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Afghanistan: ICRC starts winter programme for inmates of Afghan jails
21-10-2011 Photo gallery
Every year, as the weather turns cold, the ICRC runs a winter programme for Afghan detainees. By the end of October, the ICRC will have distributed over 26,000 parcels, blankets and other supplies to 72 national, provincial and district prisons all over Afghanistan. This is a huge undertaking, involving dozens of ICRC delegates, logisticians and other staff.
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Juvenile Detention Centre, Kabul, Afghanistan. Centre staff and an ICRC delegate unload winter parcels for the inmates.
© ICRC / J. BarryEach parcel contains a hat, socks, winter shawl and jersey, soap, toiletries and a towel. There are also packages for the female prisoners, and for the guards.
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Juvenile Detention Centre, Kabul, Afghanistan. Two young detainees help unload winter parcels.
© ICRC / J. BarryAs well as distributing supplies, ICRC delegates make regular visits to prisons all over Afghanistan to check on conditions of detention and the treatment of detainees. They hold talks in private with inmates, in accordance with the ICRC's mandate covering its work in prisons around the world. The team's findings and recommendations are shared confidentially with the prison authorities at the end of each visit.
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Juvenile Detention Centre, Kabul, Afghanistan. Staff hand out blankets to the detainees.
© ICRC / J. BarryIn addition to an individual parcel, each detainee at the Juvenile Detention Centre receives a blanket to keep out the winter cold.
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Juvenile Detention Centre, Kabul, Afghanistan. An ICRC delegate hands out picture booklets explaining the ICRC's activities.
© ICRC / J. BarryEach young man receives one of these booklets as he returns to his cell block. The youngsters are happy with their parcels, although some of them complain that the jerseys are too small, "We've handed out lots of different sizes," explains a delegate. "You just need to swap yours for one that fits!"
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Juvenile Detention Centre, Kabul, Afghanistan. Female detainees collect their winter parcels.
© ICRC / J. BarryThere are fewer girls than boys in the Kabul Juvenile Detention Centre, which houses around 120 inmates. Most of the girls are there because of family problems, some having run away from abusive marriages. The girls' packages contain a traditional shirt and trouser set known as a salwar kameez, a shawl, hat, socks, jersey, towel and toiletries. The girls live in dormitories, and have regular school lessons. They also learn to sew. The girls verdict on the parcels is unanimous: "All of the things are useful, but the shawls are the best!"
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Juvenile Detention Centre, Kabul, Afghanistan. Cleaning equipment and materials await distribution.
© ICRC / J. BarryKeeping the prison clean is just as important as having a stock of clothes and blankets. So the ICRC's winter assistance programme includes supplying buckets, brooms, and cleaning materials, for use by the prison staff.
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Juvenile Detention Centre, Kabul, Afghanistan. Prison director Aziza Adalatkhah signs the official handover certificate after everything has been distributed.
© ICRC / J. Barry"What we receive from the ICRC and other organizations adds to what we can supply ourselves, and is very welcome," the prison director, Aziza Adalatkhah explains
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