From
left: Head of mission, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),
Mr Karl Mattli; ICRC president, Mr Peter Maurer; President Muhammadu
Buhari; minister of health, Prof. Isaac Adewole and ICRC Regional
director for Africa, Patricia Danzi, after a meeting of the Mr President
with ICRC delegation at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday
(17/10/16). 7744/17/10/2016/Callistus Ewelike/JAU/BJO/NAN
Following the release of 21 out of the more than 200 schoolgirls held captive by Boko Haram, leaders of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who brokered the deal with the Federal government of Nigeria, have arrived in Nigeria.
The ICRC officials led by their President, Peter Maurer, on Monday met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.
Maurer also disclosed that the ICRC
has budgeted 136 million Swiss francs (about $138 million) for
humanitarian services in the Lake Chad Region in 2016.
“Over the first half of this year, the
organisation delivered food to over 500,000 displaced people. Its
overall budget allocated to the region in 2016 amounts to 136 million
Swiss francs,” he said.
The president called on the
international community to urgently address ‘the vast human tragedy’
around the world, especially in the region.
He called for more sustained and
long-term international efforts to address the massive needs in the four
countries affected by violence in the Lake Chad area.
He said that the displaced persons, who were dependent on humanitarian aids, were still fearful of returning home.
He called on all parties involved in the
regional conflict to protect and respect civilians, detainees and the
wounded, based on their obligations under International Humanitarian
Law.
Source: thenationalonlineng.net and Bellanaija
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