At least 128 journalists have been killed around the world so far in 2014 with Gaza leading the list of most dangerous countries for reporters, according to an annual report by Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) in Geneva.
Gaza, where 16 journalists were killed during the Israeli attack on the strip, leads the list followed by Syria with 13 deaths and Pakistan with 12 casualties, the report indicated.
Iraq, according to the Swiss-based PEC report, is in fourth place with 10 journalists killed, many of whom lost their lives during the fighting against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The deaths recorded this year have taken place in 32 countries.
Ukraine takes fifth with nine journalists killed, including four Russians. The report ranks Mexico in sixth with eight deaths and Afghanistan in seventh with six journalists killed in 2014.
During the past five years, 614 journalists were killed, which is an average of 123 annually, or 2.4 per week, according to PEC which is tracking the figure for the last nine years.
The most dangerous five countries during the past five years have been Syria where 69 journalists were killed; Pakistan 63; Mexico 50; Iraq 44; and Somalia 39.
The Secretary General of PEC Blaise Lempen said many media outlets stopped sending journalists to conflict zones because of extreme risks.
He warned that impunity and non-respect of international law by some parties continue in the field.
"The United Nations, thus, must create a follow-up mechanism at the international level if we are to fight effectively against impunity. This should be the mission of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva," Lempen declared.
This report comes as earlier this year, Sardar Ahmad, a reporter for Agence France-Presse (AFP) was killed along with his wife and their two children in an armed attack on Serena hotel of Kabul.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/3177
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