NGO’s forum focus on safety for humanitarian workers

The Nigerian International Non- Governmental Forum (NINGO Forum) has reiterated its focus on the protection of civilians in conflict, particularly from sexual abuse, exploitation and dangers faced by humanitarian aid workers. This remark was made by the country director for Mercy Corps, Darius Radcliffe in Abuja while marking the World Humanitarian Day (WHD) recently. The […]

The Nigerian International Non- Governmental Forum (NINGO Forum) has reiterated its focus on the protection of civilians in conflict, particularly from sexual abuse, exploitation and dangers faced by humanitarian aid workers.

This remark was made by the country director for Mercy Corps, Darius Radcliffe in Abuja while marking the World Humanitarian Day (WHD) recently. The WHD holds on August 19 every year.

Radcliffe said since the rise of the insurgency in the Northeast, women, men and children have faced grave human rights violations including sexual and gender-based violence. Children have been also abducted and drafted to become suicide bombers, he added.

Radcliffe said that this year alone humanitarian assistance has been delivered to over 1.8 million displaced Nigerians, with about half being children. He however noted that “the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region remains one of the most severe in the world today” as 8.5m people remain in need of assistance.

The NINGO forum coordinator, Drake Ssengyange  said that this year’s theme  “not a target” (#NotATarget) was chosen because health and aid workers who care for people affected during conflicts are increasingly being targeted in addition to the looting of medicines and relief supplies.

He added that the theme reaffirms the facts that conflicts take a toll on both civilian and aid workers; as such rule breakers should be properly sanctioned.