International Red Cross and the Taliban

[Texsox]

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/26/secur...ualties/?hpt=T2

 

The Red Cross provides aid in Afghanistan to security personnel, those injured during cross-fighting and even Taliban members.

 

The International Committee of the Red Cross is defending its practice of providing medical training and basic medical supplies to the Taliban in Afghanistan – saying it is in line with the ICRC’s mandate not to discriminate between different sides in a conflict.

 

In the latest situation report issued Tuesday the Red Cross disclosed that in April its workers “reached over 100 Afghan security personnel, over 70 members of the armed opposition, taxi drivers involved in the transport of wounded people, first-aiders and its own staff.”

 

That prompted plenty of quizzical and some critical comments in the international media and among bloggers – and some grumbling among Afghan officials. But an ICRC spokesman in Geneva said the practice is consistent with its obligation of neutrality and its mandate to provide assistance to all sides in conflict.The ICRC says it provides a three-day course that includes lessons in international humanitarian law, practical work with bandages and other basic medical techniques. It says the course is also a chance to remind all sides about respect for civilians and proper treatment of detainees.

 

Some critics have drawn a distinction between providing medical care to the wounded and training insurgents to do so. But the ICRC says it has provided similar training in Darfur, Sudan and to Hamas members in Gaza. ICRC spokesman Christian Cardon says it has been providing such training in Afghanistan for about four years to the Taliban as well as to Afghan police and civilian first-aiders. He added that the ICRC was not training the Taliban in surgical skills; the focus was on stabilizing those injured.

 

 

[Texsox]

Basically the issue seems to come down to this.

 

They need to stay neutral in providing first aid. I think most everyone agrees you treat all people affected by the war. Things become murkier when they are training the "other side" in first aid skills and other related topics. At what point are their actions too much?

[Balta1701]

If you're providing aid for only 1 side, then the other side might as well shoot you.

[Texsox]

If you're providing aid for only 1 side, then the other side might as well shoot you.

 

 

Correct. But if you are training their side in advanced medical care, are you now abetting? The US, for example, provides the training for the medics, should the Red Cross provide the rtaining for the Taliban medics? I see where a line could be crossed.