Journalists have been challenged to devote attention to reporting the multifaceted humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts, including insurgency, militancy, cult-related violence, among others, and the critical issues affecting their innocent victims through cutting-edge investigative journalism than dwelling on sensational human interest stories.

Visiting Professor of Journalism, American University of Nigeria (AUN), Ibanga Isine, who gave the charge in a lead lecture as a resource person at a two-day training opportunity for journalists organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) in Abuja, recently, said in focusing attention “In reporting of armed conflicts and the plight of victims of extreme violence, you help them regain their lives and dignity, and not condemn them to a confined life of stigmatization and trauma”.

Isine explained that a well-executed investigative report on the plight of victims of armed conflicts and unmitigated violence would expose the behaviour exhibited by the belligerent parties to the conflict, and elicit empathy for the innocent victims.

“Reporting on the humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts and other situations of violence as well as understanding the protection that the victims are entitled to under the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) as well as Refugee Rights Law, can help in reducing the sufferings of majority of innocent victims”, he said.

The resource person noted that the training was vital because it aims at building the capacity of journalists on how best humanitarian, violence and armed conflict reporting can be done without inflicting more injury, scandal and stigmatization on the affected victims, including first aid treatment of affected victims at the scenes of emergency and violence.

“Protection of victims of armed conflicts involves all activities aimed at ensuring full respect for the rights of individuals and people in accordance with the letter and spirit of the relevant laws such as the IHL, and the refuge law,” Isine added.

The professor, who is also an Editor at the Premium Times Newspaper, stressed that “what journalists can do is to create awareness, foster respect for the rights and dignity of victims of armed conflicts, strive to combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices, and avoid portraying victims of armed conflicts in stories as helpless, by painting undignified pictures of gory situations.”

In her remarks, Communications Coordinator, ICRC, Abuja, Aleksandra Matijevic Mosimann said the ICRC has concentrated efforts on providing desperately needed care and support to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) across areas affected by armed conflict and violence in Nigeria, by assisting the IDPs in camps as well as those staying with host communities, while also leveraging on international humanitarian law to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and internal violence.

“We speak with all parties to the conflict striving to make them understand and respect the rights of people affected by armed conflict and violence. We also support the training efforts of arms carriers to increase respect of international humanitarian law or other fundamental rules protecting persons in situations of violence,” Mosimann further stated.

In his presentation, Head, Communications, NRCS, Nwakpa Okorie Nwakpa, said “In responding to the consequences of armed violence, the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) and the ICRC collaborate to provide basic household necessities such as cooking utensils, hygiene items, shelter materials, foods, clothing, beddings and mosquito nets to IDPs, while providing first aid to victims at scenes of conflict or accidents.

He added that vulnerable members of communities affected by armed conflict or violence have also benefited from agricultural implements, seedlings, fertilisers, among others, adding that since 1988, the NRCS and the ICRC have been working to help communities prepare for emergencies.

The Tide learnt that the NRCS has 300 staff in Nigeria and over 800,000 volunteers in offices spread across the country, while ICRC has around 500 staff, including delegates, and operates from nine permanent offices in Abuja, Biu, Jos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Yola, Maiduguri, Mubi and Damaturu and two temporary offices in Monguno and Damboa.

Some 24 journalists drawn from the North, Middle Belt and South participated in the two-day training programme held November 22-23, 2016.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana