Aftermath Of Helicopter’s Attack, UN Suspends Air Operations In North East

Related stories

“Stay Away from National Assembly,” Senate warns Natasha

By Abiola Olawale The Nigerian Senate has issued a s...

Awujale’s burial and Aso Rock’s graveyard politics By Festus Adedayo

By Festus Adedayo “Why should I bother myself with what...

Three deaths: Gainers and losers By Bolanle BOLAWOLE

By Bolanle BOLAWOLE turnpot@gmail.com 0705 263 1058. The death of three...

(VIDEO) Applause as Billionaire Business Icon, Leemon Ikpea’s State-of-the-art Medical Facility in Ewatto, Nears Completion 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UCKl8rwMdSM&t=12s By Abiola Olawale The people of Ewatto in Esan South...

Before you accept his proposal, By Funke Egbemode

By Funke Egbemode If the man you are considering spending...

Following an attack that left three people including a five-year-old dead and damage to an aid helicopter on Thursday in Damasak, a town in Borno State, the United Nations has suspended the operations of the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS).

United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon made this known in a statement on Saturday.

“I am gravely concerned about reports of another violent attack by non-state armed groups in Damasak, Borno State, on 2 July, in which at least two innocent civilians lost their lives, including a five-year-old child. Several others were injured, and a humanitarian helicopter was hit, sustaining serious damage” he said.

Kallon noted that though there was no aid worker aboard the helicopter, there is a need by the Nigerian Government to investigate the attack and swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to him, the attack and damage to the helicopter severely affect the ability of aid actors to provide urgently needed assistance to vulnerable people in remote areas across Borno State.

“The UN Humanitarian Air Service is essential to evacuate wounded civilians and remains the backbone to facilitating humanitarian access, thereby enabling UN agencies and non-governmental organizations to safely and securely reach the most vulnerable populations.

In 2019, UNHAS transported 66,271 passengers and 147 megatons of humanitarian assistance, as well as conducted 30 medical and 70 security evacuations,” Kallon added.

He condemned the attacks against civilians, humanitarian assets, and aid workers, thereby calling on all armed parties to respect the international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

The UN official also urged the parties to allow and facilitate safe and unimpeded access for humanitarians to deliver life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable people in the North East.

According to him, 7.8 million people in the crisis-affected states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States, mostly living in remote areas need humanitarian aid.

Kallon explained that in recognition of Thursday’s incident and consultation with some humanitarian organizations, it became necessary to pause UNHAS rotary operations in the region.

He stated that this was to allow the UN to engage government partners and conduct new risk assessments for each helicopter location to ensure that they have taken all the possible mitigation measures.

Babajide Okeowo
Babajide Okeowohttps://newdiplomatng.com/
With a career spanning over a decade spent across the Business, Political and Entertainment beats of prominent media organizations in Nigeria, Babajide Okeowo has carved a niche for himself as a Journalist of repute. As a newsroom guru, he has penned several weighty narratives and designed content that speak to a news medium's values, vision and mission while ensuring that the content resonate pretty well with a variety of critical audiences across Nigeria and beyond. A consummate storyteller whose coverage of the business industry is valuable, Okeowo is blessed with a vast analytical mind and data interpretation skills. In his spare time, he interprets data for a Leading American University while also volunteering for a Non-Governmental Organization on Mindset Transformation. Okeowo is the Content Editor of The New Diplomat.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
"Stay Away from National Assembly," Senate warns NatashaAwujale’s burial and Aso Rock’s graveyard politics By Festus AdedayoThree deaths: Gainers and losers By Bolanle BOLAWOLE(VIDEO) Applause as Billionaire Business Icon, Leemon Ikpea's State-of-the-art Medical Facility in Ewatto, Nears Completion Before you accept his proposal, By Funke EgbemodeOil Price Volatility and Higher Valuations Cause M&A Activity to SlowDrama as UNIMAID ASUU Opposes Tinubu, Vows To Contest Renaming of Varsity After Late BuhariFalana Lashes Okpebholo, Warns: "Withdraw Your Statement, Apologize to Obi immediately."NDDC's N6 trillion: SERAP Drags Tinubu to Court Over Non-Release of Forensic Audit ReportFears Soars As PDP Confirms Assassination Attempt on Anambra Gov Candidate, EzenwaforBreakdown as FAAC Disburses N1.818 Trillion in June 2025 2027: Osun Senator, Fadeyi Dumps PDP, Amid Adeleke's Defection SpeculationsRanked: The 40 Countries With the Best Culture and HeritageEFCC Probing 18 Sitting Governors in Major Corruption Crackdown, Olukoyede RevealsNatasha Vows to Return to Senate Tuesday, Despite Akpabio's Appeal
X whatsapp