国际英语资讯:UN urges support for humanitarian aid, revitalization of West Africa, Sahel_时事

国际英语资讯:UN urges support for humanitarian aid, revitalization of West Africa, Sahel

"The complexity of recent attacks is a worrying outcome of West African and Sahelian Islamist groups reinforcing their linkages," he said, adding that local insurgencies are also spreading, exacerbating intercommunal conflicts and undermining state authority.

Expressing concern over alleged human rights violations by security forces in the region, he called upon its governments to prevent such violations and bring the perpetrators to justice.

In the Lake Chad Basin, despite gains made by the Nigerian armed forces and the Multinational Joint Task Force, launched by the five countries that make up the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel), Boko Haram and the West Africa province of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant remain active.

On July 1, an attack in Niger killed 10 of that country's soldiers, and Boko Haram's trend of using female and child suicide bombers continues.

Calling for increased and holistic support to diplomatic, security and humanitarian responses to Boko Haram, he said UNOWAS is providing technical support for a joint summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) on the matter on July 30.

Describing environmental degradation and socioeconomic marginalization, impacting some 45 million people, resulting from Lake Chad's severe depletion, he said an estimated 2.3 million remain displaced by the aggregate effects of insecurity, weak governance and climate change.