The Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), hosted a series of high-level visits on Tuesday from key international humanitarian partners and regional stakeholders, highlighting the enhancement of civil-military cooperation, humanitarian access, and regional economic stability in Borno State.
The engagements were led by Mrs Florence Paussin, Team Leader and Deputy Director of the Department of Field Operations at the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UN DSS), who travelled from New York to OPHK to strengthen collaboration aimed at safely delivering humanitarian assistance to vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities throughout the North East region.
Mrs Paussin praised the OPHK for its professionalism and ongoing efforts to protect civilians and humanitarian workers. She indicated that the purpose of her visit was to gain a better understanding of the current security environment and to enhance the partnership with OPHK, particularly in securing escorts that would allow UN personnel to access communities in need. She reiterated UN DSS’s commitment to supporting the OPHK in fulfilling its mandate.
In response, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, welcomed the delegation and recognised the vital role that UN DSS plays in facilitating humanitarian operations. He pointed out that OPHK engages in both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, with humanitarian support being a primary focus. The Theatre Commander briefed the delegation, noting that while the security situation has been largely contained, vigilance remains crucial at all levels. He assured UN DSS of continued security support for its operations throughout the theatre.
In a related engagement, Mr Yanich Buvhili, the Team Leader and Head of Operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), led a delegation to OPHK, advocating for ongoing collaboration to guarantee the safe provision of humanitarian and medical services to internally displaced individuals and at-risk communities in Borno State.
Mr Buvhili commended OPHK for its assistance to ICRC operations, especially in facilitating access for family reunification, healthcare services, immunisation, and nutrition initiatives. He expressed a desire for deeper collaboration to improve operational efficiency in light of existing challenges.
Major General Abubakar characterised the ICRC as a reliable partner and praised its efforts in restoring normalcy and aiding livelihoods through humanitarian support. He reiterated OPHK’s dedication to backing ICRC initiatives, emphasising that enhanced security conditions—strengthened by ongoing operations—have improved humanitarian access throughout the state.
All visits included the signing of visitor registers, the presentation of souvenirs, and group photographs. Present during these engagements were the Deputy Theatre Commander of OPHK, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, along with senior staff officers and personnel from Operation HADIN KAI.
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