Red Cross urges human-centred reporting of N’East conflict

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has urged journalists to focus on the human stories of those affected by the conflict in Nigeria's North-East, rather than solely reporting statistics. ICRC Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Dawobe, made this call at the conclusion of a two-day training for journalists held in Lagos.

Dawobe emphasized that the ICRC works during conflict situations to help people affected by the crisis and aims to provide them with relief from their suffering. The humanitarian situation in the North-East remains precarious, with millions in need of assistance and over three million suffering from malnutrition. Prolonged displacement has separated families, with some remaining apart for nearly a decade.

Dawobe stressed that journalists should ensure the human element isn't lost in the reporting of the crisis by highlighting the suffering beyond just figures, such as the inability to access medication, food, or reunite with families. The ICRC engaged about 50 journalists in two batches through the training, covering topics like missing persons, trauma, hunger, malnutrition, loss of livelihoods, and disrupted education.

Dawobe also urged journalists to incorporate International Humanitarian Law into their reporting to improve public understanding of the rules governing warfare and the protection of civilians.