World Humanitarian Day: NGO’s forum focus on safety for humanitarian workers
As the world marks World Humanitarian Day (WHD) today, the Nigeria International Non- Governmental Forum (INGO Forum) says it will focus on the protection of civilians in conflict, particularly from sexual abuse and exploitation and dangers faced by humanitarian aid workers. This remark was made by the country director for Mercy Corps, Darius Radcliffe while […]
As the world marks World Humanitarian Day (WHD) today, the Nigeria International Non- Governmental Forum (INGO Forum) says it will focus on the protection of civilians in conflict, particularly from sexual abuse and exploitation and dangers faced by humanitarian aid workers.
This remark was made by the country director for Mercy Corps, Darius Radcliffe while speaking in Abuja.
He said that since the start of the insurgency in the north east women, men and children face grave human rights violations including sexual and gender based violence while children have been abducted and drafted to be suicide bombers.
Radcliffe said that this year alone humanitarian assistance has been delivered to over 1.8 million displaced Nigerians over half of whom are 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 8.5 million people remain in need of assistance.
The INGO 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 conflict are increasingly being targeted in addition to the looting of medicines and relief supplies.
He added that the theme reaffirms the the facts that conflicts takes a toll on both civilian and aids workers as such rule breakers should be properly sanctioned.
WHD holds annually on the 19th of August.