Dr. Viktoria Schmidheiny: IKRK

Supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross in Lebanon

For 150 years, the International Committee of the Red Cross has been providing neutral and impartial assistance to people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. The ICRC is one of the few actors in the field of humanitarian aid that is truly close to the problems and people. I am delighted that we have been able to take the lead in supporting a new ICRC initiative in Lebanon. Together with the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, the ICRC has set up a special ward for patients with serious war injuries from Syria, Lebanon and neighbouring countries. The project is also significantly improving the hospital’s infrastructure.

We visited Beirut at the beginning of May 2017, and were able to experience at first hand the outstanding commitment of the employees of the ICRC and the Rafik Hariri University Hospital in implementing the project. Please click here to read an ICRC report on this trip here.

Hussein from Yemen was injured in the conflict in Sanaa. The ICRC arranged his transfer to Beirut, where he is receiving treatment in the RHUH. Thanks to the partnership between Avina, the ICRC and the RHUH, the medical specialists have been able to reconstruct Hussein’s injured face. Although he still has a long road to recovery ahead of him, he is looking forward to returning home and being able to kiss his girlfriend.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

A six-year-old girl, who was injured in the Syrian city of Homs, holds on tightly to her mother’s hand while recuperating from an operation in the hospital in Lebanon.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

A visit to the Singer Centre in Sidon, a coastal city to the south of Beirut. The ICRC has been supporting the physical rehabilitation centre for more than 20 years. The Singer Centre treats people irrespective of their nationality, religion or political beliefs.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

At a first-aid centre in the north of Lebanon, ICRC staff examine people with war injuries and refer them to a hospital for further treatment where necessary.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

Briefing at Rafik Hariri University Hospital on the cooperation with the ICRC.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

Tour of the ICRC intensive care ward at Rafik Hariri University Hospital.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

Visiting the emergency departement of Rafik Hariri University Hospital.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

The ICRC’s engineering team explain the technical challenges in the basement of the Rafik Hariri Hospital.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

Visiting a family of Syrian refugees in an underprivileged area of Beirut.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

Visiting a family of Syrian refugees in an underprivileged area of Beirut.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

Talking with a family of Syrian refugees in an underprivileged area of Beirut.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

Visiting an informal camp of Syrian refugees close to the Syrian border in the north of Lebanon.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

Visiting an informal camp of Syrian refugees close to the Syrian border in the north of Lebanon.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

Briefing by the Head of the ICRC Delegation in Lebanon, Fabrizio Carboni.

Credits: Marwan Tahtah

Avina Stiftung

Avina Stiftung today is engaged in one of the core areas of sustainability: sustainably produced, healthy food. I am president of the Board of Trustees.

Maxim Vengerov – endowed professorship

At the Mozarteum University in Salzburg we are supporting the very first endowed professorship. Maxim Vengerov, one of the world's most celebrated violinists, will join this world-famous university from the 2019/2020 winter semester.

Cecilia Bartoli - Music Foundation

The name Cecelia Bartoli stands for the breaking of new ground, for innovation from tradition, and for the revival of forgotten music. It is with enormous pleasure that I made this commitment to the Board of Trustees of the Cecilia Bartoli Music Foundation.

Swiss Sponsorship for Mountain Communities

The organisation Swiss Sponsorship for Mountain Communities supports projects in Alpine areas of Switzerland. The sense of solidarity between highlands and lowlands it fosters never ceases to impress me.