ICRC delegation in Kabul. Mohammed Khan (not his real name) speaking by video teleconference to his son, who has been held in the United States detention facility at Bagram for the last eight months.

In January 2008, the ICRC and US authorities launched a unique new video teleconferencing facility that has enabled detainees at Bagram to communicate with their families for the first time since their arrest.

“My son has been in detention for eight months,” explains Mohammed tearfully. “In that time I’ve been able to speak with him three times using the video phone. I always ask him if he’s being treated well, and because I can see him on the screen, I can see that he’s in good health.”