UNA Roundtable Highlights Journalism's Essential Role In Supporting Humanitarian Work

The Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA) recently hosted a roundtable titled "Towards A Humanitarian Media: The Role of Journalism in Supporting Humanitarian Work and Highlighting Relief Efforts." This event gathered directors-general, senior officials from news agencies, and international humanitarian experts. It took place alongside the Donors’ Conference to Support Displaced Persons and Refugees in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) headquarters in Jeddah.

In his opening remarks, UNA Director-General Mohammed bin Abd Rabbo Al-Yami highlighted the media's crucial role in addressing humanitarian crises. He stated that humanitarian professionals depend on the "power of the media" to spotlight humanitarian conditions and motivate responses through relief activities. Al-Yami advocated for stronger partnerships between humanitarian organisations and media outlets, urging the creation of direct communication channels to enhance media coverage of humanitarian initiatives.

Dr. Samer bin Abdullah Al Jutaily, spokesperson for the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, emphasised "communication for development." He described it as a collaborative approach aimed at maximising the impact and sustainability of developmental initiatives. Dr. Al Jutaily stressed that persuasive communication is vital for media’s role in supporting humanitarian work, as it influences communities and organisations toward comprehensive societal development.

Moussa Diarra, Director-General of the Malian National News Agency, discussed how news agencies can contribute to humanitarian media by raising awareness, mobilising financial support, and issuing early warnings. Similarly, Dr. Abderrazak Ali Darneh from the Djibouti News Agency highlighted the media's role in enhancing public engagement with humanitarian crises.

Khalil Mohamed Ibrahim, Director-General of the Chad News Agency, pointed out challenges faced by news agencies in the Sahel region. These include limited resources, lack of dedicated humanitarian news segments, and inadequate coordination with international humanitarian organisations. Baba Wame from Cameroon News Agency reviewed media coverage of humanitarian crises in Cameroon and West Africa, noting its importance in mitigating crisis impacts.

Jamal Nasser Al Suwaider from Emirates News Agency (WAM) called for launching initiatives within UNA to promote collaborative action in covering humanitarian issues. He emphasised showcasing OIC member states’ efforts in this regard. Iqbal Mudassar from Associated Press of Pakistan urged closer cooperation between media outlets and international relief organisations to ensure accurate reporting on-ground.

Recommendations for Future Actions

The roundtable concluded with several recommendations aimed at improving humanitarian reporting. These included enhancing news exchange on humanitarian content and fostering coordination between media and international relief organisations. Participants also suggested focusing on personal stories over statistics in reporting to engage audiences more effectively.

Further recommendations involved building capacities of media professionals in humanitarian communication to ensure accurate information reaches aid recipients while preventing misinformation. Deepening the concept of "communication for development" was also encouraged to support comprehensive societal development through media efforts.

With inputs from WAM