Equatorial Guinea
The Equatorial Guinea Red Cross Society, recognized at the end of 1994, demonstrated its enhanced operational capacity by informing the public about basic hygiene and sanitation, assisting returnees from the neighbouring Republic of Gabon and improving its emergency preparedness in anticipation of the election campaign and election day on 25 February.
On 12 May the regional delegate met the President of Equatorial Guinea to discuss Red Cross matters and the ICRC's wish to visit places of detention. This resulted in the government giving the ICRC permission to visit people detained in prisons and police stations, and a programme of visits was proposed to the authorities.
The ICRC pursued its dissemination activities in 1995, by providing further training in the law of war to instructors selected from high-ranking staff officers of the armed forces, security forces and police.
An epidemic of severe diarrhoea swept the country in July in the continental part of Rio Muni and also on the island of Bioko, affecting thousands and killing some 300 people. Local branches of the National Society, aided by the ICRC and the Swiss Red Cross, dealt with the crisis, providing assistance to dispensaries, hospitals, patients and their families. Furthermore, as a preventive measure, local Red Cross branches initiated training programmes in first aid and hygiene for the public to stop further spreading of the disease.
* FIR: Forces d'intervention rapide
Gabon
The situation was relatively calm in Gabon throughout the year, although there was a certain amount of political upheaval. The only significant problem in humanitarian terms was the forced expulsion of illegal immigrants from other African nations, including Equatorial Guinea, at the beginning of the year. The ICRC, together with the National Society of Equatorial Guinea, responded by providing food aid and transport to take returnees back to their home villages.
During the year the ICRC helped set up the "Gabonese Red Cross". A comprehensive campaign was launched to promote the Red Cross principles throughout Gabon and stimulate the reactivation or creation of local structures. The "Gabonese Red Cross" convened in Libreville in June and approved its new provisional statutes.
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