The ICRC regional delegation in Harare
11-04-2013 Overview
The Harare regional delegation covers Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It has existed in its current form since 1981, although the ICRC has been active in southern Africa since 1959, protecting and assisting people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. Its main activities are detainee welfare, support for health services, strengthening humanitarian mine action, re-establishing family links, cooperation with national Red Cross Societies and the promotion of international humanitarian law and the work of the ICRC.
The ICRC Regional Delegation in Harare operates in five countries – Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe, it works with prison authorities to improve conditions of detention and the treatment of inmates. The delegation informs the authorities, armed forces and civil society about international humanitarian law (IHL) and helps national Red Cross Societies enhance their emergency-response capacity.
Detainee welfare
The ICRC makes regular visits to prisons in Zimbabwe to monitor treatment and conditions of detention, sharing its findings with the detaining authorities in confidence. The ICRC is working with the Zimbabwe Prison Service to boost its food production capacity, renovate critical infrastructure, monitor the nutritional status of the inmates and improve their access to health care.
In Namibia, the ICRC visits people held since 1999 in relation to the situation in Namibia's Caprivi Region. The ICRC and the Namibia Red Cross Society have been facilitating family visits for the detainees since 2002.
Support for health services
In Harare, the ICRC supports 12 health facilities, boosting primary health care for over 1 million people by providing drugs and other medical supplies, training health personnel, renovating infrastructure and improving access to safe water in health facilities.
Strengthening humanitarian mine action
To reduce the humanitarian consequences of anti-personnel mines on rural communities along Zimbabwe’s border with Mozambique, the ICRC supports the Zimbabwe Mine Action Centre’s efforts to search for, clear and destroy anti-personnel mines through the provision of technical assistance, training for key personnel and material assistance.
Re-establishing family links
In cooperation with national Red Cross Societies in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the ICRC helps re-establish contact between family members separated by conflict, migration, flooding, displacement or other adverse situations.
Cooperation with National Societies
The ICRC helps the region’s national Red Cross Societies to enhance their emergency-response capacity.
Promoting IHL and the work of the ICRC
The ICRC maintains contact with national authorities, the armed and security forces, civil society, the media and universities to deepen their understanding of IHL and the ICRC.
In partnership with national Red Cross Societies, the ICRC raises awareness of humanitarian principles and action.