ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), has condemned constant attacks on aid workers in the north-eastern part of Nigeria.
According to the Country’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the UN, Matthias Schmale, not less than 95 aid workers had been killed, kidnapped or injured in the last seven years in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.
Schmale gave the details over the weekend during the commemoration of this year’s World Humanitarian Day in honour of all aid workers with the theme; “NoMatterWhat”.
He said it was important for aid workers to feel safe while performing their duties.
Schmale said: “World Humanitarian Day is an occasion to advocate for the survival, well-being, and dignity of crisis-affected people and the safety and security of aid workers. In 2023, as the range and scope of risks facing humanitarians continue to increase, such advocacy is needed more than ever.
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“Since 2016, 37 aid workers have been killed in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states, according to the Aid Worker Security Database. Additionally, 24 have been wounded and 34 kidnapped. This year alone, five aid workers have been kidnapped.”
On steps taken to end attacks on aid workers, Schmale said: “I cannot comment publicly on what is being done about the people kidnapped. Five aid workers have been held captive this year alone but the UN’s official position is that we do not pay ransom, and our position is also that no one should be kidnapped.
“Humanitarian aid workers should all be kept safe whether they are Nigerians or internationals. So, I call on behalf of the international community and those in coordination with the government for the release of those still being held and for the safety of all humanitarian workers.
“It is important that those who are desperately in need of humanitarian support have access to humanitarian aid, and no matter what, they should be able to deliver the aid that they are meant to deliver.”
Also, he disclosed that despite funding shortages, plans were underway by the UN to assist six million people in the northeast.
He said: “Last year, we were able to reach 4.7 million people. This year, the UN and its partners aim to assist six million people in north-east Nigeria through the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), and additional funding is urgently needed. The plan appealed for USD$1.3 billion but is currently only 29 per cent funded.
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“The deteriorating food security and nutrition situation is one of the most alarming aspects of the crisis in the north-east. An estimated 4.3 million people are food insecure in the BAY states.
“We appeal for international support because today, we have some funding shortage. We are particularly worried about children. Two million children under five years in the northeast are likely to face serious malnutrition this year, and 700,000 children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition.
“To urgently operationalise time-sensitive and critical activities, the UN and partners launched a $396 million Lean Season Multi-Sector Plan as part of the HRP. While partners have made significant progress, including reaching approximately 2.1 million people with food assistance, they are challenged by limited funding, as this prioritised plan is only 51 per cent funded.”
On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, said the government is putting measures in place to secure the lives of aid workers.
He also said one of the aid workers, a staff of the ministry who was kidnapped, had been released.
He said: “One of the aid workers was recently released. He is a director at the ministry. He was kidnapped but has been released, which underscores how dangerous our work is.”
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