NAF Wins Global Acclaim for Humanitarian Approach to Air Operations
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been hailed for its commitment to protecting civilians in its operations. The NAF’s Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response-Action Plan (CHMR-AP) has received international recognition for its effectiveness in minimizing harm to non-combatants.
The NAF’s efforts were praised at a conference on Protection of Civilians in Tunis, Tunisia, co-sponsored by the United Nations and the Tunisian Defence Forces. The conference recognized the NAF’s proactive approach to addressing the risks of target misidentification and confirmation bias.
The NAF’s leadership has emphasized the importance of balancing military objectives with humanitarian obligations. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, stated that “our operational effectiveness must never come at the expense of civilian lives.”
The NAF has implemented several initiatives to mitigate civilian harm, including: Establishing a Civilian Harm Assessment Cell to investigate incidents of civilian harm, developing a strategic communications framework to respond to civilian harm incidents and Integrating civilian considerations into operations through field engagements.
The NAF’s efforts have been recognized as a model for modern air forces, and the conference highlighted the importance of safeguarding civilians during military operations.
