UN withdraws 260 aid workers from Borno amid Boko Haram resurgence

The revived intensity with which Boko Haram has been carrying out attacks on communities in Borno state has forced the United Nations to withdraw about 260 aid workers in the state.

The spokesperson of the agency in Nigeria, Samantha Newport revealed this in a statement on Wednesday while recounting how recent attacks by Boko Haram has created a huge challenge in humanitarian delivery service.

She collectively disclosed with the UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria,  Edward Kallon, that there’s been a surge in the number of people being displaced from their communities, as the fight with Boko Haram continues.

“A subsequent attempted attack on Monguno on December 28, 2018, has exacerbated the situation, generating further displacement,’ the statement read.

Consequent to these continuous attacks, there’s been a withdrawal of 260 aid workers from three local government areas; Monguno, Kala/Balge and Kukawa which were affected the most by the conflict since November.

Not too long ago, the ISIS-allied faction of Boko Haram, ISWAP had attacked Rann where some aid workers were killed with about eight soldiers and three International Committee of Red Cross staff were abducted.

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Two of the ICRC staff, Hauwa Laman and Saifura Ahmed were eventually executed after the sect’s demands were not met by the Federal Government and one of them, Alice Loksha is still being held captive till date.

After that incident, aid agencies are now wary of risking the lives of their workers in the region, but the UN coordinator in Nigeria say that this new development is “affecting the delivery of humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands of people” who are in dire need of help.