- As Five feared killed following Hausa, Fulani clash
The Director of Operations at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Dominik Stillhart is appealing for millions of dollars of extra funding for 2016, to deal with the humanitarian consequences of conflicts around the world.
Stillhart in a statement made available to the Maritime First yesterday said there was a “disturbing slide into intractability by many newer conflicts and a devastating failure to resolve old ones.”
Almost 70% of the ICRC’s humanitarian spending, some 1.1 billion US dollars (1.1 billion Swiss francs), now goes to help people engulfed in protracted conflicts. These are characterized by their length, intractability and complexity.
“These conflicts keep countries at constant breaking point year-on-year, ruining support systems vital to the lives of the general public,” said Mr Stillhart as he launched the call to donors for additional cash to fill unmet 2016 needs, totalling 115 million dollars (113 millionfrancs).
Seven of the organization’s ten most underfunded operations, including Israel and the occupied territories, Iraq, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia and Somalia, are mired in crises lasting decades or more.
“Challenges are particularly acute in cities, where essential services take a battering from years of war. People see water and electricity systems, schools and hospitals destroyed or badly damaged by years of fighting.
“That damage can happen quickly, like in Fallujah, or over a longer period, like in Mogadishu, where cumulative damage and neglect undermine these systems until they can no longer cope. The result is the same, either way: we are there to prop up these systems for decades at a time, to stop people from plunging further into poverty and vulnerability,” said MrStillhart.
Mr Stillhart also said money should be distributed in a more predictable fashion, as multi-year funding packages, and free of strings tying its use to a specific country. This would allow the ICRC to respond with emergency relief as well as to long-term needs in parallel.
The call coincides with the launch of a new ICRC report on protracted conflicts, which provides insights into humanitarian work in some of today’s most devastating and intractable conflicts, based on examples drawn from the ICRC’s long operational experience.
In the meantime, no fewer than five persons were yesterday feared killed and many others injured as some Hausa and Fulani men clash in Lagos
The cause of the fracas in Abbattior/Kara, Agege, was the alleged robbery of some Hausa men by some Fulani boys at a hotel in Kogiri.
The police confirmed the clash but said only one person died in the violence that lasted for many hours.
The area was tension-soaked in spite of the heavy security presence and the deployment of an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).
There were many accounts of the incident as recounted by those who claimed to have knowledge of it.
A trader who gave his name as Usman said the Hausa boys complained to their brothers and a complaint was filed before the Seriki Fulani, Bello Damobapa, who allegedly took no action to sanction the boys.
Angered by the alleged silence of the Seriki, the Hausa boys were said to have stormed his palace on Tuesday night and vandalised three Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) belonging to him, his deputy and secretary.
By yesterday morning, it was learnt that a crowd of Fulani boys armed with sticks, bottles and cutlasses trooped to the railway lines where Hausa scraps collectors operate and started attacking people.
Usman said: “I usually sleep here but last night something just made me go home and I did. So I came out here around 7am and one woman told me to go back that Hausa and Fulani men were fighting.
“But I crossed to the other side and I saw a large number of Fulani people. They were carrying sticks with which they rear cattle, cutlasses and bottles. They were marching down, attacking anyone in sight
“The retreating Hausa men regrouped and confronted the Fulani group. The Hausa group called their kins from other markets for reinforcement. They came from Katangura, Agege and other markets. They chased the Fulani back into the abattoir complex.
“By that time, the police and soldiers had not come. When they chased the Fulani people back, the Fulani went into the market and started attacking anyone they saw. They attacked even people who are not Hausa.
Police spokesman Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) said four persons had been arrested.
She said the fight erupted following the assault of a Hausa girl by a Fulani man.
“The command’s operatives from Area G, RRS, and Abattoir Division moved in to quell the crisis. Normalcy was restored. Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni has directed that a peace parley be held with leaders of both groups. We shall also intensify the patrol of the area.
“Value of properties destroyed are yet unknown, one person died, four suspects were arrested,” she said.
Additional report from Nation
