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Tag: ICRC

  • ICRC facilitates release of three Israeli hostages, 90 Palestinian detainees

    ICRC facilitates release of three Israeli hostages, 90 Palestinian detainees

    By Aliyu Dawobe

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the release and transfer of three hostages out of Gaza to Israel, and 90 Palestinian detainees from Israel to the occupied Palestinian territory.

    “We are relieved that those released can be reunited with their loved ones,” said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric. “Ensuring their safe return and providing the necessary care at this critical moment is a great responsibility. This operation is a powerful example of how our role as a neutral actor between the warring sides can save and change lives, provided that the parties come to an agreement.”

    The operation was complex, requiring rigorous security measures to minimize the risks to those involved. Navigating large crowds and heightened emotions posed challenges during the transfers, and in Gaza, ICRC teams had to manage the dangers posed by unexploded ordnances and destroyed infrastructure.

    The operation marks the beginning of a multi-phase operation, as agreed by the parties, to bring hostages and detainees home. The ICRC, as a neutral humanitarian intermediary, facilitates the safe transfer of hostages and detainees. Specialized ICRC staff, including doctors, are on-hand to provide care as needed.

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    “More families are waiting anxiously for their loved ones to come home,” President Spoljaric said. “We call on all parties to continue to adhere to their commitments to ensure the next operations can take place safely. Our teams are ready to continue to implement the agreement so that more hostages and detainees are released, and more families reunited.”

    In addition, as part of the broader agreement, urgently needed humanitarian assistance must enter Gaza, where civilians have struggled for months to access food, drinkable water, and shelter. The ICRC is ready to significantly scale up its humanitarian response, in coordination with Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners. This includes providing much-needed relief like medicines and food as well as support to essential services like health care, water and sanitation, and electricity.

    The parties must adhere to international humanitarian law at all times, including during release operations. This includes taking constant care to protect civilians as well as medical facilities and personnel.

  • Red Cross trains journalists in Cross River on First Aid

    Red Cross trains journalists in Cross River on First Aid

     

    By Kelvin Obambon

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in conjunction with the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Cross River branch, has organized a 3-day training workshop on First Aid for journalists and media representatives in the state.

    The workshop held between Monday 14 and Wednesday 16 October, 2024 at the Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, was aimed at providing essential life-saving skills and enhancing the capacity of journalists to respond effectively to emergencies arising within and outside the workplace.

    Speaking at the conclusion of the 3-day workshop, the branch secretary of NRCS, Mr Eni Joseph, said “the idea for the training of journalists is actually not new. This is the second time we are initiating it. Based on your area of professionalism you are actually expose to some certain level of risks in your line of duty, so the knowledge of First Aid at work could be very useful. You can use it to help your colleagues, family and friends. It is a life-saving skill you actually need to have.”

    Joseph emphasized that the goal of First Aid is to save life by preventing a situation from becoming worse, and as well as facilitate quick recovery. He said the knowledge of First Aid is dynamic and as such there is the need for retraining to equip First Aiders with new skills to continue to serve humanity by rendering First Aid services.

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    “Retraining is the key to stay up-to-date,” he said.

    On his part, Mr Daniel Edobor, a First Aid and pre hospital care specialist, ICRC, Abuja, highlighted the scope of the training to include, placing casualty in a recovery position, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), how to stop bleeding, how to manage fracture, how to deal with home injuries – burns, how to transport casualty to the hospital for treatment, among others.

    Expressing confidence on the quality of training given to members of the fourth estate of the realm, Edobor who was one of the lead facilitators, noted that the training “emphasized on hands-on skill. With hands-on skill people don’t forget what they practice. Throughout the 3 days it was more of participants practicing what they’re learning. Like a take home, we advised them to teach their colleagues and of course their family at home. This is also a way of retaining and rotating the knowledge they’ve acquired.”

    At the end of the workshop, an ICRC standard First Aid kits and certificates were issued to 25 journalists drawn from the electronic, print and online media, who fully took part in the activity centered training.