The last few years have been a momentous period in the life of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. One milestone was the adoption of its new Statutes by the Twenty-fifth International Conference of the Red Cross (Geneva, October 1986). Furthermore, the increasingly universal nature of the Movement and the desire to present a united front in the face of the changes and upheavals taking place in the modern world, and the “solidarity of image” which exists between the various components of the Movement and which was stressed in Resolution No. 8 of the Council of Delegates (Rio de Janeiro, November 1987), have all had an appreciable influence on the Movement's information policy—and hence that of the ICRC.

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The theme for World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day on 8 May was “125 years at work…and still developing”. This theme was chosen to underline the universalization of the Movement and the continuous growth in its activities on behalf of the victims of armed conflict and natural disaster. But development is also an expression of the solidarity between the Movement's components as soon as it is necessary to bring immediate assistance to the victims of man-made or natural catastrophy and to put forward medium or long-term plans aimed, in accordance with the Movement's Fundamental Principles, at preventing these calamities and ensuring the welfare of communities.

Development means attaining the capability to act today, so as to be able to cope with a specific situation tomorrow: in other words, development in its true perspective, in its universal context. A developed organization or institution is therefore one which is able to carry out its tasks efficiently. Development is achieved in a planned and systematic manner, through a continuing process that meets the changing needs and priorities of the future.

Cape Verde, a small archipelago formed by ten islands and eight islets, is located 455 km off the west coast of Africa, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator. It has an area of 4,033 sq km and a population of 320,000.

The dry climate and sparse rainfall characteristic of these volcanic islands, which constitute a prolongation into the Atlantic of the arid Sahel region, are extremely unfavourable to agriculture.

According to the Strategy for the Development of National Societies in the Eighties, adopted at the International Conference of the Red Cross in Manila in 1981, development is “the process of strengthening the capacity of National Societies to provide Red Cross services based on national resources. It is thus concerned with both the development of National Societies' operational structures and with the development of the services they provide.”

At this stage of the discussion on development within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, I shall limit my remarks to a number of general considerations and shall conclude with an attempt to define development, giving an interpretation of its principal aspects.

We can say from experience that the ideas put forward in the document “Strategy for the development of National Societies in the Eighties” have served as a reference in the preparation of our general plans for the periods 1980–1985, 1982–1986 and 1987–1990.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the most outstanding expression of development. It was created 125 years ago and now covers the whole world. It has increased its membership many times over, substantially enlarged its functions and developed new methods and forms of action. By continually adapting to the changing world and to new requirements, the Movement has not only preserved the place that it had at the beginning of its existence, but has also acquired the high reputation and position it holds today. The Movement has thus shown its capacity for far-reaching development, and this must be taken into account in defining the Movement's concept of development today.

Henry Dunant's prediction falls short of the terrible reality of 125 years later. Weapons of destruction are infinitely sophisticated, armed clashes are more lethal than ever but paradoxically none the shorter. Every new conflict makes clear the deliberate intention to do away with any distinction between combatants and non-combatants and, worse still, to take the civilian population as a target.

Let's face it: a world of peace and justice, devoid of violence and misery, is not around the corner.

Stating this unhappy reality is not meant to discourage those of goodwill who keep the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement going. Rather, it is to stress just how important it is in humanitarian endeavour to bring our forces into concert so that we can all pull together. The best use possible must be made of every individual, every penny, if we are going to make headway in this unequal struggle in which we are engaged to assist the victims of war, natural disaster and poverty. Rivalry is all the more shocking when it arises in the area of humanitarian aid as the needs are so enormous and there is more than enough room for everyone. But everyone must find his proper place in the joint effort; effectiveness is impossible without good co-ordination.

The Central Tracing Agency (CTA) exists to clear away such doubt, and to do so it has fixed as its four main tasks:

1. to obtain, register, process and pass on all information that can identify persons whose case has been taken up by the ICRC;

2. to ensure exchanges of family correspondence where normal communications are interrupted;

3. to trace persons whose relatives have no news of them or who have been reported missing;

4. to organize the reuniting of families, transfers of persons and repatriations.

The League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has a long tradition of development work. At every new stage the objectives set are therefore not simply the outcome of a purely intellectual process, but are reviewed and adapted in the light of this tradition.

The links between disasters and development have been extensively discussed in recent years among international organizations. It was primarily the African famine during the first half of the 1980s that initiated this discussion. Famine was no longer perceived as the inevitable consequence of drought. Instead, many saw the African disaster as the symptom of serious development failures. Had there been better foresight in earlier development, stronger efforts to reduce vulnerability in the populations, and a better preparedness to meet the crisis, it was observed, the devastating effects of the drought could have been prevented. Eventually, a similar perception began to embrace most disasters affecting developing countries. It led to the conclusion that disaster prevention, and the reduction of human vulnerability in particular, must be among the primary goals of development.

During its latest meeting, on 4 and 5 May, the Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross appointed three new members to the Committee. The new members, Ms. Suzy Bruschweiler, Mr. Jacques Forster and Mr. Pierre Languetin, will take up their duties on 1 June next. These appointments bring membership of the ICRC, which is composed exclusively of Swiss citizens, to a total of 24.

Mr. Jacques Moreillon has informed the International Committee of the Red Cross of his intention to leave his present position as Director General on 31 October 1988 to take up the post of Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

ICRC President Cornelio Sommaruga paid an official visit to Cuba in mid-April at the invitation of the Cuban Government.

President Sommaruga was able to discuss a number of international humanitarian issues during a two-hour meeting with the Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. He had similar talks with several members of the State Council and Government, and met with the President, Secretary General and staff of the Cuban Red Cross.

On 6 May 1988 Mrs. Elisabeth Kopp, Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police, visited the International Committee of the Red Cross, where she was received by the President of the Institution, Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga.

During the period under review no solution had yet been found to the difficulties encountered by the ICRC in carrying out its relief operations for the civilian victims of the conflict and drought. The circulation of convoys became increasingly difficult, most of them being held up for reasons that could not be justified by the military situation alone. In March relief distributions had to be suspended because the regional warehouses were empty.