UN envoy eulogises aid workers in North East

35 aid workers killed since 2016

United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, has paid glowing tributes to aid workers in North East Nigeria as part of events to mark World Humanitarian Day (WHD).

According to him, the humanitarian community in the North East honours aid workers that step up to respond each day to the crisis in the region by providing life-saving assistance to millions of distressed residents.

Speaking during an event to mark World Humanitarian Day (WHD), at the weekend, he disclosed that 35 aid workers had been killed in North East since 2016.

The theme of this year’s WHD, #ItTakesAVillage, is built upon the metaphor, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ he noted.

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 advocates the safety of aid workers, who often work in volatile and unpredictable environments.

“Since 2016, 35 aid workers have been killed in North East Nigeria, according to the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD).”

Twenty-two has been wounded and 28 kidnapped. So far in 2022, six aid workers have been kidnapped and one has been killed in the region. Globally, in 2021 some 460 aid workers were victims of 267 major attacks: 140 aid workers were killed, 203 seriously injured and 117 kidnapped.

“This marks the highest number of aid worker fatalities recorded since 2013, according to Humanitarian Outcomes,” he added.

In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly designated August 19 as WHD to raise awareness of humanitarian assistance worldwide and pay tribute to the people who risk their lives to provide it. It was commemorated for the first time in 2009.