UN Suspends Humanitarian Aid To Borno After Attack On Aid Workers…Army Repels Attack

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By Sadiq Umar – The United Nations has suspended aid deliveries in Nigeria’s northeastern state of Borno, after an attack on a humanitarian convoy.

The Army headquarters said it was an ambush by the Boko Haram insurgents, but was successfully repelled.

The convoy was carrying employees of UNICEF and International Organization for Migration contractors (IOM), accompanied by military personnel when it was attacked by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

A statement released by UNICEF said unknown assailants attacked the convoy on Thursday as it returned to Maiduguri from delivering aid in Bama, injuring a UNICEF employee and an International Organization for Migration contractor.

“Today unknown assailants attacked a humanitarian convoy that included staff from UNICEF, UNFPA and IOM. The convoy was traveling from Bama to Maiduguri in Borno State, Nigeria, returning from delivering desperately needed humanitarian assistance.

“UNICEF can confirm that a UNICEF employee and an IOM contractor were injured in the attack and are being treated at a local hospital. All other UNICEF, IOM and UNFPA staff are safe.

“The convoy was in a remote area of northeastern Nigeria, where protracted conflict has caused extreme suffering and has triggered a severe malnutrition crisis. This was not only an attack on humanitarian workers. It is an attack on the people who most need the assistance and aid that these workers were bringing.

“The United Nations has temporarily suspended humanitarian assistance missions pending review of the security situation,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has confirmed the attack, adding that troops repelled the attack and successfully cleared the ambush.

According to the Army, the convoys were returning from Bama on humanitarian escort duty, were ambushed enroute Maiduguri by suspected remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in Meleri village, a few kilometres from Kawuri.

Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman disclosed this in a press release issued in Abuja.

“The gallant troops however, successfully cleared the ambush and exploited up to Afunori.

“Unfortunately, 2 soldiers and 3 civilians were wounded in the ambush, among whom were staff of United Nations agencies and other international humanitarian organizations.

“The wounded have been evacuated to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri and they are in stable condition.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to sympathize with our wounded colleagues, the United Nations and other Non-governmental organizations whose personnel were also injured in this sad incident.

“We wish to reiterate our determination and commitment to ensuring safety and security in the North East and safeguarding the lives of all persons.”

 

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