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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Humanitarian workers have become soft targets for Boko Haram insurgents who have killed 35, kidnapped 28 and injured 22 in the last seven years.
These atrocities were committed in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, where banditry, desertification and cattle rustling are on the increase.
This was revealed by the Minister of Humanitarian, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, in marking the 2022 World Humanitarian Day, with the theme “It takes a village to raise a child.”
While citing a report by Aid Worker Security Database, Umar Farouq said: “The sad reality is humanitarian workers, just like the local population, do die during conflicts. Since 2016, 35 aid workers have died, 22 wounded and 28 kidnapped.”
She disclosed further that, “this year 2022, so far, six aid workers have been kidnapped. We respect the memory of those who died while performing service.
“I would like to use this opportunity to recognize all the humanitarian workers who have been killed, injured or kidnapped in the line of duty.
“May the souls of the departed rest in peace and, by the grace of God, the insurgency in the North-East has come to an end.”
The minister corroborated the worries of many Nigerians as she observed that “the North-East continues to face an insurgency that has led to mass displacement and food insecurity.
“This is exacerbated by climate change-related factors such as desertification and drying up of the Lake Chad basin.”
Regardless of carnage that has grounded economic activities in the region, she encouraged citizens to promote peace-building, ensure civil-military coordination and build back better systems and infrastructure that can sustain displaced and host communities.
She explained that the reason the Federal Government chose Borno State as the venue for this year’s event was to highlight the tremendous improvement in the humanitarian situation in the region, to provide a human face of the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and to inspire change.
She announced that government had put in place several plans like the policy on orphans, a policy on humanitarian mine action and to honour humanitarian workers.
“We also have several plans and policies that are in the process of being formulated such as the flood emergency preparedness and response policy and cash and voucher policy, a policy on orphans and a policy on humanitarian mine action.
“We honour upcoming invitations, including the mid-term review of the sendai framework. We will recognize and honour exemplary staff and humanitarian workers as well as connect with beneficiaries, strengthen existing partnerships and build new ones,” she said.
On his part, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Mathias Schmale, stated that over two million people have been displaced due to conflict, and they face persistent threats to their health and safety.
Schmale said malnutrition has increasingly threatened the survival of more than one million vulnerable children. According to him, the people suffering the greatest consequences of insecurity were the affected people themselves.
To this end, he vowed that no amount of killing and kidnapping would dampen the enthusiasm of the UN in providing humanitarian aid to those in need.
Schmale said: “The humanitarian community is gathered here precisely to renew our commitment to support the people affected by this protracted conflict in a dignified and future-oriented manner.
“Our diversity encompassing representatives of government and non-governmental organizations, civil society, international NGOs, and of course the United Nations is a strength that we value and will continue to nurture.
“On this World Humanitarian Day, we are shining a light on the affected people themselves as well as the thousands of volunteers and paid employees who deliver urgent humanitarian assistance across north-east Nigeria, saving countless lives, improving living conditions, and protecting some of the most vulnerable people.
“As the UN’s humanitarian coordinator, I am immensely grateful for the work of all humanitarians, and continually impressed by their tireless efforts on the front line, serving humanity.
“They often risk their lives and safety to reach people in need. It is most important to state here that most of these humanitarians are young Nigerians.
“The security environment in North-East Nigeria is evolving and humanitarians must navigate daily threats to both their assets and personnel. This insecurity has had dire consequences.
“According to the Aid Worker Security Database, 35 aid workers have been killed in north-east Nigeria since 2016.
“Twenty-two have been wounded and 28 kidnapped. So far in 2022, six aid workers have been kidnapped in the region.
“Safety is ever-present on our minds, and we continue to advocate for a safe and secure operational environment. The people suffering the greatest consequences of this insecurity are the affected people themselves.
“Over 2.2 million people are presently displaced due to conflict, and they face persistent threats to their health and safety. The violence in north-east Nigeria has generated an alarming and large-scale humanitarian and protection crisis, and we must keep reminding ourselves that it is not over yet.
“Among the troubles facing the region, I am especially concerned about the food security and nutrition situation. Malnutrition is increasingly threatening the survival of more than a million highly vulnerable children, and we cannot let this happen.
“Women and girls, who are disproportionately impacted by this crisis, form about 80 per cent of people in need of humanitarian assistance. Each day they face an increased risk of violence, such as abduction, rape and abuse.
“The affected citizens themselves are a critical part of our humanitarian village and must always be part of the solution. We are committed to finding yet better ways to get them into the driving seat in determining the most impactful ways forward.
“I am encouraged by the opportunities to make a lasting difference in people’s lives, giving them hope for a better future. There are areas void of violence and enjoying a degree of stability in the North-East where longer-term and more durable solutions are possible.
“These locations offer windows of opportunity to focus on activities that increase resilience and self-reliance for displaced people and host communities. Such opportunities would not be possible without the dedication and expertise of local actors.
“Our ‘village’ includes national and local partners with invaluable insight into the needs, preferences, and concerns of affected people, and their work has been key throughout all aspects of the humanitarian response.
“We must also find more effective ways of working together between the humanitarian and the development villages. Needless to state, we all desperately want to see an end to this terrible human made crisis.
“As my predecessor Edward Kallon often said, ‘there are no humanitarian solutions to humanitarian problems. The only solution is peace. And if I may add, humanitarian needs are the symptoms of a deeper crisis, that and in addition to peace, requires sustainable development to overcome it.
“We all long for the day when the conflict ends, and justice is ensured both to the perpetrators of horrific crimes as well as from the perspective of those who have had lives and livelihoods of loved ones destroyed. We must continue to work together in solidarity to bring this about.
“Last but not least, to our heroes, the front line humanitarian workers: we cannot thank you all enough, not just for your presence on this important day but for the live saving work you continue to do day in day out.
“It is indeed true that it takes a village to help those in crisis, and ours has the strength of thousands of people making remarkable efforts to help those in need in north-east Nigeria on World Humanitarian Day and beyond, I applaud us all.”
