Rolin Wavre: The ICRC is in Syria to restore family links broken because of occupation of the Golan;
Syria, Politics, 11/13/2002

"The International Committee of the Red Cross began its operations in Syria in 1967 to restore family links that were broken because of Israel's occupation of the Golan," said Rolin Wavre, ICRC head of delegation in Damascus in a statement yesterday in Damascus.

He said that the ICRC delegation activities in Syria were extended to include: facilitating the crossing of hundreds of students from the occupied Golan and organizing their return after the completion of their higher studies, organizing the passage of religious men to perform their religious duties and visit their relatives whom they have not met for years, and arranging the crossing of brides to the Occupied Golan where their future husbands live.

He continued that with these weddings, the ICRC gives families the opportunity to come together after years of separation, where tears are mixed with cries of joys; people are happy to see their relatives but sad to be separated again.

He explained that in September, 2002, the ICRC has facilitated the crossing of 144 pilgrims from the occupied Golan to Damascus and to the holy places in Syria. The visit of the pilgrims lasted for three days.

In October, 2002, he added "we had during four days a crossing of 375 students to Syria, either to start or to continue their studies."

He said that a wedding took place on October 1st, noting that the crossing of the bride, meeting of the families at the Quneitra Checkpoint, meeting of the split families to celebrate the wedding is part of the aim to start a process of family meetings for the Syrian people in the Golan, and that the ICRC is waiting for a final green light from the Israeli side to this effect.

This process, he said, has been going on for many years. He commented that it remains important for separated families to have these contacts. The students, the weddings, knowing this is temporary until the situation is settled.

On other main activities conducted by the ICRC in Syria, Wavre indicated that the ICRC is visiting Syrian prisoners among others in Israel. Citing his experience on that he said " I have been serving in Gaza for one and a half years, visiting Palestinian and Syrian prisoners among others there held by Israel." Of no less activity performed by the ICRC is the travel document over which Wavre explained that people who do not have passport, ICRC provides them document enabling them to travel from one country to another, noting " the ICRC for 50 years has been providing people without documents that are accepted by the UNHCR. "It is a pattern we often approach people on the wrong side of life." Another important function conducted by the ICRC is the Red Cross Message RCM. A service replacing the postal service when it does not exist or functioning.

In this regard, Wavre said that in 1993- 1994 when he was serving in former Yugoslavia the number of messages exchanged within the split Republic of Yugoslavia was 2 million per year, through the ICRC.

For better understanding of the ICRC functions, Wavre indicated that the ICRC delegation in Damascus is working to promote the dissemination of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL), noting that the delegation " is approaching some authorities in Syria to help them introduce and increase the way the IHL is disseminated to ministries programs and in particular to the education ministry on "Exploring the Humanitarian Law ( EHL)." A program which is module of 30 hours containing basic ideals and ideas about humanitarian values that would be introduced in the courses of secondary and preparatory school to which Wavre said the Syrian ministry of education was very supportive and showed remarked interest.

To further deepening this experience of disseminating the IHL in the Syrian curricula, Wavre indicated that the ICRC has sent four Syrian experts from the education ministry to Morocco in order to take part with other counterpart colleagues there in a two- week workshop with the aim to confront experiences. He indicated that the plan and very aim is to have a trial in some schools to see how the program will function and that by the beginning of the school year of 2004 "we expect to have a clear picture on that."

Another item on the ICRC eventful agenda is the issue of "Woman and war." Wavre said that there has been a large study from ICRC headquarters in Geneva. It is the Arab version of a report which will be ready and will be launched in Syria before the end of this year.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Shara confers with William Baker: dialogue is the way for peace   (11/1/2002)
  The British Red Shoe to be displayed in Damascus, Aleppo   (10/16/2002)
  One Israeli army officer wounded in the Golan   (10/4/2002)
  Some 31 killed in collapse of old buildings in Aleppo   (10/3/2002)
  Al-Sharq al-Awsat: Israel prevents 250 clergy men in Golan from visiting Syria   (8/31/2002)
  UN committee: Syrians in Golan live in very bad besiege conditions   (7/26/2002)
  The International criminal court: A challenge to impunity   (10/27/2001)
  Israel prevents students from visiting the Golan   (7/14/2001)
  Sit in observed in Damascus in support of Golan prisoners   (4/25/2001)
  Eight Syrian brides cross the borders to their husbands in the Golan   (3/17/1999)

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