‘Enduring dilemmas’ of speaking out – Red Cross director

Interview published on BBC website on 06/05/2017

Director of Operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Pierre Krahenbuhl, has told Stephen Sackur about the difficulties faced by humanitarian organisations when carrying out their roles in the midst of modern conflicts.

Asked about the dangers of the organisation remaining neutral, Mr Krahenbuhl said there are “enduring dilemmas” for the ICRC to find a balance between publicly denouncing a place of detention or an attack on people and preserving trust between all parties so they can continue to help people.

Click on the picture to watch the video

 


Related Articles

INTERVIEW: Global humanitarian needs have never been higher, says UN official

10/02/2017. The number of those needing humanitarian assistance is at its highest since the end of the Second World War – some 145 million people.

Order of Malta and Red Cross united by a “red thread”: helping those who suffer

09/22/2018. “We are united by a ‘red thread’: we work toward the same ends, based on the principle of neutrality and prompted by the attempt to help people who suffer, without any discrimination,” said the Grand Master when greeting the guests.

‘Time to stamp out human trafficking,’ says Guterres; UN pledges action to eradicate ‘heinous crime’

09/27/2017. “Human trafficking is all around us, in all regions of the world,” said Mr. Guterres, referring to such practices as forced labour, sexual servitude, recruitment of child soldiers and other forms of exploitation and abuse.