Section 22p. 22

PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW COMPENDIUM VOLUME II

Art

25.

Prisoners

of

war

shall

be

quartered

under

conditions as favourable as those for the forces of the

Detaining Power who are billeted in the same area. The

said conditions shall make allowance for the habits and

customs

of

the

prisoners

and

shall

in no case be

prejudicial to their health.

The foregoing provisions shall apply in particular to the

dormitories of prisoners of war as regards both total

surface and minimum cubic space, and the general

installations, bedding and blankets.

The premises provided for the use of prisoners of war

individually or collectively, shall be entirely protected

from dampness and adequately heated and lighted, in

particular between dusk and lights out. All precautions

must be taken against the danger of fire.

In any camps in which women prisoners of war, as well as

men, are accommodated, separate dormitories shall be

provided for them.

Art 26. The basic daily food rations shall be sufficient in

quantity, quality and variety to keep prisoners of war in

good

health

and

to

prevent

loss of weight or the

development of nutritional deficiencies. Account shall

also be taken of the habitual diet of the prisoners.

The Detaining Power shall supply prisoners of war who

work with such additional rations as are necessary for the

labour on which they are employed.

Sufficient drinking water shall be supplied to prisoners of

war. The use of tobacco shall be permitted.

Prisoners of war shall, as far as possible, be associated

with

the

preparation

of

their

meals;

they

may

be

employed for that purpose in the kitchens. Furthermore,

they shall be given the means of preparing, themselves,

the additional food in their possession.

Adequate premises shall be provided for messing.

Collective

disciplinary

measures

affecting

food

are

prohibited.

Art

27.

Clothing,

underwear

and

footwear

shall

be

supplied to prisoners of war in sufficient quantities by the

Detaining Power, which shall make allowance for the

climate of the region where the prisoners are detained.

Uniforms

of

enemy

armed

forces

captured

by

the

Detaining Power should, if suitable for the climate, be

made available to clothe prisoners of war.

The regular replacement and repair of the above articles

shall be assured by the Detaining Power. In addition,

prisoners of war who work shall receive appropriate

clothing, wherever the nature of the work demands.

Art 28. Canteens shall be installed in all camps, where

prisoners

of

war

may

procure

foodstuffs,

soap

and

tobacco and ordinary articles in daily use. The tariff shall

never be in excess of local market prices.

The profits made by camp canteens shall be used for the

benefit of the prisoners; a special fund shall be created for

this purpose. The prisoners' representative shall have the

right to collaborate in the management of the canteen

and of this fund.

When a camp is closed down, the credit balance of the

special fund shall be handed to an international welfare

organization, to be employed for the benefit of prisoners

of

war of the same nationality as those who have

contributed to the fund. In case of a general repatriation,

such profits shall be kept by the Detaining Power, subject

to any agreement to the contrary between the Powers

concerned.

Chapter III. Hygiene and Medical Attention

Art 29. The Detaining Power shall be bound to take all

sanitary measures necessary to ensure the cleanliness

and healthfulness of camps and to prevent epidemics.

Prisoners of war shall have for their use, day and night,

conveniences which conform to the rules of hygiene and

are maintained in a constant state of cleanliness. In any

camps

in

which

women

prisoners

of

war

are

accommodated, separate conveniences shall be provided

for them.

Also, apart from the baths and showers with which the

camps

shall be furnished prisoners of war shall be

provided with sufficient water and soap for their personal

toilet

and

for

washing

their

personal

laundry;

the

necessary installations, facilities and time shall be granted

them for that purpose.

Art 30. Every camp shall have an adequate infirmary

where prisoners of war may have the attention they

require, as well as appropriate diet. Isolation wards shall, if

necessary, be set aside for cases of contagious or mental

disease.

Prisoners of war suffering from serious disease, or whose

condition

necessitates

special

treatment,

a

surgical

operation or hospital care, must be admitted to any

military or civilian medical unit where such treatment can

be given, even if their repatriation is contemplated in the

near future. Special facilities shall be afforded for the care

to be given to the disabled, in particular to the blind, and

for their. rehabilitation, pending repatriation.

Prisoners of war shall have the attention, preferably, of

medical personnel of the Power on which they depend

and, if possible, of their nationality.

Prisoners of war may not be prevented from presenting

themselves to the medical authorities for examination.

The detaining authorities shall, upon request, issue to

every prisoner who has undergone treatment, an official

certificate indicating the nature of his illness or injury,

and the duration and kind of treatment received. A

duplicate of this certificate shall be forwarded to the

Central Prisoners of War Agency.

The costs of treatment, including those of any apparatus

necessary for the maintenance of prisoners of war in

good health, particularly dentures and other artificial

appliances,

and

spectacles,

shall

be

borne

by

the

Detaining Power.

Art 31. Medical inspections of prisoners of war shall be

held at least once a month. They shall include the

checking

and

the recording of the weight of each

prisoner of war.

Their purpose shall be, in particular, to supervise the

general

state

of health, nutrition and cleanliness of

prisoners and to detect contagious diseases, especially

tuberculosis,

malaria

and

venereal

disease.

For

this

purpose the most efficient methods available shall be

employed, e.g. periodic mass miniature radiography for

the early detection of tuberculosis.

Art 32. Prisoners of war who, though not attached to the

medical service of their armed forces, are physicians,

surgeons, dentists, nurses or medical orderlies, may be

required by the Detaining Power to exercise their medical

functions in the interests of prisoners of war dependent

on the same Power. In that case they shall continue to be

prisoners of war, but shall receive the same treatment as

corresponding

medical

personnel

retained

by

the

Detaining Power. They shall be exempted from any other

work under Article 49.

Chapter IV. Medical Personnel and Chaplains Retained to

Assist Prisoners of War

Art 33. Members of the medical personnel and chaplains

while retained by the Detaining Power with a view to

assisting prisoners of war, shall not be considered as

prisoners

of

war.

They

shall,

however,

receive

as

a

minimum the benefits and protection of the present

Convention,

and

shall

also

be

granted

all

facilities

© Compiled by RGL

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