UN human rights chief condemns Nigeria marketplace bombings
We start in northwest Nigeria, where more than 100 people have reportedly been killed in an airstrike by the army on a busy marketplace.
Condemning the attack, in Zamfara state, the UN human rights chief Volker Türk noted that many more civilians had been injured in the incident last Sunday.
Mr. Türk also expressed alarm at reports that dozens of fishermen were killed in recent military airstrikes by Chad in northwestern Nigeria, where separatist fighters are based.
With more, here’s UN human rights office spokesperson Seif Magango:
“High Commissioner Türk calls on both militaries to take all feasible precautions to avoid harm to civilians. Their military operations, including against Boko Haram and the so-called “Islamic State West Africa Province” must be conducted in full compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”
The UN rights chief also urged the Nigerian and Chadian authorities to conduct prompt investigations into both incidents and ensure that those responsible for any violations are held to account.
According to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, 5.9 million people need humanitarian assistance across Nigeria this year. Of that number, aid teams are targeting 2.5 million of the most vulnerable, but they will need $516 million to help them.
Ukraine: Attack on aid convoy reaching vulnerable communities – WFP
In Ukraine, UN humanitarians have condemned an attack on an aid convoy delivering food boxes to frontline communities in Dnipro region.
A driver was injured in the drone strike on Tuesday but other passengers taking part in the mission were unharmed.
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the drone had been guided by remote control.
The agency reported that the truck had been carrying seven staff members.
They had finished offloading food supplies in Zoriane and Slovianka in Dnipro region before the drone strike. After the driver was taken to hospital, the stationary truck was hit “multiple times by separate drones”, the agency said.
Echoing condemnation of the attack, the top UN aid official in Ukraine stressed that the lorry had been clearly marked as a humanitarian vehicle.
Israeli attacks in Gaza are increasingly targeting police personnel, alleges OHCHR
Attacks by the Israeli military in Gaza are increasingly targeting police personnel, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, maintained on Wednesday.
It said that six police workers were killed in April in strikes on densely populated areas, that also caused the deaths of two children aged three and nine.
A total of six Israeli attacks documented since the start of the year have resulted in the killing of 26 police personnel whose identities were confirmed by the Gazan authorities, OHCHR added.
The UN rights office noted that police personnel “are civilians, unless they participate directly in hostilities”.
Targeting them “violates the principle of distinction and constitutes a war crime”, OHCHR insisted.
Daniel Johnson, UN News
Source of original article: United Nations (news.un.org). Photo credit: UN. The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the views or opinion of Global Diaspora News (www.globaldiasporanews.com).
To submit your press release: (https://www.globaldiasporanews.com/pr).
To advertise on Global Diaspora News: (www.globaldiasporanews.com/ads).
Sign up to Global Diaspora News newsletter (https://www.globaldiasporanews.com/newsletter/) to start receiving updates and opportunities directly in your email inbox for free.
