An international humanitarian medical non-governmental
organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières, otherwise called Doctors
Without Borders, has condemned the decision of the military to ban
two NGOs — Action Against Hunger and Mercy Corps — from providing
humanitarian services in the North-East.
The military had banned the groups for allegedly working with
Boko Haram.
After his visit to Nigeria, the United Nations Under-Secretary
for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark
Lowcock, said in a statement his discussion with the Federal
Government was fruitful, saying the FG had assured him that the ban
would be lifted.
But on Monday, MSF, in a statement said the humanitarian
agencies operating in the troubled North-East must be allowed to
play their roles in an independent, neutral and impartial
manner.
The statement said, “Disruptions of humanitarian assistance,
including food aid, have life-threatening consequences,
particularly for the most vulnerable.”
The group insisted Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states were in need
of “massive and sustained humanitarian response” because of the
Boko Haram insurgency.
The statement added, “A decade of conflict has disrupted the
lives of millions of people almost to a point where violence, abuse
and deprivation have become normalised.
“Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders remains
committed to providing high quality medical assistance to the
population of North-East Nigeria.
“Aid must be delivered impartially and neutrally to all in need
in line with international humanitarian law.”
The group said many people in the zone needed serious medical
attention.
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