18 March 2008
Addis Abeba — The International Red Cross Society said it repatriated 622 civilians and a former prisoner of war (POW) from Eritrea and a total of 12 civilians from Ethiopia.
ICRC said it overlooked the repatriation of 634 civilians and a POW to and from Eritrea in an effort to ensure the compliance of the principles of international humanitarian law (IHL) in particular the 1949 Geneva Convention laws.
"This repatriation was carried out based on the consent of each individual and with the cooperation of the authorities," ICRC said in a statement issued on Monday.
ICRC delegates based in Eritrea and three ambulances of the Eritrean Red Cross accompanied the civilians going to Ethiopia on the first part of their journey from Asmara, Eritrea's capital, to the border, according to ICRS statement..
The statement said that at the crossing point at Mereb River, located between the towns of Adi Quala in Eritrea and Rama in Ethiopia, the group was met by ICRC delegates based in Ethiopia, before being placed in the care of the Ethiopian authorities.
Likewise, ICRC delegates based in Ethiopia accompanied the civilians going to Eritrea to the border, where they were met by ICRC delegates based in Eritrea, before being placed in the care of the Eritrean authorities, the statement added..
Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The ICRC has assisted people affected by the 1998-2000 armed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea regarding their repatriation since June 2000.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance.
It directs and coordinates the international relief activities conducted by the Movement in situations of conflict. It also endeavors to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.
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