The ICRC has the exclusive humanitarian mission to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. Presently, the ICRC conducts its humanitarian activities in Latin America and the Caribbean from offices in nine different countries that cover the whole region. We have two country delegations, and four regional delegations with three country offices. ICRC country delegations exist in Colombia since 1969 and from 1994 onwards in Haiti. Its regional delegations are located in Mexico for activities in Mexico, Central America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean; in Caracas for Venezuela, Surinam and the English-speaking Caribbean countries; in Lima for endeavors in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador; and in Buenos Aires for efforts in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. In addition to these regional delegations, three offices exist in Guatemala, Port of Spain and Brasilia. Together, in 2008, the budget for the activities of the ICRC in this region is about USD 50 million, and ICRC staff there encompasses 87 expatriate delegates and 407 locally hired members.