RED CROSS PROGRAMME

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32220, 12 February 1970, Page 11

RED CROSS PROGRAMME

No Withdrawal In Nigeria (N Z. Prexn Association! WELLINGTON. Feb. 10. The withdrawal of the International Committee of the Red Cross aid programme in Nigeria did not signify a [withdrawal of the Red Cross from Nigeria, said a statement tissued today by the New Zealand Red Cross. The statement said that the press reports of the withdrawal from Nigeria needed some explanation. It said the International Red Cross was composed of I two bodies, the International [1 Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross | Societies, both based ini Geneva. I The prime function of the International Committee of I 1 the Red Cross was in war sit-[ uations. together with over-’ seeing the Geneva Conventions. The League of Red Cross; Societies was the federation of 112 national societies j whose governments were sig-; natories to the Geneva Conventions, and its main functions were the development I of Red Cross societies and [ civil disaster relief work. 1 The withdrawal of the In-1 ternational Committee of the Red Cross aid programme from Nigeria merely meant that with the cessation of hos- | tilities the immediate task of the international committee! was now complete. The Red Cross task now I rested with the Nigerian Red Cross, as the national society, and the League of Red Cross Societies, whose task it would be to co-ordinate the aid | given by the national Red Cross societies round the I world.