On 18 October 1983, the United Nations Council for Namibia deposited with the Swiss Government an instrument of accession to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and to the two Additional Protocols adopted on 8 June 1977.

The Vice-President of the Republic of India and President of the Indian Red Cross Society, Mr. Hidayatullah, visited on 25 February the League of Red Cross Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva.

On 15 February 1983 the United Republic of Tanzania deposited with the Swiss Government its instruments of accession to Protocols I and II additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, relating to the protection of victims of international and non-international armed conflicts and adopted in Geneva on 8 June 1977.

In its Circular No. 523 of 25 August 1982, the International Committee of the Red Cross had invited the Central Committees of National Societies to send in the names of nurses and voluntary aids who are active members or regular helpers of a National Society or of an affiliated medical or nursing institution, whom they judged qualified to receive the Florence Nightingale Medal.

A repatriation of prisoners and mortal remains took place on 16 November, via Lusaka (Zambia), under ICRC auspices. It was the result of more than a year of negotiations conducted by the ICRC with the seven interested parties: South Africa, Angola, USSR, Cuba, United States, UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) and Zambia, the country chosen for the operation to take place.

The Paul Reuter Fund (hereinafter referred to as the Fund) has been established. The initial capital of the Fund derives from the donation in the amount of two hundred thousand Swiss francs made by Professor Paul Reuter to the ICRC. This capital may be augmented by gifts or bequests.

On 7 March 1983 the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe deposited with the Swiss Government its instrument of accession to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of war.

Mr. Jean-Marc Bornet, ICRC delegate-general for Africa, was in Mozambique from 12 to 14 September where he had discussions with the authorities concerning the activities of the ICRC in the country. In particular, he met representatives from the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs, as well as the President and the Secretary-General of the “Mozambique Red Cross”.

The President of the ICRC, Mr. Alexandra Hay, accompanied by the ICRC delegate general for Africa, Mr. Jean-Marc Bornet, went on a mission to Angola from 6 to 10 April and met representatives of the Angolan Government, in particular the Ministers of External Relations, Health, Defence, State Security and Provincial Coordination. Apart from the progressive resumption of ICRC humanitarian action on the central Angolan plateau (Planalto) since the end of January and a survey of its activities throughout the world, the President of the ICRC discussed more specific subjects, such as the carrying off by UNITA of foreign collaborators at Alto Catumbela (Benguela province) on 12 March. The delegate general for Africa only returned to Geneva on 14 April after discussing the future of ICRC assistance action on the Planalto with the ICRC delegation.

On 9 March 1983, the United Arab Emirates deposited with the Swiss Government two instruments of accession to Protocols I and II additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the protection of victims of international and non-international armed conflicts, adopted in Geneva on 8 June 1977.