The Nation Newspaper

Tag: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC

  • ICRC trains Journalists on humanitarian reporting, first aid

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) held three-day media workshop and first aid for Journalists in Lagos recently.

    At the training, Journalists were among other things taught on International Humanitarian Law (IHL), humanitarian reporting and first aid training which included how to manage themselves and others injured causalities at sites in the course of their duty or elsewhere.

    The ICRC Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Dawobe, said objective of the training is to relate with Journalists and to remind them much more on humanitarian reporting angles so that they would be able to report in a way that considers the humanitarian angle of the news.

    “Also considering the fact that the media works in violence affected areas, we have trained them to be more prepared on how to provide first aid for themselves and people around them when something happens that has to do with blast or building collapse, so that they will be able to manage themselves and help communities close to them in terms of first aid.

    “For Journalists that reports conflicts or violence, they are bound to have issues and may come across people who are injured and they may be injured themselves, we have trained them to be able to help themselves and those around them in terms of first aid.

    “We have also trained them on humanitarian reporting, having realised that most of the times when reporting is done, focus is much more on the casualties, but we forget to think about people behind the scene, the people that are affected by the conflict.

    “The media usually concentrate on the dead and the injured but we want them to also focus on the living who are passing through a lot of trauma and difficult period. We should be interested in knowing how they are coping with the loss of lives, and homes and how they are going to survive in terms of food. We are not teaching Journalists their job but we urge them to explore other angles to help people that are affected. This will also help institution, non-governmental organisations and other citizens to be of help to those alive from disaster happenings,” he added.

    Head of Communication and Advocacy, The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Nwakpa Nwakpa, said the training was necessary because the Media defines the way people see things happens, hence the need to train them beyond reporting what happened to reporting the humanitarian need arising from what has happened.

    Read Also: ICRC confirms death of abducted midwife

    “We are doing this to partner with the media to bring out the humanitarian need of those affected by any form of disaster, be it flood, building collapse or accident. We also realised that Journalists are also sometimes at the danger and they do not know what to do. With this training, if the Journalists see casualties in the course of their duty, they can render first aid beyond the reporting.”

    He added that the humanitarian part of the news should be the most important part of news reporting, nothing that when this is not done, lives that should have been saved would be wasted because no one will be able to help them.

    “Journalists should bring out the needs after every disaster, including what has been lost, what is needed, what they are going through. Bringing out these needs will move sympathetic people to come to their aid immediately. By this Journalists will not only report but will also help solve the problem of these people.

    “We expect that this training would enable Journalists to bring succour to people through their reporting,” he said.

    On his part, First Aid and Prehosp Care Field Officer, ICRC, Daniel EDOBOR, said the participants were trained on several aspects of first aid, including recovery position, difficult breathing, unconsciousness and full body examination.

    “They were also taught first aid on bleeding, burns, broken bones, fracture and causality transportation among others,” he said.

     

  • ICRC confirms death of abducted midwife

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Tuesday confirmed that an abducted health worker in Nigeria has been murdered by her captors.

    The ICRC named the worker as Hauwa Mohammed Liman, a 24-year-old midwife.

    Read Also:U.S condemns murder of ICRC Midwife

    The Nigerian Government had on Monday said that a medical aid worker held hostage since March was killed by Boko Haram insurgents after their deadline expired.

    “The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) received information indicating that Hauwa Mohammed Liman has been killed by her captors in a despicable act of cruelty,” the Geneva-based aid agency said in a statement.

    It noted that Liman was the second health worker killed by the captors in a month.

    NAN

    APOLOGY:  We apologise to Hauwa Lima, founder of Afriqabaya and Mandela Washington Fellow, whose picture was earlier used for this story.

  • Boko Haram: ANRP expresses ‘deep sadness’ over murder of Saifaura

    Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party ( ANRP ) has expressed `deep sadness’ over the murder of Saifura Hussaini Ahmed, a midwife and humanitarian worker with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Borno by Boko Haram.

    Mr Sesugh Akume, the National Publicity Secretary, ANRP, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja expressed deep condolences to the family and loved ones of Saifura, and wished them the strength to bear the loss.

    The late Saifura Hussaini was abducted by the terrorists on March 1, alongside two other colleagues, Alice Loksha Nggadah of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Hauwa Muhammad Liman, also of ICRC.

    Akume said that images of Saifura Hussaini had early been released by the terrorists before and after she was gruesomely shot in the head.

    He said that messages warning that the same fate would befall the other two abductees in the next one month if nothing was done were also released.

    It would be recalled that the three aid workers had released messages, one handwritten note, and the other a voice message pleading to their employers, their families, and President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure their rescue.

    “We were there for the vulnerable but now we are vulnerable,” they had cried out.

    Akume expressed disappointment at the manner in which the international aid agencies, ICRC and UNICEF had handled the unfortunate incident.

    Read Also: Army tightens noose on Boko Haram terrorists, says Buratai

    “This was rather handled in a lackadaisical manner leading to the murder of one of the abductees,’’ he said.

    He lamented that such agencies had a dichotomy between ‘expatriate’ and ‘local’ staff, noting that the three compatriots were deemed local staff and therefore treated as such.

    Akume expressed doubts that the treatment the three compatriots received would not have been accorded them if they staff from other countries.

    He insisted that all lives mattered equally and must be accorded same dignity and importance.

    He expressed disappointment at the manner the Federal Government had attended to the matter, noting that there was no communication on the murder of its citizen and the fate of those in captivity.

    “The president has not only been silent but has been occupied with political activities in the light of this gruesome murder of its citizen.

    “This insensitivity of our collective conscience and consciousness, as well as trivialising the lives of Nigerians stand vehemently condemned.

    “We appeal to Mr President to come to the aid and rescue of the life of Nigerians,’’ he said.

    He said that the threat to murder Sufaira’s colleagues and other dear compatriots in captivity should not be allowed to happen and urged that all necessary measures to ensure their safe release should be adopted.

  • France repatriates three children of suspected jihadists from Iraq

    France repatriates three children of suspected jihadists from Iraq

    Three French-born children belonging to suspected Islamic State ( IS ) militants and who were being held by Iraq authorities have been flown back to Paris, France Capital, a foreign ministry official said on Thursday.

    The International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC ) said it was the first such repatriation of French children from Iraq.

    It has suffered a series of deadly militant attacks over the past three years and is grappling with the threat of homegrown militancy as well as the risks posed by IS fighters slipping back across French borders.

    “Their return was organised in coordination with the authorities in Iraq,” a foreign ministry spokesman told Reuters.

    French media reported that the family had left France for Iraq in 2015.

    “The father was killed during the battle for Mosul and Iraqi forces later detained the mother and her four children in July.

    “She and her youngest child remain in detention in Iraq,’’ Vincent Brengarth said, the lawyer acting on her behalf.

    Her three older children, aged between three and eight years, were now in foster care after arriving back on December 18.

    Reuters revealed in September that Iraqi authorities were holding about 1,400 foreign wives and children of suspected IS combatants at a single camp after government forces routed the jihadist group from Mosul, its last major urban redoubt in Iraq.

    However, it was not clear if the three children had been among the same group.

    French officials have indicated a preference for their citizens held in Iraq and found to be affiliated to IS to be prosecuted there, although in mid-November President Emmanuel Macron said the fate of women and children should be examined on a case-by-case basis.

    The head of France’s domestic spy agency last month said some 700 men and women either of French nationality or who had resided in France, as well as 500 children, were in Iraq and Syria or linked to the militants.

    Meanwhile several hundred others have already slipped back into France.

    (Reuters/NAN)

  • ICRC lauds police over action on gunshot victims

    ICRC lauds police over action on gunshot victims

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Wednesday lauded the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for ensuring victims of gun shots are offered treatments in health facilities across the country.

    The committee said there has been misconceptions on the constitutional provision, which until recently has led to casualties.

    ICRC Health Care in Danger Focal Person, Felix Onwudegu, during a training in Abuja explained that the advocacy has fortunately scaled through the National Assembly but yet to get the President’s approval.

    He said management of hospitals are gradually changing their perceptions and accepting the new development due to more awareness creation.

    “The police IGP made a declarative statement on this in Lagos sometime last year. Police are disseminating information along their information channels to sensitise their officers so that victims with gun wounds would be treated and later reported to the police station,” Onwudegu added.

    Section 4 (2) of the Robbery and Firearm, Special Provisions Act 1984 says, “It shall be the duty of any person, hospital or clinic that admits, treats or administers any drug to any person suspected of having bullet wounds to immediately report the matter to the police.”

    However in a public notice, circular issued by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, last year October, he stated that, “The NPF must not prevent prompt access to, or delivery of health care for accident victims or gunshot wounded patients.”

    “The accident victims or gunshot wounded patients do not require police clearance to receive medical treatment. However, it should be reported to the Police,” he added.

    He appealed to the media to further increase the awareness and support the advocacy.

    Speaking on protection of health facilities, Onwudegu said health workers have right to seek protection from the security operatives.

    He emphasised need for media involvement in reporting humanitarian issues, especially as it relates to attack on children, women and vulnerable members of the society.

  • Adamawa: 105,000 patients benefit from ICRC project

    Adamawa: 105,000 patients benefit from ICRC project

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says 105,000 patients have benefitted from its Algorithm for Management of Childhood (ALMANACH) illness project in Adamawa.

    The Head of Office of the ICRC in Adamawa, Mr Jean Ndizhue, made this known on Wednesday in Mubi while briefing Gov. Muhammadu Bindow who was at Mubi General Hospital.

    Ndizhue said the project, which was the first in Africa, is enhancing diagnosis of children illness.

    “In partnership with Adamawa Health Care Agency, the ICRC runs a project (ALMANACH) which aims to enhance the diagnosis of children (2 months to 3 years of age) illness.

    “The diagnosis is assisted with tablets that help the health professionals to easily and quickly identify the illness and treat them.

    “Currently, this project is implemented in 12 health facilities with possibility of incorporating more.

    “The ICRC provides regular support to the project with drugs, staff salary, and technical help. More than 105,000 patients have benefitted from the services. This project is the first in Africa,” Ndizhwe said.

    According to him, the ICRC health programme in Adamawa is concentrating mainly in supporting Primary Health Care Services to provide better service to the people affected by conflicts and violence, including IDPs, returnees and hosts communities.

    Ndizhwe also said that the ICRC in partnership with Mubi General Hospital runs a coordinating unit that receives patients that were referred from primary health care services.

    He said that the ICRC settles expenses of referred patients, drugs and salary of two staff of the coordination unit.

    He said the ICRC also drilled a borehole for the hospital as well as provided two water tanks.

    “Full renovation of waiting room has been completed with consulting rooms and toilets. Besides, the waiting room has been fully furnished with 174 chairs and seats for patients,’’ he said.

    Also briefing the governor, the Adamawa Field Coordinator of International Rescue Committee (IRC), Mr Armand Serge, said the committee is supporting the hospital in psycho-social consoling of patients and nutrition, among others.

    Bindow, who also received donation of some hospital equipment presented by MTN Foundation for Mubi and Ganye General Hospitals during the visit, lauded the various organisations for their support to the state, particularly areas affected by insurgency.

    Bindow said his administration has declared a state of emergency on health and was ever ready to partner with such stakeholders in transforming the health sector.

  • ICRC trains Surgeons, trauma nurses on weapon injury treatment skills

    ICRC trains Surgeons, trauma nurses on weapon injury treatment skills

    Not fewer than 50 doctors and other health care workers including trauma nurses are undergoing a surgical training on special skills for the treatment and care of people wounded during conflicts or weapon wounded patients.

    The three-day seminar is packaged  by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in collaboration with the Nigeria’s Ministry of Health has already commenced in Abuja.

    The participants for the training cut across surgeons, trauma nurses, medical officers and psychotherapists and are expected to  learn how to manage weapon-wounded patients with limited resources.

    The scope of the training will include surgery, wound care, coping with a massive influx of weapon-wounded casualties, and the rights and obligations of medical personnel under international humanitarian law.

    The ICRC’s Deputy Head of Delegation in Nigeria Myriam el Kholi while addressing the participants lamented the negative impact of the Boko Haram crisis on the health system in Nigeria.

    “Eight years of armed conflict have drained the health system in north-east Nigeria of resources. Many health facilities have closed, doctors and nurses have fled for safety and the remaining ones often find themselves treating patients injured by bomb blasts or weapons with limited resources. We are collaborating with the Nigerian Ministry of Health to equip them with the necessary skills to deal with such situations,” Myriam El Kholi said.

    Investigation revealed that since 2012, when the ICRC and the Ministry of Health started this training, over 430 Nigerian medical practitioners have attended the surgical seminar.

    Gabriel Mufuta Kankolongo, the ICRC’s health coordinator in Nigeria informed that, “The ICRC currently has two surgical teams working out of the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri to further support the Nigerian medical system.  Since the beginning of the year, they have operated on close to 290 weapon-wounded patients”.

    He added that  ICRC supports 23 state primary health care centres and three mobile clinics serving the displaced, returnees and residents in north-east Nigeria, stressing that  “Between January and June, almost 246,000 patients attended these clinics, which saw the delivery of over 11,000 babies. Additionally, about 6,340 children under age 5 suffering from severe acute malnutrition received treatment in the same period”.

    In another development, nearly 70 Nigerian teachers of  International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in institutions of higher education completed  a three-day workshop organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

    The annual workshop provides a platform for Nigerian lecturers in International Humanitarian Law to discuss challenges in implementing IHL

    “This workshop is unique to Nigeria and is the oldest workshop on IHL in West Africa. It provides an opportunity for Nigerian academics from different states to discuss the application of IHL to current events, such as the protection of health care and the displaced,” said Marie-Louse Tougas, ICRC’s Regional Legal Adviser in West Africa.

    Deputy Head of the ICRC delegation in Nigeria Jean-François Queginer said; “We were very happy to see such an active participation of Nigerian scholars over the last three days.  We hope that the workshop will contribute to better knowledge of international humanitarian law and international human rights law throughout Nigeria.”

    The Nation gathers that ICRC supports the study of IHL at 26 Nigerian institutions of higher education

     

  • World Red Cross day

    World Red Cross day

    I sat on a sofa in my living room trying to put words together for my article on world Red Cross day but my very busy mind kept failing me. I eventually found consolation by chewing on my pen, lost in thoughts that were unrelated to the subject matter before me.

    A few moments after, i heard the news about a family of five who were involved in a fatal accident; they would have all died if not for the timely intervention of the Red Cross. Hearing this alone was enough impetus for me to put pen to paper.

    World Red Cross and Red Crescent day is an annual celebration of the principles of the international Red Cross movement. It is celebrated on May 8 each year which is a date that tallies with the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant (born May 8, 1828), the founder of the international committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the recipient of the first Nobel peace prize. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Less Known Red Cross Stories”.

    According to history, it is believed that the idea for an annual action that could take hold in the whole world and would be a major contribution to peace was introduced just after the world war 1 and evolved out of the “Red Cross truce”, an initiative that was studied by an international commission established at the 14th international conference in Tokyo in 1934. Two years later, the proposal was adopted and the Red Cross day was celebrated on May 8, 1948. The official title of the day has changed overtime and it became “world Red Cross and Red Crescent day” in 1984.

    It is a day celebrated to alleviate people’s suffering, enhance their dignity, protect their lives from emergencies and other natural disasters including epidemic diseases, flood and earthquakes. It is celebrated by all sections of the Red Cross organizations to help people by keeping at heart all its fundamental principles which are humanity, independence, impartiality, neutrality, universality, voluntary and unity.

    However, Winston Churchill once said that “we make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give”. So, let’s set it aside, any thoughts that only Red Cross can save lives because it is also in our capability to do so if we will. Therefore, let that change of heart begin with you.

    In conclusion, Red Cross is of the belief that the purpose of life is not to be happy at times but to be useful, honourable, compassionate and to make some difference to show that you have lived and lived well; like a saying goes, ‘we all have two hands; one is to help yourself and the other is to help others’. So, wouldn’t you agree with me that these life-savers should really be celebrated?

  • Red Cross doctors treat blast victims

    Red Cross doctors treat blast victims

    Surgical teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have treated 90 people wounded  in the Maiduguri and Madagali bomb blasts.

    Dr Hashemi Padshah, ICRC Health Coordinator in Nigeria, made the disclosure in a statement made available to journalists, on Tuesday in Yola.

    “An ICRC surgical team, together with surgeons from Michika General Hospital, treated 76 victims of the blast in Madagali market.

    “Another ICRC surgical team treated 15 people injured in Maiduguri on Sunday morning,” he said.

    Padshah said that the Red Cross currently has two surgical teams in the country which had so far treated over 1,800 patients in the north-east within the year.

    He said that the ICRC was assisting 16 primary health-care centres and nine mobile clinics by providing them with primary health care services for internally displaced persons, returnees and other residents in the north-east

    He said that 436,000 patients had so far been attended to.

    The coordinator said that within the year, 13,000 children under five suffering from malnutrition were treated while 15,500 babies were delivered in ICRC-supported clinics.

  • How ICRC response impacted humanitarian needs of IDPs

    How ICRC response impacted humanitarian needs of IDPs

    While the armed violence in North Eastern Nigeria has affected millions of people, an estimated population of 2.1 million people are said to have been internally displaced with about 1.8million host population. This has also affected the Middle Belt which has suffered communal clashes just as the Niger Delta violence.

    The humanitarian Needs of these population has continue to double especially in the north east where some of the communities were completely taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents and were cut off from Medicare and food, resulting to acute malnutrition both in adult and children.

    While the situation continues to degenerate to an abysmal level ranging from lack of food leading to hunger, starvation and malnutrition both in adult and children; lack of Medicare services resulting to diseases and deaths among the displaced people, several humanitarian actors have engaged in interventions that would improve at least the living condition and health of the IDPs. One organization that has significantly scaled up its humanitarian response in the North east is the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

    In 2016, the ICRC increased its humanitarian response for people in dire need in the North East of Nigeria and some other parts of the country where communal clashes and urban conflicts were visible. Of particular mention is the support and provision of food, shelter and essential household items. One other area of intervention carried out by the ICRC is increased access to clean water and medical care. It also strived to facilitate the restoration of missing or broken family ties caused as a result of the crisis in the region.

    In Borno state for instance, ICRC together with the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) gained access to very difficult areas like Sabon Gari, Damboa, DIKwa, Monguno, Gamboru-Ngala etc where they assisted residents and IDPs with food, Medicare and shelter where necessary.

    An investigation into the activities of the ICRC in the North East by our correspondent revealed that the organization is ranked very high amongst IDPs and many host communities of Borno and Yobe State apparently due to their effective humanitarian intervention during the Boko Haram crisis.

    Restoration of missing family ties

    Over one thousand disunited families as a result of the Boko Haram insurgents have been re-united in one way or the other  through the efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Nigerian Red Cross Society between January to August 2016 investigation has revealed.

    According to a document obtained from the ICRC, nine children were flown from Dar es Salaam IDP camp in Chad back to Nigeria and reunited with their parents. The organization has also helped reunite family members by facilitating contacts with each other using Red Cross Messages and free phone calls.

    A total of 1,078 new tracing files for persons searching for missing relatives were opened by the ICRC and the NRCS, while a total of 479 Red Cross messages were also exchanged among separated family members.

    The document also reveals that 899 free phone calls were made available by the Red Cross to persons who were separated from their families.

    Detention visits

    ICRC have also embarked on visits of persons detained in connection with armed conflict and violence and provided support for the authorities on improving detention conditions of detainees. Under the period, a total of 21, 442 detainees in prisons, police and military detention facilities across Nigeria were visited by the ICRC, just as the water and hygiene facilities in those places were rehabilitated.

    Livelihood Support and Micro-finance Initiatives

    This is a Program that targets returnees who wished to resume farming in their communities, while cash was also given to people retuning to areas that there are functioning market to help them rebuild their homes. Its aim was to assist 162,000 IDPs and vulnerable persons living in widow or female headed household. Out of the number, 41,000 persons in Yobe received cash to purchase priority commodities by the end of July 2016, just as 16,000 returnees from Adamawa and Southern Borno were given livelihood input grant as well.

    A total of 248,037 returnees from North East and Middle Belt were availed with agricultural inputs to resume farming again, while 69,624 IDPs in Borno and Yobe States including victims of urban violence in River State received cash to enable them purchase commodities of their choice.

    Widows/female heads of families enjoyed serious assistance from the ICRC as 1000 of them were registered Borno State and were given cash for the running of their families. An additional 250 benefited from the micro-finance initiative.

    Emergency Relief Assistance

    One of the major concerns of the ICRC was to get to the hard-to-reach areas where there was severe food shortage and hunger. With some of them missing out on the planting season for more than 3 years, it is not an exaggeration that the people will remain dependent on handouts aid from donor agencies until such a time that their crops are harvested. Worried by the plight, ICRC provided food rations for three months to 892,040 IDPs in the North East, 319,516 IDPs both in the North East received essential household items with 51 NRCS, NEMA and SEMA were trained across Nigeria.

     

    Healthcare

    Like any other sector of human existence in the north east, the health sector had its fair share of the Boko Haram attacks on the region. Hospitals and health facilities were either burnt down or abandoned by the insurgents. Doctors, nurses and other health and medical personable were either killed, while those that survive fled to safer places leading to complete breakdown of the system.

    The ICRC in a quick response provided support to primary and mobile state health clinics in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa through the regular medical supplies, equipment supply and training of staff. Two ICRC surgical teams also provided cares for the weapon wounded and IDPs in need of emergency surgical care in Maiduguri State Specialist Hospital.

    A total of 308, 594 patients attended 14 ICRC supported Centre’s for primary health care and 6 mobile clinics serving IDPs, returnees and residents in Borno and Adamawa State.

    A total of 10,499 children were in ICRC supported clinics in the North east, while 8,649 children who suffered from acute malnutrition were also treated at the ICRC supported clinics in Borno State.

    A total of 1,488 weapon wounded patients were treated by the ICRC surgical team in Maiduguri, out of whom 326 were hospitalized. In a similar effort, a total of 6,700 casualties were treated and evacuated by ICRC supported NRCS emergency first aid teams of the First Aid program in 15 state with a training for community first aid responders in those states.

    In addition, 2,425 people including military/police, religious groups, and weapon bearers also got a similar training. ICRC also provided mental health and psychosocial support to 158 IDPs in the region.

     

    Shelter, Water and Sanitation 

    Statistic has shown that only 10% of the over 2milliom IDPs are living in IDP camps with the rest staying in host communities.

    This has brought a lot of pressure on infrastructure both at the camps and in the communities with an excessive over-stretching of the existing facilities such as water and sanitation.

    This has prompted the ICRC to intervene in this area by improving access to good water and hygiene. Consequently, a total of 130,000 returnees in the North east including the Middle Belt were assisted to have access to improved water and their hygiene and sanitation conditions.

    In Adamawa and Borno States, a total of 24,800 IDPs living in camps received temporary or emergency shelter, while 1,400 returnees in Mubi (Adamawa) and 720 persons affected by communal clashes in Kaduna Bangai in Plateau state were supported by ICRC to rebuild their houses.