ICRC

Last week, the UNHCR announced that the number of Syrian refugees living in neighboring countries had reached one million. 

With over 300,000 Syrian refugees now living within its own borders, Lebanon is struggling to contain the humanitarian and political spillovers of the Syrian crisis.

As refugees keep crossing the border, head of ICRC Lebanon Jurg Montani describes precarious living conditions in camps and host communities increasingly unable to cope with the influx of newcomers.

Mr. Montani provides an update on our response and its focus on the provision of health care to wounded Syrians. He also explains how the presence of refugees is impacting Lebanon's social fabric while the Syrian conflict continues to exacerbate political tensions in Beirut, Tripoli and other Lebanese cities.

The David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies at BYU recently hosted Drone Wars, a panel that discussed the legal, ethical and strategic issues relating to the use of drones.  

The panel was moderated by BYU Professor Eric Jensen and featured Christopher M. Jenks, director of the Criminal Justice Clinic and assistant professor of law, Southern Methodist University; Gabor Rona, international legal director, Human Rights First; and our own Gary Brown, Deputy Legal Advisor at ICRC Washington.  

Among other things, the panelists discussed the international humanitarian law aspects of targeting killing and the policy and strategic implications of transparency and secrecy surrounding the U.S. drone program.

My colleague Gary Brown comes in at 26.30.

ICRC Director of Operations Pierre Kraehenbuehl recently returned from Syria, where he held high-level talks and witnessed the plight of civilians first-hand.

Based on his discussions with people directly affected by the conflict, with authorities and with our Damascus colleagues, Mr. Kraehenbuehl describes a catastrophic humanitarian situation, one in which tens of thousands of persons have been killed, injured, displaced. Thousands are missing or have been arrested. 

Mr. Kraehenbuehl also echoes an operational update published today when discussing the health-care situation in the country, with no respite in the violence directed at medical installations and personnel treating the sick and the wounded.