Document #1189404
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
According to Mr. B. Hamadi, a leading
member of the Lebanese community contacted through the auspices of
the National Council on Canada-Arab relations, Red Cross volunteers
have been fairly unbiased in their efforts to provide medical
assistance, and have helped all sides, regardless of sectarian
affiliations. [ Discussion with Mr. B. Montreal, 14 September
1989.] He alleges that, unfortunately, the lack of bias by Red
Cross personnel has not necessarily been looked upon favourably in
the climate of distrust which prevails in Lebanon. Members of
different groups hold the attitude that, "if you're not with me,
you must be against me". This has resulted in violence against
Lebanese Red Cross volunteers who have been shot at and killed
during the ongoing inter-communal war. One article discusses the
alleged targeting of medical facilities, [ "Blockade curbs medical
effort; Lebanon crisis", Times, 25 August 1989.] and another
gives the casualty figures for Red Cross personnel over a six month
period in 1989 12 dead and 80 wounded. [ "The Bunkers of Beirut,
Life under the rubble", The Economist, 19 August 1989.]
In more recent developments, non-Lebanese
Red Cross workers have been kidnapped. During October 1989, at
least three Swiss Red Cross workers were abducted.
Libération carried an article mentioning the release
of an unnamed female Swiss Red Cross worker on 13 October. [
"Liban: Libération", Libération, 14-15 Octubre
1989.] On 6 October two other Swiss Red Cross workers were abducted
in Sidon. [ "ICRC Workers Threatened if Hariri not Released",
AFP, [Paris], (FBIS-NES-89-200), 18 October 1989.] Officials
of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) met to
discuss the possibility of suspending operations in Lebanon as they
had in the previous year following another abduction. [ "Aid
Workers Abducted in Lebanon", The Globe and Mail, 7 October
1989.] However, the ICRC later affirmed that "it will continue to
render its services in Lebanon because the Lebanese people need
such services." [ "ICRC Urges Release of Swiss Officials",
Beirut Domestic Service [Arabic], (FBIS-NES-89-210), 1
November 1989.] Please see the attached news reports. Specific
information on the treatment of Red Cross workers by the Syrian
Army is not among the sources currently available to the IRBDC. The
comments by Mr. Hamadi regarding perceptions of loyalties would
apply to all parties to the conflict in Lebanon.