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World Humanitarian Day: NHRC advocates protection of aid workers

By Ameh Ejekwonyilo

As Nigeria joins the rest of the global community in marking the
2020 World Humanitarian Day (WHD), the National Human Rights
Commission (nhrc) has urged government at all levels and other stakeholders not to compromise on the security of all humanitarian workers.

In a statement issued by Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Assistant Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, NHRC, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, was quoted to have emphasized the
need to adequately equip and support humanitarian workers in order to
encourage them to diligently discharge their difficult and challenging
responsibilities to humanity.

“Ojukwu recalled the origin of WHD when on the 19th August 2003, 22
people including the Chief Humanitarian Officer in Iraq, Sergio Vieira
de Mello were bombed at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad for which the UN
General Assembly designated the Day to honour the victims and other
humanitarian workers around the globe.

“He stated that the WHD which is observed on 19th of August annually in
honour of all aid and health workers killed or injured in the course
of their duties, remains an auspicious occasion to reminisce over the
efforts and sacrifices of these humanists whether dead or living.
While assuring champions who are still in the field that their
sacrifices are not in vain but rather appreciated.

“According to the human rights Czar, the rising level of insecurity
across Nigeria and the world at large coupled with the novel COVID-19
pandemic which effects have virtually crippled world economy with high
morbidity and mortality rate have made humanitarian work a more risky
and daunting task.

“In Nigeria alone, insurgency, kidnappings, ethnic clashes, armed
banditry and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) etc. have
unfortunately thrown up a number of humanitarian issues which
government and development partners are grappling to address”, the
Executive Secretary remarked.

“Meanwhile, he commended the federal government for the thoughtfulness
in creating a Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management
and Social Development and other interventions to address the plights
of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, returnees,
migrants which if left unattended to, will snowball into further
violations of human rights.

“While commiserating with the families of humanitarian workers who lost
their lives during the course of their work, the NHRC Boss used the
opportunity to urge Nigerian institutions and organizations to always
mainstream human rights in their daily activities in line with extant
national, regional and international human rights and humanitarian
laws to enhance the inherent dignity of mankind.

In order to improve the plight of placed countries and humanitarian
workers, the National Human Rights Commission is working with the
Ministry of Justice, Defence, Civilians in conflicts and other
stakeholders to adopt a National Security Policy for the protection of
civilians. When adopted, this will improve the climate for
humanitarian workers and displaced communities in the country,” the statement read.

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