The current war in the Middle East shows the extent to which the world is now beset by disruption and uncertainty. The humanitarian work of the ICRC is obviously seriously affected by this situation. Being particularly sensitive – both by its nature and because of its mandate – to the state of international affairs, the ICRC is having to cope not only with the immediate effects of an international conflict but also with the implications in humanitarian terms of internal conflicts and disturbances which continue to prevail in many regions and which equally require the constant presence of delegates from our institution.

The Red Gross has been involved with refugees for many years, in fact ever since the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement began assisting the victims of wars, revolutions and other disturbances. All the Movement's institutions take part at some stage in dealing with refugees, deportees and persons displaced within their own countries, for instance by providing protection in the countries of origin at the time of exile, setting up reception facilities in transit or first asylum camps and supplying material and medical aid, or by carrying out tracing activities and organizing family reunifications, not forgetting the support lent to those engaged in the often interminable and humiliating procedure of applying for asylum.

Immediately after hostilities broke out between Iraq and Kuwait on 2 August 1990, the ICRC reminded all parties of their obligations under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, of which they are signatories (see IRRC No. 278, September-October 1990, p. 444).

The Middle East conflict is beyond any doubt an international armed conflict as defined in Article 2 common to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949.

The fact that military action has been authorized by security council resolution 678 does not affect this definition or the application of the laws of armed conflict.

Since October 1990, the President of the ICRC, Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, has carried out missions to Italy, Denmark and Switzerland.

The ICRC President, accompanied by Mr. Francis Amar, deputy Delegate General for Europe and North America, and Mr. Jean-Luc Blondel, head of the Division for Principles and Relations with the Movement, took part in a meeting of National Society Presidents from the countries of the European Economic Community (EEC). The meeting was organized by the Italian Red Cross and held in Asolo, near Venice, from 8 to 11 October 1990.

In many respects, observer status for the ICRC will place the practical co-operation that already existed between the institution and the United Nations on a stronger legal basis. It will also spare the ICRC the considerable drain on its resources that was necessary, when it had only consultative status, to bring its pragmatic inter arma caritas proposals before the United Nations.