The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service has dispatched a helicopter with four medical personnel and 400kg of emergency medical supplies after a military airstrike hit Rann, Borno state. It also airlifted eight Red Cross workers injured in the airstrike.
Edward Kallon, the UN Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, said, “This is an unfortunate tragedy that befell people already suffering the effects of violence.”
He added the Nigerian army has also deployed a medical team and “is working with humanitarian partners to ensure maximum support to the affected people.”
Rann has only recently become accessible to humanitarian organisations, and emergency assistance is being ramped up.
Nearly 43,000 people are internally displaced and struggle with serious food shortages and severe acute malnutrition, according to the UN.
Kallon said the humanitarian community shared “profound sympathy and solidarity with those affected by the [airstrike]” and has promised additional assistance and personnel to be deployed to Rann in coming days.
“It is indeed an unfortunate and sad event… we continue to do our best to assist those wounded,” Kallon said.
