The UN, humanitarian affairs chief, travelled to the Nigeria to see the humanitarian situation, see the northeast’s reaction to raise international awareness about the deteriorating humanitarian situation, and bringing attention towards the ongoing regional conflict affecting the Lake Chad Basin.
The chief of the UN engaged with several people including, the Vice President and members of the Federal government, the chief of Defence Staff, also the Governor of Borno State in Nigeria northeast, where the extremist group Boko Haram founded its Islamist revolution in 2009, that has flared to neighbouring nations, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
In the northeast region, he also met those Nigerians who have been troubled due to violence and humanitarian associates in Maiduguri, Bama and Damasak.
The dispute in the Lake Chad basin has carried a heavy toll on communities across the border areas of the affected countries, which put over 10 million lives in danger and in urge to seek humanitarian assistance.
During his visit to Damasak, on the border with Niger, Mr Griffiths heard from families and women that had been affected and displaced by the violence.
They states that, they are hoping to return home, yet are hopeless that they could not plan for a better future due armed groups’ continuous insecurity and raids.
According to Mr Griffiths, “It’s heartbreaking to see the strong effect of the violence and said many people were forced to leave their home. Yet the people I met showed me amazing courage in the face of cruel violence, killings, kidnappings, displacement and sometimes difficulties to survive.”
“In Bama, women told stories of having been sexually assaulted for years by armed groups. We must help them rebuild their lives.”
He further added the Governor of Borno State had assured commitment of the government to improve their protection and build strength for the most vulnerable sections of society.
“We will put twice efforts to improve the protection of civilians and humanitarian access and seek durable solutions out of crisis wherever possible, ” the UN humanitarian chief added.
