Buratai calls on relief agencies to maintain neutrality, abide by set protocols

Supranational organisations and humanitarian agencies working in Nigeria’s troubled northeast region have been called upon to maintain neutrality and impartiality in the discharge of their humanitarian functions while assisting in the fight against insurgency.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai said this when the new President of Medecins Sans Frontiers MSF, Dr Christos Christou paid him a courtesy call at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun, General Buratai acknowledge the contributions of MSF at alleviating the sufferings of the victims of conflicts anround the world and particularly in Nigeria but cautioned that they must operate within the principle of neutrality and impartiality while providing humanitarian assistance.

“In a conflict zone, we have conflict of interests. As you know, not only the MSF is involved in providing assistance to victims in Nigeria and of course you know what the security dilemma is in a conflict zone.

“MSF like every other organisation must continue to operate with the principle of neutrality and impartiality because you must also realize that Nigeria remains a functional state that is why the government set protocols for supranational agencies to function” he added.

Earlier in his remarks the President of MSF Dr Christou noted that his organisation is mainly concerned with alleviating the sufferings of the most vulnerable people in a conflict society.

While thanking the Nigerian Army for the support his organisation has received since it began operations in Nigeria, Dr Christou solicited the support of the Army to help improve its responses whenever the need arises.

Medecins Sans Frontiers is an international, independent humanitarian organisation founded by a group of journalists and doctors to provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics disasters or exclusion of healthcare.