Organisers of humanitarian missions should ensure that their participants have received adequate survival training and that measures are taken to minimise their risk of getting injured, Malaysian Red Crescent honorary secretary Norbaini Baharudin said.
Commenting on the death of BernamaTV cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, who was shot dead while covering the Putera 1Malaysia Club’s humanitarian mission to Somalia, Norbaini said the organisers could have made more preparations.
“Judging by the current situation in Somalia, volunteers should have been given bullet proof vests to protect themselves,” she said.
Noramfaizul, who was part of a 15-strong media team, was hit by a stray bullet last Friday while returning to his hotel in a 4WD.
His death had turned the spotlight on preparations made by organisers of such aid missions and the training given to volunteers.
Norbaini told theSun all individuals who are interested to volunteer with the Red Crescent are required to undergo at least two weeks of compulsory training in various fields.
“The courses not only cover the ways in which a volunteer can assist victims of a tragedy, but also to ensure that they can survive the often harsh conditions in the affected regions,” said Norbaini.
The Malaysian Red Crescent through its in-house training institute offers classes in, among others, first aid, international humanitarian law, psychological support programme, disaster management and simulation.
Norbaini also stressed on the importance of a volunteer being physically and mentally fit to handle all potential situations.
“We can’t have a volunteer going to offer aid, but who ends up falling sick instead,” she said.
Besides the Malaysian Red Crescent, other NGOs which has been actively organising humanitarian aid missions include Mercy Malaysia.
According to its website, all Mercy Malaysia volunteers are required to undergo a Volunteer Induction Programme and Basic Mission Training sessions before being allowed to participate in any humanitarian aid efforts.
Mercy Malaysia had also sent a three-man assessment team to Somalia on Aug 25, led by its vice-president Assoc Prof Dr Mohamed Ikram Mohamed Salleh.
The team has since came back and Mercy Malaysia is expected to reveal findings from the trip today, along with details of its next mission to Somalia.
Source: newsdesk@thesundaily.com
No comments:
Post a Comment