The ICRC’s prevention work consists in spreading knowledge of international humanitarian law and humanitarian rules intended to limit the effects of armed violence.

Congolese armed forces

As part of its awareness-raising activities, the ICRC organized information sessions on humanitarian law for Congolese armed forces personnel training at the Marien Ngouabi Military Academy, at the National Non-Commissioned Officers School in Gamboma, and at training centres in Makola and Loutété:

● three sessions were organized at the Marien Ngouabi Military Academy for 115 officers (regular officer cadets, junior officers on refresher courses and officers in practical training);
● six sessions took place at the Makola training centre for 323 officers in practical training;
● six sessions were organized for 714 trainees at the Loutété centre and at the Gamboma National Non-Commissioned Officers School;
● one session was organized for 20 personnel from the Kimba task force.

In addition, the ICRC conducted an awareness-raising session in Kinkala for 53 officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted men from Military Defence Zone No. 8.

Police and gendarmerie

● Two train-the-trainers programmes were organized for 48 participants (22 police officers and 26 gendarmes) as part of the ICRC’s support for the training of Congolese police and gendarmes in the humanitarian principles underlying international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
● These were followed by a joint police-gendarmerie workshop on integrating humanitarian principles into the police and gendarmerie training curricula. Five police officers and four gendarmes took part.
● Specialist publications on the ICRC and the basic rules of international humanitarian law were accessioned by the library of the National Police Academy.
● A total of 142 police officers from the Brazzaville police stations (Beach, Port autonome ATC, Port autonome Yoro, Maya-May airport, ATC CFCO) were informed about the ICRC’s activities and about humanitarian principles and human rights law applicable in law enforcement operations.

Political authorities

● Financial and technical support for the participation of two representatives from the Congo at the second technical consultation meeting on implementing international humanitarian law in central Africa held at Yaoundé (Cameroon).
● Regular discussions with the Congolese authorities on issues relating to national implementation of international humanitarian law.

Other bearers of weapons

● Five theatrical performances on the obligation to spare the civilian population and on the ICRC’s activities were given in the Pool area (in Lounigui Boko, Yangui Louengo and Nkamou) for various audiences, including former combatants.

General public and the media

● Six press releases on international humanitarian law and ICRC activities were issued.

Academic circles and schools

● Twenty-four students from the Free University of the Congo attended an information session on ICRC and Congolese Red Cross activities.
● Thirteen instructors from five Pool-area teaching and technical schools (Mindouli, Kinkémbo, Loulombo gare, Loulombo Sofico, and Kimbédi) were selected to be taught about the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the basic rules of international humanitarian law, and the ICRC and its working methods. All 13 then raised awareness of humanitarian principles and values among 447 pupils, using a comic book entitled “The battle of the villages” as a teaching aid. Following an assessment of the pupils’ learning, special events were organized in the schools to reward those who had done best.

Assistance

The ICRC’s assistance operations focus almost exclusively on the Pool department, which was the most severely affected by the latest conflict in the Congo. To facilitate the return of civilians who fled the Pool, the ICRC provides aid of various kinds, one of its priorities being to ensure access to clean water and basic health care. The ICRC also provides help for farmer and fishery groups, thereby supporting efforts to rebuild the country’s economy.

Water and habitat

Access to clean water in rural areas

● Work on gravity-fed water system serving 6,000 people in Kibuendé was completed.
● Gravity-fed water systems for 6,000 people in Mindouli (Capable district) and Kimbédi were evaluated.
● Work to protect and develop water resources serving 1,000 people in the Makoumbou and Wayako districts of Kinkala was begun.

Access to clean water in urban areas

Renovation work on the Kinkala water-treatment plant is proceeding.

● Civil engineering projects, site development work, hydraulic equipment assembly work, electro-technical work, and installation of the compact water-treatment unit have been completed.
● A first, partial technical trial of starting up the plant was carried out. The plant can now be officially inaugurated and put into operation. It will produce water for 10,000 people.
● Ten public fountains providing potable water for 5,000 people in Kinkala have been installed.

Health

Hygiene and sanitation awareness programme

● A total of 634 people attended hygiene- and sanitation-awareness sessions at water points in Kinkala centre and Matoumbou and at the general health-care centres of Massembo Loubaki and Boko. After the sessions, hygiene committees were organized for each water point.

General health-care centres

● Building work on a latrine/shower block for the Kimanika general health-care centre was completed. The centre serves nearly 3,000 people.
● Building work on the drinking water fountain and incinerator for the Kibouéndé centre, serving 6,000 people, was completed.
● A technical assessment was carried out and building work was started with community participation on a latrine/shower block, a waste pit and an incinerator at the Massembo Loubaki centre serving nearly 4,000 people.
● Four hand pumps were repaired at the Massembo Loubaki, Madzia, Boko and Mbandza Nkandi (Kinkala centre) health-care centres, which together serve 12,200 people.
● Nine days of joint supervision of the centres were organized in April and May with the Pool sanitation authorities.
● In cooperation with the Pool health authorities, 13 health agents from the Mindouli and Kinkala centres were trained in health-care centre organization and management. A one-day workshop at the Missafou centre completed the training.

The ICRC’s continuing aid for seven general health-care centres in Mindouli and Kinkala facilitated access to primary health care for an estimated 56,000 people. The seven centres were regularly supervised and supplied with basic medicines and office supplies. The following services were made possible thanks to this support:

● Curative medicine: 10,200 consultations.
● Preventive medicine: 650 prenatal consultations resulting in the detection of 12 at-risk pregnant women and their referral to a suitable hospital.
● ICRC logistical support for an expanded immunization programme, involving in particular the transportation of vaccines and injection providers, laid the basis for 3,750 doses of vaccine to be administered to children and women of childbearing age.

Cassava and fish-farming projects

● A total of 31 awareness sessions and eight seminars on cassava mosaic virus disease were held in the districts of Kinkala and Mindouli.
● A total of 2,108 farmers in the Pool were trained in methods for controlling cassava mosaic disease and in fish farming.
● A total of 2,571 brochures on methods for controlling the disease and on practical advice for fish farming were distributed.
● One hundred new groups were chosen to receive cassava cuttings in October 2007.

Protection of people deprived of their freedom

As part of its efforts to help people deprived of their freedom, and on the basis of an agreement with the government signed in 1999, the ICRC visits places of detention that fall under the responsibility of the ministries of security and public order, justice and defence. The aims of the visits are to promote respect for human dignity and to improve conditions of detention where necessary.

● Four visits were conducted in two places of detention in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.
● Five Red Cross messages (brief messages containing family news) were delivered and six collected.

Restoring family links

As part of its work to restore family links, the ICRC offers people separated from their families by armed conflict or the consequences thereof the opportunity to write Red Cross messages to their relatives. The content of these messages is strictly limited to family news. The ICRC also strives to reunite families – mainly for the benefit of children, their most vulnerable members.

● A total of 779 Red Cross messages were collected and 637 delivered, mainly in the departments of Likouala, Cuvette centrale, Niari and Bouenza, and also in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, where this service is carried out in cooperation with Congolese Red Cross branches.
● Two unaccompanied children were reunited with their families and another unaccompanied child was registered.

As components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the ICRC and the Congolese Red Cross work together in several different areas.

With the ICRC’s support:

● The Congolese Red Cross celebrated World Red Cross Day on 8 May 2007 in Brazzaville, Owando, Kinkala and Mindouli. Various activities were organized which included efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of HIV/AIDS and cholera, and sanitation operations in certain neighbourhoods. Some 300 volunteers took part.
● The Congolese Red Cross branch office in Kinkala is being rebuilt.