The International Committee of the Red Cross says it is aware of requests by Ukraine’s U.N. ambassador and others to repatriate the bodies of Russian soldiers killed in action in Ukraine but has no numbers. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya tweeted Saturday that Ukraine has appealed to the ICRC “to facilitate repatriation of thousands of bodies of Russian soldiers” killed during its invasion of Ukraine. An accompanying chart claimed 3,500 Russian troops have been killed. Kyslytsya tweeted that parents in Russia should have a chance “to bury them with dignity.” “Don’t let (Russian President Vladimir) Putin hide scale of tragedy,” he urged. Laetitia Courtois, ICRC’s permanent observer to the United Nations told The Associated Press Saturday night that the current security situation “is a primary concern and a limitation for our teams on the ground” and “we therefore cannot confirm numbers or other details.” Read: Around 200 Bangladesh citizens reach Poland, Romania from Ukraine: Shahriar She said “the ICRC can act as a neutral intermediary” on the return of bodies and other humanitarian issues in conflict, including clarifying the fate of missing persons, reuniting families, and advocating for the protection of detainees “within its possibilities.”

A month-long exhibition titled “Humanitarian Principles: Here and Now” will begin at the Liberation War Museum on Tuesday morning. It will contain information and photographs highlighting the humanitarian engagement of the ICRC and Switzerland as well as humanitarian principles in action in Bangladesh, in 1971 and beyond. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen is expected to attend the opening ceremony as the chief guest. State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md. Enamur Rahman , Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard and Head of Delegation of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Bangladesh Katja Lorenz will also attend the event. Also read: Curtain rises on photography exhibition 'Bangabandhu in Sculptures and Murals' COVID protocols will be maintained, wearing of masks will be mandatory and all are requested to keep the vaccination certificate or PCR negative report acquired in the past 24 hours alongside. The exhibition will jointly be organized by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the ICRC, Photo Elysée in Lausanne and the Liberation War Museum, Dhaka. After the formal opening ceremony, the exhibition will remain open to all until February 24 from 10am to 5pm, except Sundays. This unique exhibition contains photographs and films through which artists share their vision of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence and examine the impact of humanitarian principles from a fresh, local and contemporary perspective, said the organizers. Also read: Azizee Fawmi’s solo art exhibition ‘Ka-Shommondhiyo’ starts at La Galerie Humanitarian crises around the world make news headlines every day. The images associated with these tragedies are often related to tears, suffering, hunger, desperation, loneliness, separation, desolation etc. Sometimes people feel helpless or overwhelmed by all these images of crisis, violence, armed conflicts and natural disasters. The contemporary art installation “Humanitarian Principles: Here and Now” is a reaction to these feelings. Humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence are indeed the compass to guide any humanitarian action that intends to provide aid and relief to millions of affected people, said ICRC. These principles, and the values they entail, are the foundations and objectives of humanitarian action, and what gives it its universal claim, it said. The exhibition aims to provide the visitors with a better understanding and deeper insight into the significance that humanitarian principles have in everyday life and presents a space for dialogue on humanity. END/UNB/MK/F 1843        

A cold storage mortuary extension has been set up at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to manage mass fatality incidents better. DMCH is the primary location in Dhaka for processing victims after mass fatalities and for the storage of unidentified remains before being passed over to charity organisations for burial. But the current facilities do not meet the increasing needs and demands placed on the hospital. So, the cold storage unit is aimed at reducing the stress on the hospital and its mortuary, allowing for the increased safe storage of dead bodies at low temperatures. Read: Black fungus detected in patient at DMCH

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has launched a three-month programme in 31 government-run health complexes in Chittagong Hill Tracts for prevention and control the spread of Covid-19 infections. The drive has been taken up in collaboration with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS).Communities across the three districts who visit these health facilities – including three District Sadar Hospitals and 22 Upazilla Health Complexes – in Rangamati, Khagrachari and  Bandarban districts of will benefit from this Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) program amid the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a ICRC press release. Also read: ICRC extends support for dignified management of dead during COVID-19The multi-layered strategy of the IPC program includes: imparting remote training to BDRCS volunteers, who in turn train existing cleaning staff of all government-run health structures while ensuring the availability of Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) and appropriate cleaning/disinfectant materials and tools.Around 160 cleaners from these 31 health facilities will receive training on the full IPC program (personal safety, cleaning, and disinfection procedure). Materials like chlorine, gloves, face shields, protective outwear, gumboots, and masks are distributed among the health facilities as part of the donation under this program.To avoid community transmission during the pandemic, 1200 households across the CHT region, which are being supported under other joint programs run by the ICRC and BDRCS, will also be provided with basic hygiene promotion items. Also read: ICRC, Cox's Sadar Hospital working to strengthen emergency healthcare services The latest phase of IPC program across the CHT region will continue until mid-September 2021.“This phase incorporates the lessons learnt from the previous intervention, and integrates best practice while undertaking doable actions with impacts," said Massimo Russo, Water and Habitat Delegate of ICRC Bangladesh.Earlier, between September to December 2020, the ICRC and the BDRCS implemented a first phase of the IPC program in all government health facilities of CHT districts, serving around 1.6 million people.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday virtually inaugurated three Covid-19 isolation centres in three prisons to help prevent spread of the virus. The centres_ 70-bed in the central jail of Keraniganj, 41-bed in Feni District Jail-2, and 28-bed in Kishoreganj District Jail-2_ were set up with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).  Katja Lorenz, the ICRC Head of Delegation in Bangladesh said prisoners are among the most vulnerable population when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic.  "Hence, it is essential for the prisons to be able to separate prisoners who have caught the virus from the rest of the prison population,” he said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in collaboration with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), has been carrying out an "intensive infection prevention and control" (IPC) programme in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said that it continues to support the Prisons Directorate (PD) in Bangladesh amid the COVID-19 outbreak to help mitigate the risk of coronavirus' spread among detainees and its staff members. 

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in close partnership with the Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital Management, has been working to strengthen the delivery of emergency healthcare services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has stepped up its support to Bangladesh going beyond Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar to help address the challenges amid coronavirus pandemic and the growing needs at the national level, says its Bangladesh chief.

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have recognised the efforts of their volunteers and staff in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.   The organisations say they are "immensely proud" to recognise the hard work of their volunteers and staff who are doing everything they can to support communities affected by the COVID-19.   The appreciation came ahead of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day which falls on May 8.    “Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, a part of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, is everywhere for everyone, every day,” said Md Feroz Salah Uddin, Secretary General of BDRCS.   This year is even more challenging.   By Thursday, Bangladesh confirmed 12,425 coronavirus cases and 199 deaths.   BDRCS said Red Crescent volunteers are at work, despite huge risk to themselves, helping vulnerable individuals and communities to protect themselves from COVID-19, and the BDRCS continues to provide many other services that people need to keep themselves safe and healthy.   They said each and every volunteer in Bangladesh deserves applause, and encouraged everyone to #KeepClapping on May 8.   Bangladesh Red Crescent volunteers have been active in communities since the novel coronavirus was first detected in the country. The COVID-19 response activities have been carried out alongside other humanitarian works that Bangladesh Red Crescent is well known for.    With support from the ICRC and IFRC, Red Cross Red Crescent Partner National Societies and others, every year, BDRCS reaches almost two million people with a diverse range of services tailored to local needs.   Azmat Ulla, the Head of IFRC Bangladesh Country Office, said: “When we practise physical distancing to break the transmission, it’s extremely important to have social solidarity and support.”    He said it is difficult time for everyone but he sees “so much hope in the bravery and dedication of Bangladesh Red Crescent Youth volunteers, the community volunteers, cyclone preparedness volunteers countrywide”.   “This solidarity will help us not only survive this pandemic, but also help it to thrive afterwards,” he said.   Pierre Dorbes, the Head of Delegation for ICRC in Bangladesh, said: “Beyond the public health crisis, the COVID-19 epidemic is impacting the economic security of millions of Bangladeshi people while for displaced people from [Myanmar’s] Rakhine, this is another factor of vulnerability.    “The ICRC together with other partners of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement stands side by side with all those vulnerable people in such an unprecedented crisis.”