Over 17,000 People Still Missing in North-east, Says ICRC
Chuks Okocha in Abuja Despite the operational successes recorded by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in the war against insurgency, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has disclosed that over 17,000 individuals who were displaced by the activities of Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria's North-east region are still missing. This revelation was made during a two-day training for journalists on humanitarian reporting, held in Lagos. The ICRC spokesperson, Aliyu Dawobe, stated that the figure was initially reported to be over 24,000 but was reduced to over 17,000 after losing contact with some affected families.
The ICRC is actively working to trace the missing persons and reunite them with their families. The crisis in the North-east has persisted for more than 16 years, leaving millions in need of food, with over three million children from the affected families suffering from malnutrition. Dawobe emphasized the crucial role media plays in informing the public about the dire conditions faced by the affected individuals.
The training aimed at enhancing journalists' skills in humanitarian reporting, with a focus on changing the narrative around conflict victims and their plight. Out of 50 journalists selected for the training, Dawobe urged them to maximize the opportunity to improve their reportage by emphasizing the human angle and the suffering of conflict victims.
Dr. Bala Muhammad, a lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, echoed Dawobe's sentiments, stressing the importance of journalists updating themselves on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to shift their reporting focus towards alleviating the suffering of conflict victims.
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