WOMEN IN HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE IN NIGERIA INITIATIVE (WiHRiN) JOIN THE WORLD TO MARK WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY AUGUST 19 2019. #WomenHumanitarians.
Today, Women in Humanitarian Response in Nigeria Initiative (WiHRiN) joins the global community to celebrate millions of people who toil, advocate and support humanitarian actions to crisis affected populations globally. We are glad that the theme of this year’s celebration honours “Women Humanitarian”. This is a very worthy theme and long due, as women are generally the first responders during humanitarian crisis, risking their very lives to assist children, the elderly, neighbours other vulnerable groups; are being globally recognised and celebrated in the 2019 World Humanitarian Day celebration, The importance of the role of women-led humanitarian action cannot be over-emphasised..
We want to specially appreciate the efforts of women humanitarian actors in Nigeria who have toiled tirelessly behind the scenes to bring succour and humanitarian assistance to crisis affected populations. We remember today with sorrow, the humanitarian workers who have paid the ultimate price with their lives in the line of duty, especially the 37 Aid workers who have lost their lives in Northeast Nigeria among whom are women humanitarian: Hauwa Mohammed Liman, Saifura Hassaini Ahmed Khorsa and Faye Mooney; the women who lost their lives in the Northcentral Nigeria as a result of the farmer/herder conflict and indeed all other forms of crisis across Nigeria; may they all rest in peace.
We also remember the courageous members of the Nigerian Armed forces who have lost their lives while protecting conflict affected populations and keeping the environment accessible for humanitarian aid/assistance. We pray God to grant their families and loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
We remember today the 35,000 Nigerians who have lost their lives between 2009 and 2019 in the ongoing Northeast crisis, and the many more thousands of people who have lost their lives as a result of conflicts, natural disasters and other humanitarian crisis all over Nigeria. May their souls rest in peace.
Today we celebrate Nigeria’s emergency response mechanism and teams headed at the National level by North East Development Commission, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and their counterparts in the 36 states of the federation including Abuja for living up to the mandate of their establishments in ensuring that victims of communal clashes, floods, insurgency and war are promptly relocated and humanitarian aids assistance and shelter provided including food and clothing’s. We join the world to say thank you and encourage you to do more as your labour of love will neither go unrecognised nor unrewarded.
We wish to use the opportunity of this day to call the attention of Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly and its States counterparts to increase the resources available for humanitarian aids assistance. Nigerians everywhere in the world should take for granted that they will be taken care of by the state if they became victims of humanitarian crisis.
WiHRiN frowns at the continued infrastructural deficits in the country that has made more Nigerians vulnerable to natural disasters thereby requiring humanitarian assistance and call on the 9th National Assembly to increase the infrastructure budget for the benefit of ordinary Nigerian citizens. We lend our voice to the national call of Nigerian security apparatus including the armed forces, Airforce, Navy, The Nigerian Police Service and Civil Defence & Security Agency to work in synergy and share ideas, programs and projects to avoid working at cross purposes for the good of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Women in Humanitarian Response in Nigeria Initiative (WiHRiN) is a platform for Women headed/ women led civil society organisations (CSOs), providing humanitarian assistance in Nigeria. WiHRiN was established in April 2019, following the need to recognise important role women play and the unique perspective they bring in delivering humanitarian assistance, especially to women and children, all over Nigeria.
The group seeks to coordinate effective, efficient and principled humanitarian response, lead advocacy for the rights and protection needs of the vulnerable groups among the crisis affected populations. It strives to promote structured collaboration and institutional capacity strengthening of her members through exchanges, peer learning, workshops/training for effective, efficient response and monitoring of humanitarian interventions in Nigeria for productive engagement.
WiHRiN seeks to be the voice for women and children affected by conflicts and other humanitarian crisis through advocacy and encourage Women led CSO to be at the forefront of any national or sub-national crisis to ensure proper coverage, improved quality and needs based humanitarian response in a dignified, seamless, transparent and accountable manner.
The group advocates that government agencies are accountable in their roles, so that advocacy plans are deliberated, making it easier for other national actors including women led CSOs are involved in delivering humanitarian services with the relevant agencies.
Women humanitarians dedicate their lives to helping people affected by crises. Women make up a large numbers of those who risk their own lives to save others. They are often the first to respond and the last to leave. These women deserve to be celebrated. They are needed today as much as ever to strengthen the global humanitarian response. WiHRiN therefore remembers and honour women in crises in Nigeria and throughout the world, with focus on the unsung heroines, who have long been working on the frontlines in their own communities in some of the most difficult terrains of the world.
To the #Women Humanitarians! We celebrate you and salute your courage and resilience!
Signed:
Ms. Mimidoo Achakpa Nkese Maria Udongwo
National Co-ordinator/ Converner Converner
Contact:
Suites D1/D4 3rd Floor, Awmar Plaza
Odimegwu Ojukwu Way
Near Gudu Market Junction
Apo- Gudu District- Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: +234 7068998934; 0706 3559673
Email: womeninhumanitarianinnigeria@gmail.com
Twitter:@WomenHumanitar1