The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has trained 20 journalist drowned from four (4) states and the federal capital territory (FCT) on the law of war and the media reportage in conflicts or war zones.
The 3-day extensive training focused on equipping journalist with skills and techniques on war reportage and international humanitarian laws governing it.
The journalist carefully selected from four state namely Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Kano state and the FCT is aimed to strengthening their capacity on does and don’t in the conflict.
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“Journalist NOT accompanying armed forces can be detained for security reasons only, but must be released immediately and unconditionally as so as the security reasons CEASE to exist,” said one of the trainees.
“Detained persons must be treated humanely, and their lives and dignity must be preserved (they are protected in particular against murder and against torture and other cruel, humiliating or degrading treatment), must be provided with suitable food, shelter and medical care, must be allowed to correspond with their families and must be protected from public curiosity,” the trainee added.
During the three day sessions, the journalist were trained on the role of every one in the conflict ranging from the warring parties and their obligations, journalist, military press and how everyone lose protection from international humanitarian laws governing war.
GLOBAL TRACKER interviewed some of the journalist from Yobe, Borno and Adamawa including Ado Saidu Warawa, the station manager of Freedom Radio Kano who described the training as timely expressing commitment to make use of what they have learned in their daily activities.
Meanwhile, In its emergency assistant and sustainable solutions in the 2024, ICRC has donated fortified seeds to 89,982 farmers to improve crop yield, Assisted newly displaced 12,054 people with essential household kits across Yola South, Bama, Biu, Monguno, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi to tend to basic needs, support 10,900 people to accessed clean water supply with the waterboard extension in Monguno among others.
On making healthcare accessible for all injured people in armed conflict, the ICRC has treated 47 injured persons from 2 mass casualties incidents and 43 critical patients were referred to University of Maiduguri teaching hospital for specialist care and paid by the ICRC among many interventions.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. The ICRC also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and
universal humanitarian principles.
Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It directs and coordinates the international activities conducted by the Movement in armed conflicts and other situations of violence.