In a press release Tuesday, December 3, 2019, the United States says the killing of Pascal Ngwayi by members of the Non-State Armed Group is “a terrible reminder of the dangers humanitarian aid workers face in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon.”

The United States goes on to call for “an independent investigation into the killing and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice in accordance with Cameroonian law.”

“The United States presents its condolences to the family and colleagues of Pascal Ngwayi, who was killed November 30 in the Northwest Region while performing humanitarian aid work for a local non-governmental organization, the Community Initiative for Sustainable Development,” the U.S. said in Tuesday’s press release.

Cameroon-info.net recalls that an aid worker, Pascal Ngwayi was reportedly killed Saturday, November 30, 2019 by gunmen in Nwangri, a village in the Warr area in Nkambe, Donga Mantung Division of Cameroon’s North West Region.

“On 30 November, Mr. Pascal Ngwayi, of COMINSUD, a local NGO and UN partner, was abducted and later killed by armed men in Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region. At the time of his abduction, Mr. Ngwayi was carrying out a humanitarian assessment to ensure people in need received timely and appropriate support,” the United Nations said in a statement attributable to its Humanitarian Coordinator for Cameroon, Ms. Allegra Baiocchi.

Ms Baiocchi condemned the killing of the aid worker and urged parties to the conflict in Cameroon’s North West and South West regions to respect humanitarian principles and stop attacks against aid workers.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of the horrific execution of an aid worker last night. On behalf of the United Nations and the wider humanitarian community, our deepest condolences go to his family, friends and colleagues,” Ms. Baiocchi said Sunday.

“Humanitarian workers risk everything to provide aid to people most in need. They must be respected and protected, not targeted. The continued attacks on aid workers only increase the suffering of civilians, as we are unable to safely carry out operations,” added Ms. Baiocchi.

As a reminded to those carrying arms in the restive regions, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Cameroon said: “The deliberate targeting of aid and aid workers constitutes a war crime. The United Nations renews the call for all armed actors to ensure the protection of aid workers, to fully uphold international human rights and humanitarian law and to respect the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality.

“In the North West and South West regions of Cameroon, the humanitarian community is working to bring lifesaving assistance to the most vulnerable people, in line with the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan,” the press statement read.

Cameroon-info.net remembers that in June 2019, 12 tons of relief material for victims of the socio-political crisis in the country’s North West and South West Regions were burnt in Pinyin by armed men. Several other humanitarian workers have also been attacked.