The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has stressed the need for the protection and the use of Red Cross emblem across the country.
Mr Eloi Fillion, Head of the ICRC delegation in Nigeria made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a round table on the use of the emblem in Nigeria and adoption of the Geneva conventions of 1859.
According to him, people are often not aware that this emblem was created almost 160 years ago for a very specific purpose, and that there is need for the emblem to be protected.
“The emblem of the Red Cross is one of the most recognised emblems in the world. It is also however, oftentimes misunderstood.
“Many of us associate the Red Cross simply with hospitals or pharmacies, and others believe it has a religious significance,” he said.
Fillion stated that, there was need for people to protect and care about the emblem because of the international recognition it has under the international law.
He said that part of the ICRC role adopted at the Geneva conventions was on humanitarian care for wounded soldiers at the war front.
He added that between 2012 and 2014, almost 2,400 attacks against the medical mission in armed conflicts in 11 countries were recorded.
According to him, such attacks have effects beyond the immediate loss of life and medical infrastructures but cripples the entire healthcare systems.
He added that the emblems are not just ordinary symbols, and their use must be reserved under the international law as well as the domestic law.
Mr Bolaji-Anami Akpan, President of the Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) also stated that his organisation had played major roles in regard to humanitarian needs in the country from the civil war to the current armed conflict in the North-East Nigeria.
He said that the volunteers of the organisation had in the past paid various supreme sacrifices as they provide succour to most vulnerables in the society.
“This is why it is very important to us as we discuss the uses, protection, indication and identification of the emblem.
“The NRCS is the largest community based humanitarian organisation in Nigeria, with branches in all the states and the FCT, with over 800,000 trained volunteers serving and supporting the people.
“They are serving not only in situation of disasters, disease emergencies and displacements, but also on health/hygiene, nutrition, livelihood/cash-transfer, and environment issues.” (NAN)
