Red Cross trains Bawku peacekeepers

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has launched a programme to train security agencies involved in peacekeeping missions in Bawku on humanitarian law to enable them to execute their mission within acceptable international standards.

The West Africa Regional Delegate of the ICRC, Mr Dennis AlIistone, who spoke to the Daily Graphic after a courtesy call on the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, in Bolgatanga, said security agencies involved in peacekeeping operations were obliged to treat people humanely.

He said the ICRC had the world over, a routine programme of training security forces involved in peacekeeping operations, not only in times of conflict but also in times of peace, to keep them abreast of the rights of individuals in conflict situations.

Mr Allistone noted that the ICRC was a neutral, independent and humanitarian organisation that brought relief and support to victims of armed conflict, adding it was not only involved in international conflicts but also internal conflicts, as well as other forms of violent situations.

"In the event of a conflict, some basic rules should be observed by the conflicting parties: the wounded should be allowed to have access to medical care and those who have been ambushed should not be harmed but treated humanely," he said.

He said the ICRC was not involved in peace making and it did not also involve itself in negotiations, saying those were purely political decisions.

Mr Allistone said the ICRC was impressed with the peace processes in Bawku and expressed the hope that a lasting solution would be found without further escalation of violence.

Mr Woyongo appealed to the ICRC to provide a vehicle for the local Red Cross team to facilitate its activities in conflict situations.

He commended the local Red Cross for its immense contribution in offering relief and support to conflict victims in Bawku and pledged the government's determination to find a lasting solution to the conflict.