Connect with us

News

UNHCR: About 7m persons forcefully displaced in West African… Nigeria hosts higher number of over 3.5m

Published

on

UNHCR: About 7m persons forcefully displaced in West African
… Nigeria hosts higher number of over 3.5m

By: Michael Mike

The United United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has emphasized the need for the protection of refugee, lamenting that no fewer than 6,976,470 million persons have been forcibly displaced due to conflicts and violence within the ECOWAS sub-region.

The United Nations Refugee Agency, noted that of the total displaced persons, 624,124 are listed refugees seeking asylum.

Also included in the figure is 6,352,346 internally displaced persons (IDPs).

UNHCR revealed that Nigeria and Burkina Faso are currently hosting the largest populations of displaced individuals, with 3,578,996 and 2,062,534 people respectively, with Niger currently accommodating the largest refugee population, totalling 325,419 individuals.

The was revealed by the Director of UNHCR Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, Mr. Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde during the signing of a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UNHCR and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission aimed at protecting the rights of refugees in the West African subregion

The revised MOU, which was initially signed between the two institutions in 2001, now adds new areas of collaboration, such as the identification and protection of refugees found in risky migration movements, statelessness, emergency management, and long-term solutions to forcible displacements.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with the signing of the revised MOU have reached an agreement to enhance their cooperation in safeguarding the rights and well-being of refugees, stateless individuals, and internally displaced persons within the region.

The agreement was based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed between the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E Dr Omar Alieu Touray, and the Director of UNHCR Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, Mr. Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde.

Touray outlined some of the ECOWAS Commission’s initiatives to address the political and humanitarian crises in the region and said the organisation’s member states are assiduously working to address the underlying causes of the conflicts in the area through diplomatic and political engagements. The ECOWAS President expressed confidence in the Commission’s continued efforts in these areas to produce fruitful results.

Mr. Gnon-Konde, on his part said there is an ongoing occurrence of violent conflicts, disasters, and insecurity in various countries.

This, he said has forcefully compelled a number of individuals to leave their residences, both within the sub-region and beyond.

He therefore described UNHCR’s collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission as long-lasting, highly productive, and relevant in view of the current humanitarian context confronting the sub-region.

He noted that UNHCR also collaborates closely with other ECOWAS institutions, especially with the ECOWAS Court of Justice and the ECOWAS Parliament, with which UNHCR has previously signed distinct MOUs to address forcible displacement issues within the ECOWAS sub-region, building on the specific mandates of each of these institutions.

UNHCR: About 7m persons forcefully displaced in West African
… Nigeria hosts higher number of over 3.5m

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Several terrorists killed as Air Force destroys enclave in Sambisa Forest air strike

Published

on

Several terrorists killed as Air Force destroys enclave in Sambisa Forest air strike

By: Zagazola Makama

The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai have eliminated several terrorists following a precision air interdiction mission conducted on a known terrorist enclave at Yuwe in the Sambisa Forest general area.

Military sources said the operation was carried out on April 19 at about 5:45 p.m. by the Phantom Formation in collaboration with the Grey Raptor platform in support of battlefield air interdiction operations.

The mission, was launched following credible intelligence and confirmatory intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) that revealed active terrorist presence and fortified structures, including suspected bunkers within the area.

Upon arrival over the target location in the Sambisa Forest axis of Sambisa Forest, the air crew identified designated targets and engaged them with precision munitions.

Security sources said the strike successfully destroyed multiple terrorist logistics structures, including shelters and operational hideouts, while several terrorists were killed in the attack.

The operation is part of sustained air and ground offensives aimed at degrading terrorist capabilities, disrupting their supply chains, and denying them freedom of movement within the theatre of operations.

Military high command reiterated that ongoing joint operations are designed to maintain pressure on terrorist elements and ensure the gradual restoration of stability across affected areas.

They further assured that intelligence-led air strikes will continue in coordination with ground forces to dismantle remaining terrorist networks and enclaves.

Several terrorists killed as Air Force destroys enclave in Sambisa Forest air strike

Continue Reading

News

One killed by Fulani bandit in isolated attack along Sabon Gida axis in Plateau

Published

on

One killed by Fulani bandit in isolated attack along Sabon Gida axis in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

A 32-year-old man, identified as Mr Gideon Luka from Mangu but resident in Sabon Gida, has been killed in an isolated attack along Sabon Gida axis in Gyel District of Plateau State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the troops of Operation Steadfast Peace (OPEP) were alerted to the incident and swiftly mobilised to the scene, where the victim was discovered with machete injuries on the forehead and stomach.

According to an eyewitness, Mr Dogara Peter, who was with the deceased before the incident, the attack occurred on April 19 at about 7:00 p.m. when both men were riding on a motorcycle from Sabon Gida to SOT area in Gyel District.

The eyewitness said they were ambushed near Sabon Gida Primary School by two unidentified youths, one of whom was reportedly armed with a stick.

He explained that he managed to escape during the attack and initially believed his companion had also fled the scene.

However, residents later launched a search in the early hours of the morning and discovered the victim’s body.

Security sources confirmed that the victim was evacuated for assessment, while troops extended condolences to the family and urged residents not to take the law into their own hands.

They added that preliminary investigation had commenced to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

One killed by Fulani bandit in isolated attack along Sabon Gida axis in Plateau

Continue Reading

News

One killed, three injured as gunmen attack Plateau community in reprisal over livestock incident

Published

on

One killed, three injured as gunmen attack Plateau community in reprisal over livestock incident

By: Zagazola Makama

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits have killed one person and injured three others in an attack on Shonong community in Bachi District, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, in a sustained reprisal attack linked to an earlier livestock-related incident.

Security sources said the attack occurred at about 8:40 p.m. on April 19 when the armed men invaded the community and opened fire on residents.

The sources said the assault was believed to be in retaliation over the killing of nine livestock in the area, an incident that had heightened tensions between farming and herding communities in the locality.

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) deployed in the area reportedly came under fire while responding to the attack and engaged the assailants in a gun duel, forcing them to withdraw after a heavy exchange of fire.

Reinforcement teams were later deployed and moved into the community to stabilise the situation and restore order.

According to the sources, the attackers killed a woman identified as Mrs Fibi Solomon, while three others — Mr Solomon, Master Jacob Solomon and Miss Jacobeth Solomon — sustained gunshot wounds.

The injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Riyom for treatment, alongside the remains of the deceased.

Troops also rescued 12 civilians comprising three men, six women and three children, who were relocated to nearby Fang village for safety.

Security sources added that troops had intensified pursuit operations to track down the fleeing attackers, while the general area remained calm but tense.

One killed, three injured as gunmen attack Plateau community in reprisal over livestock incident

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights