The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon has
lamented that; resurgence in violence, has continued to ravage entire
communities during decade long Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Adamawa
and Yobe states.
According to him, this year, humanitarian workers are; over stretched
like never before, including the Nigerian vulnerable, who are in dire
need of assistance to survive.
Kallon, in a statement Wednesday in Maiduguri made the lamentations to
mark World Humanitarian Day in the country.
He said that aid workers and the people; are trying to ‘help face
extraordinary challenges,’ due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
He said no country was adequately prepared for the global health
crisis; that claimed over 777,000 lives with 22 million cases; warning
that dire consequence of these unprecedented challenges, have
according to him; “Caused a major increase in humanitarian needs.”
“The number of people in dire humanitarian assistance, in insurgency
affected states; are highest ever recorded in five years of joint
humanitarian response in Northeast,” said Kallon.
On inevitable increases in assistance, he said: “Up by 50 per cent
from last year, some 10.6 million people require life-saving
assistance in the three crisis-affected states,” noting that while
getting assistance to them is more dangerous and difficult than ever
before.
He added that imperative of protecting aid workers and the assistance
they deliver has never been as pressing as it is today.
According to him, insecurity and attacks against aid workers are still
occurring despite repeated calls for protection of civilians and the
urgency to facilitate unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
He warned that rumours and misinformation about humanitarian personnel
and health workers can put their lives at risk.
“Refraining from spreading misinformation and false perceptions about
humanitarian organisations is crucial to the safety of frontline
staff,” adding that they put their life on the line to serve others.
On slain aid workers; “We cannot forget any of our colleagues and the
thousands of civilians who have lost their lives in the eleven-year
long crisis in the north-east.”
“With the COVID-19 pandemic, taking responsibility and adopting
prevention measures can protect ourselves, our loved ones, but also
others, including the health workers and aid workers who are taking
risks to protect all of us.
