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Military restrictions hampering northeast Nigeria aid: HRW
LAGOS, March 4, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Tighter restrictions imposed by the
authorities on aid groups operating in northeast Nigeria’s conflict zone are
“stifling” efforts to tackle the humanitarian crisis, Human Rights Watch said
Wednesday.
Military and civilian authorities last year stiffened official controls
over organisations operating in the region, in a clampdown the rights group
said made transporting staff and aid more difficult.
“Undue restrictions are intensifying the suffering of vulnerable people in
dire need of life-saving assistance,” Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at
Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.
The measures come as humanitarian organisations face growing dangers from
Islamist groups in northeast Nigeria, with 12 aid workers killed in 2019.
The United Nations has said there are an estimated 1.2 million people in
the region “who cannot be reached by the humanitarian community”, a 30
percent increase on 2018.
The stiffer demands by the authorities followed a surge in attacks by
jihadists who have waged a decade-long uprising that has killed more than
36,000 people.
Human Rights Watch said the tighter requirements include “lengthy
processes” to get authorisation for transporting personnel, cash and aid as
well as mandating military escorts in some areas and limiting fuel supplies.
“Aid workers said that the amount of control the Nigerian military now has
over their activities prevents them from reaching millions of people and
causes safety concerns as other parties to the conflict may view aid groups
as taking the government’s side,” the rights groups said.
Nigeria’s military has long viewed aid organisations operating in the
northeast with suspicion.
Last year the army closed the regional offices of international groups
Action Against Hunger and Mercy Corps for two months over allegations they
were collaborating with insurgents.
Overall some 1.8 million people are displaced in northeast Nigeria and
seven million are in need of urgent assistance.
The jihadists have splintered into several groups, with one loyal to Boko
Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and another affiliated to the Islamic State
group.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1940HRS