Anglophone Crisis:

UN Stings Military, ‘Amba’ Over Harassment of Aid Workers

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Yaounde

The UN Resident Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator in Cameroon has frowned at what she describes as “increased harassment, attacks, abductions and extortion” of humanitarian workers in the restive Anglophone regions by elements of Cameroon’s defense forces and the separatist fighters.

                Allegra Baiocchi in a press statement she issued Thursday 4 June 2020 stated that “the situation has reached a point where aid delivery has had to be scaled back, putting many lives at unnecessary risk”.

                She particularly expressed worries over the “increasingly widespread practice by non-state armed groups of setting up illegal checkpoints along main supply routes and abducting aid workers”.

                She added that the past two months has seen a significant increase in attacks with six aid agencies reporting kidnap of their workers and of illegal detention in life-threatening incidents.

                “The aggressive reinforcing of “ghost town” days, the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in heavily frequented areas, or the closure of inter-city transport for several days, have further constrained the ability of humanitarian organisations to operate, with dire consequences for population they seek to support,” Allegra said.

                She added that aside the atrocities of separatist fighters, security forces have also reportedly delayed the movement of humanitarian cargo and aid delivery trucks and detained protective equipment needed to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian workers.

              

UN Resident Rep. Allegra Baiocchi

  She appealed to the consciences of the belligerent camps to protect civilians, aid workers, ensure their security and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable women and children in respect to principles of humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality which guide humanitarian action, explaining that the assistance provided by aid workers to the most vulnerable populations can make the difference between life and death for entire communities in the two regions.

                She described the recent increase in attacks as troubling, stating that it comes at a time they have federated forces to scale up the fight against the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

                She reiterated the UN SG’s call for global ceasefire explaining that “it is time to choose humanity and to enable all efforts at bringing hope and support to those who continue to be affected by violence and insecurity and need urgent life-saving assistance”.