UN OCHA, Park Service Partner Troops to Boost Security, Aid Delivery in North East
The Chad Basin National Park and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) have sought stronger collaboration with the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), to enhance security operations and improve humanitarian service delivery across the North East region.
The calls were made during separate courtesy visits to the Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, at the Headquarters of the Theatre Command in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Leading the delegation from the Chad Basin National Park, the Conservator of Parks, Innocent Asuquo, stressed the need for sustained inter-agency synergy to tackle prevailing security challenges, particularly in national parks and forest reserves vulnerable to exploitation by terrorists and criminal groups.
He noted that no single agency could effectively address the security threats in the region, urging closer collaboration between park authorities and the military to prevent criminal elements from using forests and protected areas as safe havens.
Asuquo commended troops of Operation HADIN KAI for their resilience, sacrifices, and commitment to restoring peace, security and socio-economic activities across the North East.
He expressed optimism that enhanced collaboration would further strengthen ongoing efforts to stabilise the region.
Responding, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, reaffirmed Operation HADIN KAI’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with the Chad Basin National Park and other critical stakeholders.
He noted that the evolving security environment demands greater collaboration, particularly in addressing threats emanating from ungoverned forest spaces.
The Theatre Commander highlighted the role of park services and forest guards in biodiversity management, environmental security and community development, stressing the need for effective monitoring and utilisation of park areas to promote tourism while denying criminal elements freedom of action.
He also assured the Conservator of continued military support, including capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing operational effectiveness.
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In a related development, the Deputy Head of Office, UN OCHA Nigeria, Ms Patricia Mucheche,
also sought deeper collaboration with Operation HADIN KAI to improve humanitarian interventions for vulnerable populations affected by insurgency in the North East.
Mucheche commended the military for facilitating humanitarian access to affected communities, describing the partnership between UN OCHA and the military as critical to delivering aid to displaced and vulnerable populations.
She appealed for increased access to vulnerable communities to ensure more dignified and effective humanitarian service delivery, particularly during ongoing resettlement efforts and the approaching rainy season.
She also advocated additional security support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), especially during relocation and reintegration programmes.
In his response, Major General Abdulsalam commended UN OCHA for its sustained humanitarian interventions, describing the organisation as a dependable partner in Operation HADIN KAI’s non-kinetic operations.
He highlighted the agency’s contributions to food distribution, nutrition support, prevention of gender-based violence, emergency response, disaster management and family reunification initiatives.
According to him, the collaboration has significantly improved the welfare of vulnerable populations, particularly through resettlement programmes that have enabled displaced persons to return to their ancestral communities and rebuild livelihoods.
The Theatre Commander reaffirmed the military’s commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for humanitarian operations, assuring continued patrols and counter-improvised explosive device operations to make routes safer for aid workers and affected populations.
He added that troops would continue to create safe and protected spaces for vulnerable populations across the region.
By PRNigeria
