The United Nations speaking through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA, Nigeria) has stated that Nigeria needs about 1 Billion dollars to address the mounting humanitarian crisis is the country.
This was made known at a two day media dialogue organised by the International organisation in kano state with the theme : “The Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead.”
UNOCHA head of communication Samantha Newport in her presentation states that the biggest catalysts of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the North East has been the increasing number of internally displaced persons, non reduction of attacks and the state of the refugees in neighboring countries that have not yet returned home.
Speaking further, she said “Hence, in 2016, the Government of Nigeria asked for international support; and by 2017, 14 million people in the North East had needed life-saving assistance in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe”
In his presentation, a member of the International NGOs (INGO forum) Jubril Shittu said; “continued insecurity prevents us from reaching 900,000 people. We do not have access to them. The situation keeps changing, people keep moving and it’s difficult to plan ahead.
“Also, renewed attacks on returnees in parts of Borno and Yobe States may affect the full realization of recovery and reconstruction unless optimal attention is given by Federal Government to secure the region,”
Other speakers at the event includes Abdullah Umar of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Habib Kori, UNFPA Media Specialist who both express concern with the state of the IDP’s and restated the commitment of their agency to ameliorate the sufferings of those experiencing the direct effect of the humanitarian crisis.
The program was put together by the UN Systems which includes- the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and International NGOs (INGO forum) to provide updates on roles each is playing in assisting Nigeria rebuild the North East.
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