The International Review of the Red Cross is pleased to publish this essay by Professor Vangah Francis Wodie on the perception of humanitarian law by African states, and their contribution to this law's development in view of the problems confronting them. The essay reflects the personal views of the author, who gives special attention to the legal and humanitarian problems facing many states as a result of the influx of refugees and the use of mercenaries in some conflicts.

In case of armed conflict, the following groups are entitled to relief:

— the civilian population of an occupied territory (Fourth Conv., Art. 59; Prot. I, Art. 69);

— the civilian population of a territory under the control of a party to the conflict, other than an occupied territory (Fourth Conv., Art. 23, 38; Prot. I, Art. 70);

— prisoners of war and civilian internees in the territory of a Party to the conflict or in an occupied territory (Third Conv., Art. 72; Fourth Conv., Art. 108).

Following the adoption of the Additional Protocols in 1977, the ICRC decided to start working on the interpretation of these new treaties of international humanitarian law, just as it had published a Commentary on the Geneva Conventions after their adoption in 1949.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition of the Guinea-Bissau Red Cross by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This recognition, which took effect on 27 August 1986, brings to 138 the number of National Societies members of the International Red Cross.

We have the honour to inform you that the International Committee of the Red Cross has officially recognized the Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates. This recognition, which took effect on 27 August 1986, brings to 139 the number of National Societies members of the International Red Cross.

In July and August the ICRC continued its attempts to implement an aid programme for the victims of the conflict situation in southern Sudan. An ICRC team went to Wau on 31 July to organize an airlift. Forty tonnes of relief supplies were transported on board three flights from Entebbe (Uganda) to Wau on 14 and 15 August; on the second of these two days the flights were suspended because of threats from the SPLA to shoot down any aircraft flying over the territories controlled by its troops without its authorization. The 40 tonnes of relief supplies which got through before the blockade were distributed between 19 and 22 August to starving people living in the camps for displaced people. Since the airlift was interrupted, the ICRC has made numerous approaches to the parties to the conflict, particularly the SPLA, in order to be allowed to recommence its humanitarian work.

On 19 September 1985 Mexico City and the provinces along the Pacific coast were hit by a strong earthquake which left over 5,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands homeless. The rehousing of survivors was and remains the most imperative problem, since almost 100,000 persons are still living in temporary shelters.