UNICEF statement on attack on humanitarian convoy in northeastern Nigeria
2016-07-28
NEW YORK/ HONG KONG, 28 July 2016 - Today unknown assailants attacked a humanitarian convoy that included staff from UNICEF, UNFPA, and IOM. The convoy was traveling 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 northeastern 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 inging.
The United Nations has temporarily suspended humanitarian assistance missions pending review of the security situation.