UN envoy commends aid workers in North East

As part of celebrations for World Humanitarian Day, United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, has offered eloquent tributes to humanitarian workers in North East Nigeria (WHD).

He claims that the North East's humanitarian community respects the aid workers who volunteer their time every day to respond to the crisis thereby offering life-saving help to millions of frightened locals.

At the weekend's World Humanitarian Day (WHD) ceremony, he revealed that 35 aid workers had died in the North East since 2016.

It takes a village to raise a child, he said, which is the idea behind this year's World Humanitarian Day theme, #ItTakesAVillage.

His words: “Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole community to help people in need; to provide urgent health care, shelter, food, protection, transportation, security, water and much more.”

WHD also promotes the security of aid workers, who frequently perform their duties in dangerous and unpredictable surroundings.

"According to the Relief Worker Security Database (AWSD), 35 aid workers have died in North East Nigeria since 2016."

There have been 28 kidnappings and 22 injuries. Six humanitarian workers have been abducted and one has been slain in the region so far in 2022. Around 460 relief workers were victims of 267 major attacks worldwide in 2021, including 140 fatalities, 203 serious injuries, and 117 kidnappings.

According to Humanitarian Outcomes, "this is the highest number of aid worker fatalities documented since 2013."

The United Nations General Assembly declared August 19 to be World Humanitarian Day in 2008 to promote awareness of humanitarian aid provided around the world and to honour those who put their lives in danger to provide it. In 2009, it was honoured for the first time.

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