THE United Nations (UN) has suspended all humanitarian assistance missions to Nigeria, pending the review of the security situation.
The decision was taken, following the on attack on its humanitarian convoy in North-East by suspected Boko Haram members.
In a statement issued by UNICEF late Thursday night, entitled: “UNICEF statement on attack on humanitarian convoy in North-Eastern Nigeria,” the UN said it has “temporarily suspended humanitarian assistance missions, pending review of the security situation.”
The statement read: “Today, unknown assailants attacked a humanitarian convoy that included staff from UNICEF, UNFPA and IOM. The convoy was travelling from Bama to Maiduguri in Borno State, Nigeria, returning from delivering desperately needed humanitarian assistance.
“UNICEF can confirm that a UNICEF employee and an IOM contractor were injured in the attack and are being treated at a local hospital. All other UNICEF, IOM and UNFPA staff are safe.
“The convoy was in a remote area of North-Eastern Nigeria, where protracted conflict has caused extreme suffering and has triggered a severe malnutrition crisis.
“This was not only an attack on humanitarian workers, it is an attack on the people who most need the assistance and aid that these workers were bringing.
“The United Nations has temporarily suspended humanitarian assistance missions pending review of the security situation.”