UN: 140 aid workers kills, 460 others victims of major attacks globally Draft

UN: 140 aid workers kills, 460 others victims of major attacks globally

By Olatunji Omirin

The United Nations Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Matthias Schmale has confirmed that a total number of 140 humanitarian workers were killed globally while 460 others were victims in 267 major attacks including Nigeria.

Mr. Matthias stated this an event to commemorating of World Humanitarian Day 2022, theme, “#ItTakesAVillage is built upon the metaphor, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ held in Maiduguri on Friday.

“Since 2016, 35 aid workers have been killed in north-east Nigeria, according to the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD). Twenty-two have been wounded and 28 kidnapped. So far in 2022, six aid workers have been kidnapped and one has been killed in the region (AWSD).

“Globally, in 2021 some 460 aid workers were victims in 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 said.

According to him, the humanitarian community in north-east Nigeria honors all aid workers stepping up to respond each day to the crisis in the region by providing life-saving assistance to millions of women, children and men.

“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.

“Despite the many challenges in this crisis, we should all be immensely proud of the impact humanitarians have in north-east Nigeria. 

“Through our combined effort our humanitarian ‘village’ delivered assistance to five million people last year. That assistance saved countless lives, improved living conditions, and protected the most vulnerable people,” said Mr. Schmale.

He urged as World Humanitarian Day also advocates for the safety and security of aid workers, who often work in volatile and unpredictable environments. 

Mr. Schmale highlighted that, “As we celebrate this day, we must remember that 4.1 million people across the north-east are facing hunger, trying to cope with its dangerous repercussions. We must put them, and all crisis-affected people, at the center of World Humanitarian Day.”

He has reiterated the commitment of humanitarian community to supporting Borno and others hit by humanitarian crisis.