...Urges probe of alleged Diversion of Relief Items to IDPs
Senate
President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday commended the pledge
of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to continue providing
relief assistance to millions in the North-east,
despite last Thursday’s (June 28th, 2016) attack on a Its relief
convoy that left two aid workers, one contractor and two
soldiers injured.
In a Statement
by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, the
Senate President also called on the Security agencies and the Attorney
General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami
to investigate the allegations that some aid deliverables meant for the
internally displaced persons are being diverted by officials in charge
of distributing to the people.
The Senate
President applauded UNICEF for not turning its back on the troubled
zone, which has witnessed increased cases of malnutrition - primarily
amongst women and children - since the Boko Haram
insurgency in the region led to suspension of agricultural activities,
destroyed markets, and hindered access to clean water.
“UNICEF’s
decision to press on in the North East despite Thursday’s attack is
truly commendable. On our part, the Nigerian government must back the
resolve of our international partners with greater
coordination platforms in terms of security for aid workers and
thorough mandate mapping exercises to ensure that we are meeting the
needs of those in crisis areas", he said.
Saraki further
reiterated his call for an immediate review of the security situation in
the North East by the relevant authorities, and urged domestic
and international partners to step up humanitarian
intervention projects in the region to save more lives.
“It is a
difficult situation, whichever way we look at it,” he said, “however,
its situations like these that should prompt aid agencies on the ground
to scale up their activities and coordination in
order to save thousands of lives.”
With recent
reports of aid relief deliverables being diverted by some officials in
charge of ensuring the distribution of materials to the IDPs, Saraki
urged the Security agencies to immediately set
up a team of crack detectives to investigate the allegations while the
Attorney General should ensure the prosecution of individuals found
culpable in the misappropriation of relief items.
"Such reports
are totally unacceptable. The IGP must immediately take action and bring
all those that have carted away relief materials meant for the people
of the North East to book."
Late last week,
unidentified assailants attacked a humanitarian convoy that was on its
way to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital from Bama. The convoy included
staff from UNICEF, the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA), and the International Organisation for
Migration (IOM). Following this attack, UNICEF announced that it would
be temporarily suspending “humanitarian assistance missions pending
review of the security situation” in the North East.
In recent
months, the organisation has repeatedly issued warnings that of the
244,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition in Borno State alone,
one in five would die if they do not receive
the appropriate treatment.
Last month,
Saraki led a delegation to IDP camps in Maiduguri, Borno State where he
pledged that the Senate would work on expediting the passage of the
North East Development Commission (NEDC) Bill
as well as look into the issue of malnutrition and shortage of medical
supplies in the North East.
The NEDC Bill aims to create a multi-state platform for the coordination of relief and donations to the zone.
Signed
Yusuph Olaniyonu
Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President
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