Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Ms. Myrta Kaulard, has condemned the multiple suicide attacks last Saturday that claimed 31 lives of people in Damboa of Borno state. The multiple blasts, according to her, were the “deadliest ever witnessed” in the Northeast. Kaulard in a statement released on Monday in Abuja, also said: “Our deepest condolences go to the families of the victims in Damboa and to the Government and people of Nigeria. We wish the injured a speedy recovery.” She noted that civilians consistently bear the brunt of the conflict and over 200 women, children and men have now been killed in indiscriminate attacks in the north-east since the beginning of this year. According to her, twenty one people were also killed in a twin suicide attack at Mubi town market in Adamawa state. Kaulard urged the Government of Nigeria to further step up protection of people. She further disclosed that the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross yesterday air-lifted by helicopter 11 of the critically wounded from Damboa to Maiduguri to facilitate emergency medical treatment, in support of the state authorities. Damboa is located 90 kilometers south-west of Maiduguri, the Borno capital state capital. The council area is currently hosting over 90,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), 18,000 of which live in Damboa town in five camps for displaced people. The LGA is one of the areas in Borno that hosts the highest number of internally displaced people. She said over 20 humanitarian organisations provide life-saving assistance to the vulnerable women, children and men in Damboa, including food, shelter, medical services, clean water and sanitation on a daily basis. According to her, Damboa last witnessed an attack by a non-state armed group in July 2016. “The humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s north-east, that has spilled over into the Lake Chad region, is one of the most severe in the world; with 7.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2018 of worst-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe,” said Kaulard in the statement.
