Peter Altwegg was born on 19 September 1963 in eastern Switzerland. He attended middle school in Wil and high school in St Gallen, obtaining his school-leaving certificate in autumn 1982. He went on to study law at the University of St Gallen, where he gained his master’s degree in 1987. As a student, he took on various part-time jobs: he worked at the post office, as a handball coach, as a night watchman and as a vocational training teacher in Wil. After graduating from university, he did an internship at the examining magistrate’s office in Wil district.
As a person, Peter was both quiet and very sociable. In his childhood, he loved roaming the woods with his three siblings and his friends. But he would also happily sit and read a book or bake a cake. As he grew up, he spent more time doing sports: he played handball, football and squash and enjoyed skiing in winter.
Helpful and open by nature, Peter won many people’s hearts. In his own quiet way, he nurtured the many friendships he formed at school, university and work or through sport.
He also had a great thirst for knowledge. An avid reader, he followed current affairs keenly and stood out for his clear analytical thinking. He loved finding out about other countries and travelled widely throughout Europe and to the United States and South-East Asia.
Peter was not a big talker. He thought quietly about what he wanted to do in life. In June 1988, he applied to join the ICRC, where he would be able to combine his interest in foreign cultures and politics with his strong sense of justice and humanity. His goal was clear. As he himself wrote, he wanted to work as a delegate abroad and help people in need.
After completing his basic training in November and a short stint at ICRC headquarters in Geneva, Peter was sent on his first assignment to Lokichokio in Kenya. In the following six months (December 1988 to June 1989), he became head of the ICRC office in Akon in southern Sudan. During this first challenge, Peter’s capacities came to the fore: he was well organised and adept at identifying and solving problems. His ease with people lent him a natural authority, while his composure helped him in the many – often tricky – situations he faced in the field.
Peter’s second assignment took him to Mozambique, where he gained experience in a broad range of ICRC activities. He first worked as a field delegate in Beira, before visiting prisons from Maputo. Peter was much liked among his colleagues. But his time in Mozambique was cut short as the ICRC asked him to go to Somalia, a country racked by a complex and dangerous conflict.
There Peter was based at the ICRC’s sub-delegation in the port city of Berbera in the north of the country. He did an excellent job as a delegate and field coordinator. Unassuming, motivated, constructive and open-minded, he was soon appointed deputy head of the sub-delegation.
Nearly seven months later, on 6 October 1990, Peter was travelling with an ICRC colleague and two Somali Red Crescent Society staff – after assessing humanitarian needs in the conflict zone of Daraweyne – when their vehicle broke down some 30 km from Hargeisa. They had to abandon the vehicle and continue on foot. On the way, they were picked up by a lorry, which was soon ambushed and fired on by rebels, who were unaware that humanitarian workers were on board. Peter was shot and later died of his wounds in Hargeisa. He was 27 years old. One of his companions managed to escape, while the other two were held captive for a short time by the rebel group.
During his two tumultuous years at the ICRC, and in sometimes precarious conditions, Peter’s best qualities came to light. Calm and determined, he was a reliable colleague who coped well under pressure. Ultimately, he did what he set out to do: he put himself at the service of people in need. Shortly before his untimely death, he wrote to his family that he felt committed to his work and had therefore decided to extend his time at the ICRC a little longer.
Peter Altwegg was posthumously awarded the Henry Dunant Medal in 1991.
