An international humanitarian medical non-governmental organisation, Médecins Sans FrontieÌ€res, otherwise called Doctors Without Borders,  has  condemned  the  decision of the military  to  ban two NGOs — Action Against Hunger and Mercy Corps — from   providing humanitarian services in the North-East.

 

The military had banned the groups for allegedly working with Boko Haram.

 

After his visit to Nigeria, the  United Nations Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock,   said in a statement  his discussion with  the Federal Government was fruitful,  saying the FG  had assured him  that the ban  would be  lifted.

 

But on Monday, MSF, in a statement  said the humanitarian agencies operating in the troubled North-East must be allowed to play their roles in an independent, neutral and impartial manner. The statement said,  “Disruptions of humanitarian assistance, including food aid, have life-threatening consequences, particularly for the most vulnerable.”

 

The group  insisted  Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states were in need of “massive and sustained humanitarian response” because of  the Boko Haram insurgency. The statement added,  “A decade of conflict has disrupted the lives of millions of people almost to a point where violence, abuse and deprivation have become normalised.

 

“Médecins Sans FrontieÌ€res/Doctors Without Borders remains committed to providing high quality medical assistance to the population of  North-East Nigeria. “Aid must be delivered impartially and neutrally to all in need in line with international humanitarian law.” The group said  many people in the zone needed serious medical attention.