Shadu, age 3, has lost his mother, DR Congo (image: ICRC June 2009, P Yazdi)

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – More than half of the civilians directly touched by the world’s eight major conflicts have been displaced, and half say they have lost contact with a family member. One in five have lost their livelihood.

These are some of the findings of a statistical and interview set of surveys ordered by the International Red Cross (ICRC), based in Geneva, to ascertain the extent to which civilians today are affected by major conflicts.

The greatest fears mentioned by people surveyed:

• losing a loved one mentioned by 38% of respondents on average;
• economic hardship (31%);
• displacement / becoming a refugee (24%).

Other fears include physical injury (15%), sexual violence (13%), and living with daily uncertainty (25%).

The first part of the report, Our world, views from the field, is published 23 June as one of the commemorative activities of the ICRC to mark 150 years since the Battle of Solferino, 24 June 1859.

A woman sees Shadu on a town notice board and says he is her son (image ICRC, P Yazdi June 2009)

The battle sparked the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The ICRC is also using the reports to draw attention to the 60th anniversary of the signing of the four Geneva Conventions that serve as the basis for international humanitarian law.

The survey looks at eight countries with major conflict areas, what the ICRC refers to as today’s equivalent of Solferino: Afghanistan, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia and the Philippines. A broadly representative sample of the adult general public was interviewed, either in person or by telephone, in each country, the report summary notes.

When asked what their greatest needs are in times of conflict people surveyed named four basic needs:

• food, 66% of respondents across the eight countries and by 90% in Liberi
• security/protection (48% overall, and 66% in Haiti)
• medical treatment/healthcare (43% and 69% respectively in Liberia)
• shelter (40% overall, and 58% in Liberia).

The importance of family members remaining together is also emphasized by 18% of all respondents and by 35% in the Philippines, the report indicates.

And if help does not arrive, people surveyed often cite corruption (59%), social status / discrimination (37%) and the blackmarket (33%) as reasons. Other factors include inaccessible locations (38%), and various fears, such as facing rejection by the community (13%).

For the rest of the story of Shadu: ICRC photo gallery

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