The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, has said it is on standby to provide emergency reproductive healthcare, psycho-social counselling, and support to the released Dapchi schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram.
The fund in a statement issued by the Media Adviser, Kori Habib, said that UNFPA Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja congratulated Federal Government over the release of the girls after weeks in captivity.
Habib stated that UNFPA was already in Yobe, providing psychosocial counselling to parents and families of the girls.
She added that the fund was on standby to support Federal Government toward providing comprehensive psychosocial support and other specialised services for the girls.
She noted, “UNFPA staff and supported health clinics are on standby to provide medical check-ups to the released Dapchi school girls.”
Habib also quoted the UNFPA Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Diene Keita, as commending Federal Government for helping and protecting women and girls affected by the conflict in the northeast.
The country representative, however, expressed concern that “thousands of women and children still held in captivity by Boko Haram.”
Keita, therefore, called for greater efforts to bring the women and children still held in captivity by Boko Haram to safety and home to their families.
She said “UNFPA condemns all forms of violation and calls on Boko Haram to end all grave violations against women and girls, especially the abduction and sexual abuse and forced marriage of girls.
“UNFPA calls on the government to ensure that schools remain in places of safety and security, where young girls and boys can learn and grow in peace.
“Girls and young women must be allowed to go to school without fear of violence and unjust treatment so that they can play their rightful roles as equal citizens of the world.
“There must be measures put in place to stop violation of the rights to education and dignity to women and girls in Nigeria as a whole.”
“UNFPA has a comprehensive response for women and girls affected by the conflict in the Northeast and works with national authorities to support women and girls who escaped or were released from Boko Haram,” She added.
