A hundred years ago, there was no international agreement concerning the treatment of war casualties; each country made its own arrangements and very inadequate these were.
In 1854, however, Florence Nightingale took a band of nurses to care for the wounded in the Crimean war. Her action interested a Swiss, Hernri Dunant, who later gained first hand experience after the battle of Solferino in 1859. He saw thousands of wounded soldiers unattended and helpless and their terrible suftering impressed him profoundly. He returned to Switzerland determined to rouse public opinion and began by securing the support of four personal friends. They drew up a scheme and in 1863 invited representatives of sixteen European states (including Great Britain) to Geneva to discuss it. In 1864, the Swiss government convened a diplomatic conference of the sixteen states concerned and on 22nd August, the Geneva Convention was signed. Its primary objective as to establish the principle that it is the duty of belligerents to collect and care for the sick and wounded, irrespective of nationality, and these casualties, the ambulances and hospitals in which they arc placed, and the doctors, nurses and staff attending them are always to be regarded as neutral. As a compliment to Switzerland, its flag, a white cross on a red ground, was reversed, and the Red cross on a white ground became the symbol of neutrality. Dunant’s committee of five became what has since been known as the International Committee of the Red Cross. This consists of Swiss citizens, and its functions are to maintain Red Cross principles and act as a medium between governments in the relief of war sufferers. (From British Red Cross Pamphlet) Questions
(a) What first led to Henry Dunant’s interest in war casualties? (2 Mks)
………………………………….. (b) He later gained “……... first hand experience.” Explain the meaning of the underlined phrase according to the passage. (2 Mks) ………………... (e) (i) Discuss the steps Henry Dunant followed in his determinations to rouse public opinion in Switzerland. (3 Mks) ………………………... (ii) Give evidence to show that he succeeded. (2 Mks) …………………... (d) State one major difference between the conference called by Dunant and that called by the Swiss government. (2 Mks) …………………………. (f) Give two reasons to show that Switzerland deserved to be complimented for the existence of the international Red Cross Society. (4 Mks) ………………………... (g) Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage. (3 marks)
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