Che la lancia li risparmi

Ci sono nazioni come la Somalia, martoriata da 17 anni di guerra civile, in cui il valore della singola vita umana precipita ogni giorno, come in una tragica pariodia del mercato borsistico. Basta incappare nel pick-up col suo grappolo di guerriglieri che non sta dalla tua parte. E con mille fazioni in lotta non si sa bene per che cosa, è facile che il pick-up appartenga alla bandiera sbagliata.
Ma a volte anche all'inferno la stanchezza prevale e, come ci racconta questa corrispondenza da Mogadishu apparsa sul sito della Croce Rossa, all'ombra del muro un giovane civile frastornato ascolta con attenzione, in un raro momento di pausa nella costante pioggia orizzontale di proiettili, la sua radiolina. La famiglia di Farah Gure ha deciso di restare in città e la radio FM cerca di tenere su il morale, di istruire un poco, questi nuclei dispersi, resti archeologici di una quotidiana civiltà andata perduta forse per sempre. La radio trasmette soap operas, notizie. Cerca soprattutto di ricordare che fuori dall'inferno, forse anche dentro, esiste un concetto vago chiamato diritto dell'uomo. Un concetto che misteriosi organismi cercano - senza troppo successo - di far valere a livello internazionale. Dunque anche in Somalia. Diritto internazionale si dice, in somalo, Biri-ma-Geydo. O meglio, non si dice così. Il tentativo della Croce Rossa (e del suo omologo islamico, Mezza Luna Rossa) è quello di recuperare, in una memoria collettiva distrutta dalla guerra, i codici ancestrali delle tribù locali, che anche nel succedersi delle guerre per il controllo del territorio prevedevano (un proverbio antico recita in Somalia che dopo ogni guerra arriva la pace) un trattamento il più possibile pietoso per le vittime umane degli scontri tra bande armate. Biri-ma Geydo-significa "immuni dalla lancia". Come dire che se non partecipi direttamente alla battaglia, non porti la lancia, nessuno dovrebbe toccarti e se rimani comunque ferito, o prigioniero, hai diritto a essere curato e trattato bene. L'immunità evidentemente ha smesso di valere quando la lancia è stata sostituita dal kalashnikov. Come fa a risparmiare qualcuno dalle raffiche e con cosa lo potrai curare?
La radio della Croce Rossa cerca di ricucire il ricordo - e l'applicazione - dell'antica pietà dimenticata. Speriamo che l'ascoltino anche sull'autoradio del pick-up.

Somalia: sparing people from the spears – how a radio show can save lives

The ICRC, the Somali Red Crescent Society and local radio stations have together initiated a series of radio spots aimed at spreading public awareness of the Somali customary code of war, known as ‘Biri-ma-Geydo’ (literally, spared from the spear), and the basics of international humanitarian law.
For years, sporadic armed clashes have been a part of daily life for the habitants of the bullet-scarred Somali capital. But this afternoon, Mogadishu is surprisingly calm. No armed clashes are rumbling in the southern part of the city. Barefoot kids play football on waste ground and passers-by take advantage of the calm to buy a bit of food or charcoal with their meagre incomes.

Joining the masses outside the city

Nearby, a family loads a donkey cart with kitchen utensils and mats. A week ago a shell hit their house, injuring several people. The family has decided to leave Mogadishu in order to join the hundreds of thousands of other displaced people living in improvised camps dotted along the Afgooye road, just a few kilometres from the broken city.
Sitting in the shadow of a wall, Farah Gure, a 20-year-old resident, listens attentively to the radio dramas which are routinely aired by local FM radio. Despite the insecurity and the armed clashes, he and the rest of his family have decided to stay in Mogadishu.

Today's indiscriminate victims

"Because of 17 years of war and chaos in Somalia, recurrent natural disasters, the constant displacement of families and the lack of traditional or modern education, young people like me have not heard about Biri-ma-Geydo,” says Farah. "Nowadays, women, children and civilians are indiscriminate victims of clashes that occur in Mogadishu or elsewhere."
The Somali customary code of war was drawn up centuries ago to regulate the behaviour of individuals, groups and clans, using moral responsibility and social pressure for its enforcement. Much of the ‘immunity from the spear’ code formerly employed by Somalis was in accord with Islamic teachings related to war-time conduct.

Yesterday's 'immunity from the spear'

According to a Somali proverb, every war gives way to peace. In anticipation of eventual peace, women, children, those innocently caught up in fighting, the wounded and the captives would be protected and treated humanely during the conduct of hostilities.
"International humanitarian law contains provisions from customary, military and general laws. It was created to be applied in wartime and therefore its parallel with Biri-ma-Geydo is easy to explain to Somalis," says Afi, the tireless Somali Red Crescent Society communications coordinator.
The ICRC/Somali Red Crescent radio programmes – consisting of dramas, messages and live round table debates – are designed for a young audience and targeted at those directly engaged in armed clashes and who have little or no knowledge of international humanitarian law (IHL) or Biri-ma-Geydo.
"Somalia is a country that has been ravaged by civil strife for nearly 17 years. In Mogadishu and other cities where recurrent armed clashes occur, the population is often trapped in the midst of fighting, and residential areas are hit," says Benjamin Wahren, ICRC’s deputy head of delegation for Somalia.
"Medina and Keysaney, the two main hospitals in Mogadishu supported by the ICRC, treat dozens of people hit by bullet or shrapnel every week. A third of these admissions are women and children," he adds.

Radio put to multi-faceted good use

Sitting attentively next to his radio, Farah reflects, "I'm sure the Biri-ma-Geydo radio programmes will have a positive impact on many young people engaged in armed conflict and who do not respect the basic rules of the fighting during clashes."
"Our Biri-ma-Geydo is probably older than your international humanitarian law. Everybody should know about it. Somalis should be proud of it and should have great respect for it."
Since radio is the main form of mass communication in Somalia – drawing on the long-standing Somali oral tradition – it is also being put to good use in other areas.
The ICRC is collaborating with FM radio stations to broadcast cholera awareness programmes. And as part of their joint programme to re-establish links between families separated by armed conflict, the ICRC and the Somali Red Crescent also collaborate with the BBC Somali Service (short-wave radio service) to broadcast the names of persons sought by their families in Somalia and all around the world (see Somali Family Links website).