UN Laments Over Lack Of Access For Aid Delivery In Borno

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, has lamented over the interruption of aid delivery to the internally displaced people in Rann, a town in eastern Borno State.

Ran, about 10 kilometers from the border with Cameroon, came under a deadly attack by a non-state armed group on January 14, 2019 and the incident has led to an interruption in the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the area.

At present, Rann is inaccessible to international humanitarian organisations both by road and by air, according to Kallon in a statement on Friday.

During the time of the attack, an estimated 76,000 internally displaced people were living in Rann and a medical clinic, warehouses with humanitarian supplies and accommodation for aid workers were looted and destroyed in the attack.

Several civilian fatalities have been reported following the attacks and thousands are reported to have fled to Cameroon as 14 aid workers who survived the onslaught by the insurgents were also withdrawn the day after by helicopter.

“The attacks on Rann, that are increasingly frequent, are having a devastating impact on the civilians taking refuge in this isolated town and severely affecting our ability to deliver life-saving aid to women, men and children in need,” said Mr. Kallon. “This attack has spread fear among an already vulnerable population, and humanitarian assets were also targeted. I urge the Government of Nigeria to protect civilians, including aid workers.”

The conflict in north-east Nigeria, now in its tenth year, has triggered massive displacement and caused a severe humanitarian crisis with more than 7 million people in need.

Clashes in Kukawa and Monguno local government areas in northern Borno State have also forced more than 43,000 people to flee their homes since November, with more than 32,000 taking refuge in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Many of these people are converging on already congested camps or sites for internally displaced people, forcing hundreds of individuals to sleep in overcrowded shelters or outside.