The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has described as incorrect, the impression that it helps in the negotiation for the release of kidnapped persons.
The denial was made in a statement issued by the Spokesperson/Communications Coordinator, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Aleksandra Matijevic Mosimann.
It would be recalled that ICRC had been reported to have been involved in the negotiation for the release of some Chibok school girls kidnapped in Nigeria by the terrorists group, Boko Haram.
In the statement, ICRC said as a neutral humanitarian organisation, it could not play the role of a negotiator as it ran contrary to its principle of neutrality.
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It said that it was outside its mandate.
The group said it however was ready to help facilitate the transport home of people released by an armed opposition group, if requested so by the parties involved.
The group said further that “to help alleviate the suffering of people affected by armed conflict, we regularly exchange information with organisations and individuals engaged in humanitarian work.”
That, it said, was essential to ensure that it could best understand and respond to people’s needs.
