Title: ICRC SURGEONS TREAT WAR-WOUNDED IN REMOTE RURAL AREAS
Duration: 10 mins
Date & Location: Darfur, Sudan 31 August - 17 September 2005
Produced by: Virginie Miranda & Johnny Saunderson
Source: ICRC - access all

Preview (RealMedia stream 56Kbs - 128kbs): Sudan/Darfur/300905

For broadcast tapes and information on footage: Virginie Miranda, ICRC, Geneva,

For further information, please contact: Marco Jimenez Rodriguez, ICRC Geneva tel ++41 79 217 3217 or Paul Conneally, ICRC Khartoum tel ++249 9121 70576

This report will be distributed free-to-air and rights free over the European Broadcasting Union Eurovision network on Friday 30 September 1315-1325 GMT.

STORY

Includes: performing major surgery on war-wounded in the field, teaching first aid, and training soldiers on the 'Rules of War'

In remote parts of rural Darfur, the ICRC's Mobile Surgical Team brings life-saving treatment to soldiers and civilians wounded in conflict. Consisting of a surgeon, anaesthetist and two nurses, the team can move quickly by plane or car, taking their medical equipment with them, ready to operate in the simplest of conditions.

Led by head surgeon Dr Victor Uranga, the team arrive in the village of Bir Meza (49 Km north-west of Kutum) to treat a 28 year old SLA (Sudanese Liberation Army) soldier whose leg has been badly broken by a gunshot wound. The team set up shop inside a hut, without electricity or running water, and carry out complex surgery which will save the man's leg. The operation successfully completed, the stretcher which serves as the operating table is scrubbed ready for the next patient, a ten year old boy who lost part of his left hand when he picked up a grenade.

According to Dr Uranga, without the Field Surgical Team, these patients would have no chance of treatment: “These patients cannot be transferred from here because of political military conditions and circumstances so if they don’t get the attention on the spot they get no attention whatsoever."

The FST is a volunteer team who work on 3 or 4 month assignments for the ICRC. They perform major surgery in the field wherever it is needed, treating the wounded from all sides in the conflict, and maintaining absolute neutrality. In Darfur the majority of their patients are gunshot victims, both military and civilian.

Armed clashes have increased in Darfur since mid-September, requiring the FST to move into action. Over 4 days in mid- September, the team treated 45 war-wounded, 17 of whom were severe cases.

In Muzbat, 30 km north west of Bir Meza, led by Monika Ruprecht (ICRC health delegate from Germany), the ICRC provides first aid training sessions for fighters from the SLA.

At Gebeit, 100 kms South-West of Port Sudan (Red Sea State), the ICRC also carries out training for military instructors of the Sudanese Government Army in the 'rules of war'. In practical sessions, the soldiers learn about fair treatment and correct procedures when prisoners are captured, the treatment of the wounded and dead, and respect for non-military targets and vehicle checkpoints. This session is joined by Ian McLeod, ICRC Armed Forces delegate and retired Brigadier General of the Parachute Regiment in the British Army, who acts as advisor. He is convinced that this kind of practical training is essential to reduce the suffering caused by war: "if soldiers obey the rules of war, the law of armed conflict ….. then suffering in war will be reduced because soldiers will behave honourably. If soldiers behave honourably then the work of ICRC which is to relieve the suffering in war has, in a way, already been done"

START AT FIRST FRAME

10:00:00 Landcruisers driving through North Darfur
10:00:11 Dr Victor Uranga, Head Surgeon of the ICRC Field Surgical Team and Monika Ruprecht (ICRC) in village in Bir Meza (49 Km north-west of Kutum) arrive to treat a 28 year old SLA (Sudanese Liberation Army) soldier.
10:00:32 Inside thatched hut (tukul) patient's home.
10:01:26 Patients waiting for treatment, reading newspaper
10:01:37 Dr Victor Uranga scrubbing up using a water cannister
10:02:03 Wide shot of ICRC temporary hospital in Bir Meza (guards hut in the World Food Programme compound) where operation takes place
10:02:08 FST team member Dr Victor Uranga & Monika Ruprecht (ICRC) arriving in village in Bir Meza and treating a 28 year old SLA (Sudanese Liberation Army) soldier (name withheld) wounded in left thigh 23rd July 2005, operated on 28th July, now needing further treatment
10:03:13 SLA soldier passing by.
10:03:25 FST team disinfecting the stretcher
10:03:46 Friends of wounded man wait outside the operating hut
10:04:05 FST team treat a ten year old boy (name withheld ) who lost part of his left hand when he picked up a grenade.

10:04:26 (English) Interview Dr Victor Uranga, head surgeon, ICRC Field Surgical Team:
“The prognosis is good he hasn’t lost as much of his hand as we thought he had and we will debride a couple of fingers and he’ll have enough function in his hand to work with. ” (13”)
(note: debride = cut away infected flesh)

10:05:23 SLA soldiers on pick-up truck passing by

10:05:40 (English) Interview Dr Victor Uranga:
“Actually once that we have a room like this clean we don’t find that this is too primitive. I guess that it’s all relative but the thing is that in some areas we would have to take our own tent and then we may find that it’s a very hot day and it’s extremely unconfortable to be working in that environment. Besides there doesn’t seem to be any security problem around here for us. All that gives us very good working conditions” (36”)
10:06:13 “These patients cannot be transferred from here because of political military conditions and circumstances so if they don’t get the attention on the spot they get no attention whatsoever” (15”)

10:06:29 Set-up shots of SLA commander and head of Bir Meza area (Zaghawa tribe)

10:06:36 (Arabic) Interview head of Bir Meza area (Zaghawa tribe) and SLA commander (name withheld).
“Thanks to Allah, until now they (the ICRC) helped us, brought us food and cured our injuries. They brought food for us and cured our patients - they are with us ninety percent, one hundred percent. They are very good to us.”(17”)

10:06:55 First aid training in a wadi in Muzbat (30 km North west of Bir Meza) with SLA fighters and civilians with Monika Ruprecht (ICRC, health delegate from Germany)

10:07:30 Charlotte Kjoerup (ICRC) talking to the soldiers of Central Reserve Force of the Government Army at a military camp in Thur (Western Darfur), explaing the humanitarian role of the ICRC in Darfur, in an effort to ensure safe passage at checkpoints for the ICRC teams. Audience composed of Government soldiers & policemen in their barracks (This is next to the SLA mountain stronghold of Jebel Marra.) Some of these soldiers are Arab militiamen who have been integrated into the army.

10:08:04 (Arabic) Interview Commander , Central Reserve Force of the Government Army.
“We have in our religion , Islam, a number of rules and regulations . These are the same rules that the Red Cross is teaching ”(17”)

10:08:26 Training military instructors (government soldiers) in the 'rules of war' - the infantry college, Gebeit, 100 kms South-West of Port Sudan (Red Sea State).
Soldiers on exercise, practising procedures on the capture of prisoners, treatment of wounded and dead, respect for non-military targets and vehicle checkpoints.

10:09:06 Set-up shots of Ian Mc Leod (pronounced Mac Lowd) ICRC Armed Forces delegate and retired Brigadier General of the Parachute Regiment in the British Army.

10:09:25 (English) Interview Ian Mc Leod:
“ Well ICRC have believed for some time that if soldiers obey the rules of war, the law of armed conflict , and the countries of the world have signed up to this, then suffering in war will be reduced because soldiers will behave honourably. If soldiers behave honourably then the work of ICRC which is to relieve the suffering in war has in a way already been done, our job is made easier, it’s made safer...” (31”)
10:09:57 END