During the visit, President Spoljaric will discuss humanitarian challenges with local and national authorities and colleagues from the Mali Red Cross. President Spoljaric, alongside government officials, will also help inaugurate a new maternity hospital.
The president will meet with members of communities and discuss the effects of conflict and climate change. President Spoljaric will also meet with ICRC staff and visit ICRC's assistance and protection programs.
The visit to Mali is President Spoljaric's first trip since assuming the presidency of the ICRC on 1 October. She will be accompanied by the ICRC's regional director for Africa, Patrick Youssef. The president will reiterate the ICRC's longstanding commitment to assist and protect victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence in Mali, while fully respecting the principles of neutrality, impartiality and humanity.
Note to media: President Spoljaric will not be available for interviews. Follow @ICRCPresident on Twitter for updates. Footage and further information will be available following her visit on icrcnewsroom.org.
For more information, please contact:
Tarek Wheibi, ICRC Bamako, +221 78 18 64 687 or twheibi@icrc.org
Christoph Hanger, ICRC Geneva, +41 79 731 04 03 or changer@icrc.org
