Reference :
V-P-LY-E-00179
Date :
24/08/2011
Caption :
Tripoli. Journalists are evacuated from the Rixos Hotel in an ICRC vehicle.
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
reserved users only
Description :
24-08-2011 News Release 11/174Geneva (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) helped journalists leave the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli today and led them to safety. The reporters had been unable to leave the hotel for several days.
"We have taken 33 journalists and two other foreign nationals from the Rixos Hotel to a safe place," said Georges Comninos, the head of the ICRC delegation in Libya. "Our recognized role as a neutral intermediary enabled us to carry out this operation. We are glad that everything went smoothly, but we remain concerned about other civilians and journalists who may find themselves in danger."
At around 4.30 p.m. local time, six ICRC staff arrived at the hotel with four vehicles and helped transfer the journalists and the two other foreign nationals to a safe location in Tripoli. They expressed joy and relief at having left the hotel.
Journalists are protected under international humanitarian law. "Media professionals are entitled to the same protection as civilians. They must be protected and respected," said Mr Comninos.
The ICRC, which operates a hotline for journalists on dangerous assignments, had been contacted by several news organizations concerned about the safety and well-being of their staff. Since the beginning of the year, the organization has received around 50 requests for help from media organizations and families of journalists.
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
3000x1924
Orientation :
landscape
Colour/B&W :
colour
