Four United Nations (UN) workers who were injured during the terrorist attack on the UN building in Abuja have been flown to Johannesburg, South Africa, for further treatment.
It was confirmed that there were no children in the basement of the wrecked building as feared because the crèche was no longer operational.
UN Deputy Secretary General (DSG) Asha-Rose Migiro put the figure of the dead at 21. He said 73 were injured, 26 of them in intensive care.
The DSG said a senior Ministry of Health official, including a Kenyan, an Ivorian and an intern were among the dead, adding that investigations were ongoing to compile the final list of nationalities affected by the blast.www.naijapaymentsonline.com
But the death toll given by the UN DSG conflicts with the figure given by Health Minister Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who spoke with reporters earlier, shortly after conducting Migiro and her team round the UN building and the National Hospital. Chukwu said 23 persons diead; 104 are receiving treatment.
The UN deputy chief, who was flanked by Under Secretary-General for Security Gregory Starr and UN Assistant Head of African Region Tegegnework Gettu during the news conference yesterday in Abuja, said her team had met with President Goodluck Jonathan and families of the affected staff.
They were in Nigeria to offer condolences to the families of the victims and express solidarity with the survivors, she said, adding the men and women who work in the UN building are here to help.
“It is striking that also among the dead and wounded are cleaners and security guards, as well as humanitarian partners and an official from the Ministry of Health. This was an attack on a working community that was helping the people of Nigeria-plain and simple.
“Targeting such people is outrageous and morally reprehensible”.The DSG, who said the UN will continue with its humanitarian work despite attacks on its workers in some parts of the world, stressed the determination of the UN workers to continue to work for Nigerians and humanity.
“Among the UN colleagues I saw today in hospital, there was a very clear massage. They wanted their vital work to continue. For a woman who is a cleaner, there is an obvious desire that she will be able to continue her work for her family.
“Such attack will neither deter us in our work nor win any new sympathisers for whatever cause might be the motivation.”
She said the UN leadership would want to know exactly what happened and what can be done in the period ahead to strengthen security.
Under Secretary Starr said the UN building is under the security of the government of Nigeria and, as such, they would meet with President Jonathan and his security team to discuss security.
She praised the courage and dedication of UN staff in Nigeria as “they strive to continue supporting that country’s efforts towards sustainable peace and development”.
“Four seriously injured UN staff were medically evacuated this morning to Johannesburg,” she said. www.naijapaymentsonline.com
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