Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – Over 3,000 people have been deprived of aid in the Niger Delta (Nigeria), on account of the military attack on MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) militants. This is what has been revealed in an alert issued by humanitarian organizations in the area.
Security forces have blocked the area and the attacks of the Joint Task Force against the MEND have intensified (see Fides 20/5/2009).
The International Red Cross has sent out an appeal to the Head of the Joint Task Force, asking that he grant the passage of humanitarian aid and to grant civilians access to medical treatment.
The majority of the 3,000 people who have abandoned their homes are still hiding out in the forest. 90% of the refugees are women and children.
The Niger Delta is formed by a network of water passages, most of them only accessible by boat. Without access to the inlet it is difficult to know what is taking place inside, a leader of a local NGO said.
The local authorities and NGOs, including the Red Cross of Nigeria and the International Committee of the Red Cross, are asking the Nigerian Army to consent to access to the operations area to a team in charge of overseeing the humanitarian situation.
On May 13, the JTF launched an offensive attack in the area, after the troops of the JTF were attacked by armed groups of the Delta State.
The Nigerian soldiers say they have freed 20 hostages detained by the militants of the MEND, which is formed by several armed groups. These groups protest the damages provoked by oil-rigging in the area and call for the distribution of profits to the local population.
The MEND has announced that in response to the army's attack, its men have destroyed several oil ducts. The most recent was an oil duct that transported 100,000 barrels of oil per day. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 26/5/2009)
