Hundreds of health facilities in northeastern Nigeria destroyed, UN says

A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) said that one third of more than 700 health facilities in Borno State in northeastern Nigeria have been completely destroyed, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here Wednesday.

"Of those facilities remaining, one third are not functioning at all, mostly as a result of lack of access due to insecurity," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

Almost 60 percent of health facilities also have no access to safe water, he said, adding that about 100 temporary health facilities have been set up, of which half are emergency clinics for displaced people living in camps.

"WHO says that high insecurity, difficult terrain and lack of health workers, medicines, equipment and basic amenities such as safe water are making access to essential, lifesaving health care extremely difficult for people in this conflict-affected area," he said.

Nigeria's northeast region has been a stronghold of the extremist group Boko Haram. Over past months, the Nigerian government has launched several military operations to eliminate the terrorist threat. Enditem