The top UN aid official in Nigeria has听condemned听a weekend attack against a major humanitarian facility in the north-east of the country.听
Non-State armed groups targeted the humanitarian hub in Ngala,听Borno听state, on Saturday evening, burning an entire section of the facility as well as a vehicle used in aid deliveries.听
Five UN staff were staying there at the time but escaped unharmed due to security measures in place.听
Edward听Kallon, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in听Nigeria, expressed outrage over the incident.听
鈥淚 am shocked by the violence and intensity of this attack, which is the latest of too many incidents directly targeting humanitarian actors and the assistance we provide,鈥澨齢e said on Monday.听
听鈥淚 am relieved all staff is now safe and secure. Aid workers, humanitarian facilities and assets cannot be a target and must be protected and respected at all times.鈥澨�
Northern Nigeria has been in the grip of a Boko Haram insurgency for about a decade, which has led to widespread displacement.听
Last year, more than 10,000 people arrived in Ngala, searching for security and basic services, the UN humanitarian affairs office,听, reported.听
鈥楧isastrous effect鈥櫶齩n vulnerable
Mr.听Kallon听said attacks against听humanitarians听have a 鈥渄isastrous effect鈥� on the vulnerable people they support.听
鈥淢any of them had already fled violence in their area of origin and were hoping to find safety and assistance in Ngala. This also jeopardizes the ability for aid workers to stay and deliver assistance to the people most in need听in remote areas in听Borno听State,鈥澨齢e said.听
Overall, the听UN and partners听are听bringing vital assistance to more than seven million people in听three states affected by the crisis.听 Besides听Borno, they also are operational in听neighbouring听Adamawa and听Yobe听states.听
听said aid workers in Nigeria are increasingly being targeted in听attacks.听听Twelve were killed last year,听which is听double the number killed in 2018.听
Meanwhile,听the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to call for the safe release of听two aid workers听who remain in the hands of non-State armed groups after being abducted in separate incidents in听Borno听state.听听听
Grace听Taku, a staff member with Action Against Hunger, was abducted alongside five male colleagues near听Damasak听in July 2019.听 The men were all killed, according to media reports.听
The other aid worker, Alice听Loksha, a nurse and mother, was kidnapped during an attack in听Rann听in March 2018.听
