Weekend Attack an effort to Intimidate Humanitarian Actors
The targeted facility is one of nine humanitarian hubs in Borno managed by International Organization for Migration (IOM)
NGALA, Nigeria, January 21, 2020/ -- On
18 January, non-state armed groups stormed a humanitarian facility in
Ngala town, some 124 kilometers from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno
state. Although all United Nations humanitarians in the facility –
including three IOM staff – were reported safe, an entire section of the facility was burned down as well as one of the few vehicles used by
humanitarians to deliver aid.
“The intended effect of this is to intimidate the humanitarian actors
working in north-east Nigeria. We have seen this as humanitarian workers are increasingly targeted,” said IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission Franz
Celestin.
The targeted facility is one of nine humanitarian hubs in Borno managed
by IOM. Humanitarian hubs provide operating environments for aid workers in deep field locations, including accommodation, office and
connectivity services. These spaces are critical for a sustained and
effective humanitarian response in Nigeria.
“These (humanitarian) hubs are the ultimate enablers to allow the
humanitarian workers to improve the quality of the response by allowing
them enough time on the ground to do what they're supposed to do. Prior
to the hubs, humanitarian workers could only go on day trips, so they'd
go one day at a time to deliver services,” Celestin said.
IOM Reporter Video
The attack comes just 11 days after members of a non-state armed group
(NSAG) infiltrated Monguno town. Two children, an adult male and one
adult female were killed in the attack on a camp for internally
displaced people. In addition, several injured people are currently
receiving medical attention at a nearby clinic run by ALIMA, an
international non-governmental organization.
That deadly attack left 2,728 people homeless. According to an IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) report, more than 300 shelters and properties belonging to the affected individuals were destroyed.
The ongoing conflict in north-east Nigeria continues to claim the lives
of innocent people, and increasingly, of humanitarian workers. In 2019,
twelve aid workers lost their lives, twice the number of deaths in the
previous year.
DTM provides detailed and up-to-date information on characteristics and
needs of crisis-affected populations registration and profiling of
displaced populations in camp and camp-like settings, flow monitoring
exercises and reports, as well as the provision of detailed
infrastructural information on areas of return through village
assessment surveys. DTM reports and tools can be found here
Read statement of Edward Kallon, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria here.
Play online games for free at games.easybranches.com
Guest Post Services www.easybranches.com/contribute