Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the security and humanitarian situation in north east Nigeria following recent attacks and the displacement of population in the Damasak area.
We are deeply concerned by the security and humanitarian situation in North East Nigeria where terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, continue to conduct attacks on local communities. Recent attacks on Damasak in Borno State, in which civilians, humanitarian workers and facilities were targeted, have led to a worsening humanitarian situation, and the displacement of local residents and internally displaced people to Niger or other areas of North East Nigeria. The British High Commissioner in Abuja has publicly condemned the attacks. As the UK Government has repeatedly made clear, humanitarian workers should never be a target.
We are committed to helping Nigeria tackle the threat posed by the terrorist groups in North East Nigeria. We are providing significant humanitarian and stabilisation assistance to support affected communities, including those who have been displaced.