The International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, has expressed deep concern about the reported casualties among civilians and humanitarian workers in the accidental airstrikes that hit the Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Rann, Borno State, North East Nigeria.

In a statement issued by its information officer, Sadiq Umar, the ICRC said it was “in contact with the relevant authorities to organise medical assistance and evacuations, and also to get more information on the situation.”

Dozens of people were killed on Tuesday when a Nigerian Air Force jet mistakenly shelled the IDP camp that housed thousands of victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Some personnel of the ICRC were also injured in the incident.

A statement by Edward Kallon, Nigeria’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN-OCHA, said that the “UNHAS (United Nations Humanitarian Air Service) airlifted eight Nigeria Red Cross workers (who were) injured following the military airstrike.”

Kallon added that “a helicopter with four medical personnel and 400 kg of emergency medical supplies” has been dispatched to Rann to cater for the affected victims.”

The UN chief also confirmed that “the Nigerian Army had also deployed a medical team and is working with humanitarian partners to ensure maximum support to the affected people.”

According to him, “Rann is one of the localities in north-eastern Nigeria that have recently become accessible to humanitarian organisations.”

Kallon conveyed the humanitarian community’s “profound sympathy and solidarity” with those affected by the fatal accident.

He added that “Additional assistance and personnel are to be deployed to Rann in the coming days.