Since some years, concern has been expressed on the part of various press associations on the dangers attending reporters who, in order to collect news material in the exercice of their profession, move into territories where hostilities are in progress.

The term “material relief” covers the very considerable aid provided by various Societies to wounded and sick soldiers of the belligerent countries. It included medical supplies and equipment, clothing, blankets and foodstuffs.

In the October, November and December 1970 numbers, International Review published articles on the assistance provided to victims as soon as civil war had broken out in Jordan. An extensive action, undertaken by the Red Cross, became pòssible thanks to the generous aid supplied by many National Societies after the ICRC had launched on 24 September an appeal to their sense of solidarity. The action by the Red Cross co-ordination group in Jordan terminated on 10 December 1970.

Reuniting of families.—The ICRC delegates in the Near East arranged the reuniting of a number of families: two persons on 19 November and a further seven on 25 November joined their families in the occupied territory of the Golan Heights. At El Qantara on the Suez Canal an operation on a larger scale took place on 9 December when 90 Palestinians returned to the occupied territory of Gaza-Sinai and 183 other persons rejoined their families in the United Arab Republic.

During a plenary session on 10 December 1970, the International Committee, after taking note of the resignations of Mr. Martin Bodmer, Mr. Hans Meuli and Mr. Rodolfo Olgiati, appointed them to honorary membership.

Mr. Frédéric Siordet recently celebrated his seventieth birthday. On that occasion the International Committee, of which he is an honorary member, awarded him its Silver Medal as a testimony of profound gratitude. It was presented to him on 9 December 1970 at an informal ceremony attended by his colleagues.

As in past years, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross sent a message, transmitted on radio and television in many countries, in French, English, German, Spanish and Italian:

Civilian populations reduced to famine, women and children buried beneath the ruins of their bombed homes, burnt-out ambulances, prisoners and detainees deprived of communication with their families and subjected to intimidation and torture, statesmen and diplomats kidnapped or assassinated, aircraft hijacked and their passengers held as hostages, unbridled violence and brutal repression; such was the horror of war during the year which is now drawing to a close.

The importance of the ICRC telecommunications service, which has its main station in Geneva, increased in 1970. Before setting out the information bearing witness to this fact, we would briefly recall the origin and development of this service.