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Georges Olivet (19 August 1927 – 13 December 1961) was a Swiss delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Early life

He was born in Nyon and grew up in Jussy.

Career

After high school, he did an apprenticeship as an electrician and mechanic before doing further training in business. In the early 1950s, Olivet moved to the Belgian Congo working in textile imports.

Georges contacted the ICRC delegate in Léopoldville to offer his services. Following a short trip back to Switzerland, Georges assumed his duties as a delegate in late October, 1960. During the Congo Crisis Olivet provided humanitarian support in his role as an ICRC delegate within the secessionist State of Katanga.

The UN Representative in Katanga George Ivan Smith reported to the UN that Olivet "confirmed" to him that "Katanga military and mercenaries are making use of the Red Cross symbol to protect their military operations against the United Nations."

Death

Olivet and two volunteers, Nicole Vroonen and Styts Smeding, were shot and killed while operating their ambulance during Operation Unokat on 13 December 1961. The results of a joint UN-International Red Cross investigation of the incident and the identity of their killers were not made public, but the UN paid a settlement to Olivet's family and Belgian news reports held an Ethiopian peacekeeper responsible.

Burial and recognition

He was buried on 24 December. His body was repatriated to the Netherlands in April 1962 and cremated before being buried in Jussy.

Olivet was posthumously awarded the Medal of Belgian Gratitude.

References

1. ^ "We remember Georges Olivet". International Committee of the Red Cross. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
2. Tanner, Henry (10 December 1961). "Offensive by U.N. Set". The New York Times. p. 3.
3. "After the death of Georges Olivet: Delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross" (PDF). International Review of the Red Cross (10). Cambridge University Press: 21–28. January 1962. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
4. "Following the death of Georges Olivet: Delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross" (PDF). International Review of the Red Cross (11). Cambridge University Press: 84–88. March 1962. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
5. "In Memory of Georges Olivet" (PDF). International Review of the Red Cross (101). Cambridge University Press: 429, 430. August 1969. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
6. Sohier, J. (1977). "Olivet (Georges)" (PDF). Biographie Belge d'Outre-Mer (in French). Académie Royale des Sciences d'Outre-Mer. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
7. "CONGO REPUBLIC: ELISABETHVILLE: FUNERAL OF FORMER RED CROSS CHIEF IN KATANGA". Reuters. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
8. "News Items" (PDF). International Review of the Red Cross (14). Cambridge University Press: 269. May 1962. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
9. "News Items" (PDF). International Review of the Red Cross (15). Cambridge University Press: 315. June 1962. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.

• 1927 births
• 1961 deaths
• People associated with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement