According to a report by Vanguard, the International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) has shed some light on its roles in the release of
the Chibok girls and others, taken hostage by the Boko Haram.
The Head of Delegation of ICRC, in Abuja, Mr. Eloi Fillion, told
journalists, in the nation’s capital, yesterday, that its role was the
implementation of deals between the federal government and the
insurgents.
According to him, “We are not involved in negotiations or how
the deals are reached. Our role starts when the deal is reached. As a
humanitarian organization, we focus on the implementation of deals
between parties in an armed conflict.
“We are not part of the negotiations that bring about the
release. Our role is to act as an intermediary to help when deals are
reached between the fighting parties. We have been called to play this
role three times.
“The deal is reached without us. When we are called, what the ask of us is the space and time to implement the deal.
“We do this when we get assurances that we can cross the
frontlines in and out with our team. We follow-up on those who have been
released in order to give them psychological support, through direct
discussions with abductees who have been released.”
Asked why the Red Cross which has access to the insurgents does not
engage them with a view to ending the conflict rather than
concentrating on mitigating the effects of the conflicts on the civilian
populace, Mr. Fillion said that the mandate of his organization did not
extend to resolution of armed conflicts.
Besides, he said “We don’t have the mandate to resolve
conflicts. It requires competences and capabilities that humanitarian
organizations like ours don’t have. But they are organizations that have
that and in some cases sovereign governments play that role.”
The Red Cross boss denied ever being involved in ransom payments to
Boko Haram , in exchange for those released from their captivity.
According to him, the organisation’s focus remained providing
support for people affected by various forms of conflict and that it has
provided such supports to over one million people in the North East,
the Niger Delta , as well as, victims of the on-going crisis involving
herders and farming communities across the Middle Belt.