UN Humanitarian Coordinator Condemns Killing Of Abducted Aid Worker In Borno

Mr Edward Kallon, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, has spoken in strong terms against the killing of the abducted aid worker and midwife, Saifura Hussaini in Borno, North-East Nigeria.

The Head of Communications, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), Mrs Samantha Newport, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

According to Kallon, Hussaini, 25, a staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was abducted on March 1, in Rann, Borno.

Hussaini and two other female humanitarian workers were adopted following a deadly attack by a Non-State Armed Group in which three other aid workers were killed.

“The killing of Ms. Hussaini, a young, dedicated and passionate midwife and humanitarian, is a cowardly, heinous and despicable act.

“Our deepest condolences go to her family, including her two young children, and friends.

“The United Nations calls on authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and account.”

Kallon, who reemphasized on the commitment of the international community to assist the North/East region, called for immediate release of other aid workers.

“The United Nations also calls for the immediate release of the two aid workers who are still being held.

“This incident demonstrates the severe challenges that Nigeria continues to face, but will not deter the international community from providing aid to millions of Nigerians caught up in the conflict in the North-East.

“The United Nations stands in solidarity with the humanitarian community,” Kallon said.

Kallon revealed that about 3000 humanitarian workers are presently working in the ravaged North East Region of the country.

He said the humanitarian community is currently providing life-saving assistance, including food, safe water and medicine, to over 60,000 internally displaced people in in Rann Camp and millions more in the region.

He said that about 7.7 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in 2018 in the worst-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, and 6.1 million were targeted for humanitarian assistance.