In commemoration of World Humanitarian Day, I believe that
it is fitting to take the time for prayer and reflection to remember the
victims of conflict and other complex humanitarian crisis, and the brave men
and women around the world who selflessly and unflinchingly come to their aid.
This year’s World Humanitarian Day theme is “One Humanity”,
this theme manifests my favourite definition of humanitarianism, which is “the
ethical doctrine that humanity’s obligations are concerned wholly with the
welfare of the human race.”
For the past year, I have closely monitored the severe
humanitarian crisis in North-East Nigeria. My visits to Borno State have made
me keenly aware of the tremendous challenge the situation poses to our domestic
and international response capabilities. The coordination and material
challenges of this area are unprecedented in our country’s history, therefore,
the crisis demands an unprecedented intervention from Nigeria and the
international community.
For the sake of the thousands of families that have had
their lives uprooted by the terrorist actions of Boko Haram, I offer the
following recommendations which are intended to begin the relief, recovery and
rehabilitation of the North East region.
First, I call for a North East Nigeria International Donors
Conference, which will review the interventions thus far, identify the
coordination and service-delivery gaps, and renew the calls for donors to
honour their pledges.
Secondly, the Senate will conduct a Public Hearing on North
East Nigeria for all stakeholders in the humanitarian community, with the goal
of developing a sustainable framework for the situation there and future
complex emergencies.
Upon the resumption of the 8th Senate in September, we have
prioritised the passage of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) Bill.
This legislation is intended to be the primary rehabilitation and development
program for the affected areas.
With the NEDC and the ongoing oversight and advocacy effort
of the Senate, and the National Assembly as a whole, we are working as hard as
we can to provide protection and relief for the North East.
On World Humanitarian Day, we want the internally displaced
people (IDPs) of North East Nigeria; the brave domestic (SEMA and NEMA) and
international aid agencies; and the security services to know that we are all
one Nigeria, and we must stand together during these challenging times.
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