New York - The Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram has killed more than 7 300 civilians in Nigeria and neighboring countries since the beginning of 2014, including 1 000 people this year alone, a UN official said Monday.
The Security Council was briefed on the humanitarian situation in the region as negotiations are ongoing about a draft resolution authorizing a multinational joint task force to combat the extremist group.
UN deputy humanitarian affairs chief Kyung-wha Kang warned the council that 300 schools have been damaged and less than 40 per cent of health care facilities are operational in the region affected by Boko Haram.
“Gross human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence and child trafficking, are frequently reported,” Kang said.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, UN special representative on West Africa, said that while the currently operating joint regional offensive involving troops from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, has been effective in recapturing areas from Boko Haram, it has also reportedly committed human rights violations.
“We would like to stress that counter-terrorism operations that are perceived by the affected populations to be disproportionate and brutal violates the very norm that we seek to defend,” Chambas said.
He called on the council to ensure that the planned multinational joint task force upholds international human right standards.
At least 1.5 million people have been displaced since May 2013 by Boko Haram, which seeks to establish an Islamist state.
Sapa-dpa