Internally displaced children in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (UN Photo/Marie Frechon)
Displacement, separation from family members and a lack of access to basic necessities are among people’s most common experiences and biggest fears. This was revealed by an International Committee of the Red Cross survey “Our world. Views from the field,” published to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Solferino, which prompted the creation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Fifty-six percent of the people directly affected by conflicts have been displaced, more than half have lost contact with a family member and one in five has lost their livelihood.
The questions covered people’s personal experience of armed conflict and violence, the specific impact that it has on them, views on the acceptable conduct of combatants, the effectiveness and desired actions of related organizations and third parties, awareness of the Geneva Conventions, and the role of health workers during armed conflict.
Read more on the ICRC website here.
According to the organization’s director of operations, Pierre Krähenbühl, a lot has changed over the past century and a half in the way wars are fought and how people are affected. Read an interview with Mr. Krähenbühl here.
The BBC has a story here.
