UN suspends humanitarian aid to Borno over Boko Haram ambush

The United Nations has “temporarily suspended” humanitarian missions to Borno state, the nerve center of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. A humanitarian escort duty and Nigerian soldiers were on Thursday ambushed and attacked by Boko Haram insurgents. The convoy which was en route Maiduguri from Bama, included staff from UNICEF, UNFPA, and IOM.

A UNICEF employee and an IOM contractor were injured in the deadly attack which was managed and repelled by troops of the Nigerian Army

According to Sani Usman, the Nigerian Army spokesperson, the terrorists were hiding in Meleri village, a few kilometres from Kawuri. “The gallant troops however, successfully cleared the ambush and exploited up to Afunori,” Usman said. “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.”

UNICEF regretted that a humanitarian convoy was attacked while “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.”

Also on Thursday, the United Nations Security Council harped on the need to increase military cooperation between West African countries to fight against Boko Haram. The UNSC acknowledged the progress made in the implementation of the Joint Multinational Force and urged member states to “improve cooperation and military coordination in the region, refuse harbouring Boko Haram, facilitate the restoration of the rule of law” in towns liberated form Boko Haram and to “allow humanitarian access”.