At least three local government areas in Nigeria are still
cut off due to the presence of Boko Haram insurgents, the United Nations has
said.
The claim is coming weeks after the military command in
northeast Nigeria announced that no part of Borno state was under the control
of the deadly group.
But the UN said despite efforts by the military, some
locations in Borno state, including three whole local government areas,
remained inaccessible to aid workers as a result of the threat posed by the
Boko Haram sect.
The report was issued by the United Nations’ Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian (OCHA). It said Boko Haram hostilities that slowed
down due to the rainy season might increase in the coming months.
“Insecurity, presence of mines, improvised explosive devices,
and unexploded ordinances had continued to slow down the response of
humanitarian agencies in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states” said OCHA’s monthly
report for September 2017, titled, “North-East Nigeria: Humanitarian Situation
Update”.
“Most roads to the south, south-west and east remain unusable
due to security concerns and most humanitarian personnel movement is done
through air assets. Cargo, however, is being transported via road with armed
escorts as a last resort.”
The UN agency added that, “No humanitarian aid is currently reaching
locations in these LGAs outside of the LGAs’ main towns called ‘headquarters’.
Major humanitarian supply routes towards the west, north-west and north are
open for humanitarians without the use of armed escorts. Following advocacy
efforts, Konduga and Mafa are now also accessible to aid groups without
military escorts.”
The UN said it was battling with paucity of funds due to the
failure of donors worldwide to fully meet their financial commitment towards
the North-east.
The director of Army Public Relations, Sani Usman, told
journalists the Army would not Immediately comment on the report until it
studied its details.
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