town of Katima Mulilo in Namibia's northern Caprivi Region is the starting point of a very long journey for many families – a 1,300 kilometre trip to visit detained relatives.

This newsletter covers ICRC activities in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique for the second half of 2007. It highlights in particular the ICRC's health, water and sanitation projects in rural Zimbabwe and its visits to detainees throughout the region.

The ICRC regional delegation covering Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe focuses on spreading knowledge of international humanitarian law, assisting vulnerable rural communities, visiting detained persons, and restoring family contact. It also works closely with the national Red Cross societies in the region.