UN ALLOCATES N4BN FOR HUMANITARIAN AID IN NORTHEAST
The UN has allocated 11 million dollars (about N4
billion) to help 60,000 internally displaced people in Borno and other
humanitarian operations in North-East Nigeria.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) said nine billion dollars (about N3.2 billion) would be used to
provide life-saving aid for some 60,000 people displaced by ongoing Boko Haram
crisis in Borno.
The UN quoted Mr Edward Kallon, the UN Humanitarian
Coordinator in Nigeria, as saying: “The crisis continues to displace thousands
of vulnerable women, children and men every week.
“Many have gone through unspeakable hardship and the
UN and its partners remain committed to help alleviate their suffering.’’
Set up through the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF),
the assistance includes two million dollars (about N720 million) in support to
the UN Humanitarian Air Service for frontline responders in the region.
“This UN fund give us the flexibility to prioritise
those who are most in need of aid and act swiftly for the good of the people of
north-east Nigeria,” Kallon said.
The UN said the North-east region’s humanitarian
crisis, sparked mainly by Boko Haram’s years-long insurgency, remained one of
the most severe globally.
“In the worst-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and
Yobe, at least 7.7 million people are in need this year, with about 80 per
cent, or 6.1 million, targeted for humanitarian assistance.
“The nine million dollars allocation will help fund
15 projects supporting humanitarian rapid response in areas affected by
large-scale conflict-related displacements, particularly in the northern parts
of Borno, along the Maiduguri-Monguno axis.
“In just three months, the close to 30,000 people
who have fled violence in hard-to-reach areas are in dire need of food, water,
shelter, clothes and medical services.
“Additionally, the funds will help scale up the
response near the border with Cameroon in eastern Borno – Gwoza, Bama, Dikwa,
Kala-Balge, Monguno, Askira/Uba – and northern Adamawa – Madagali – where
approximately another 30,000 have arrived following military operations.
“Finally, the funds will also help maintain UN
Humanitarian Air Service operations, crucial to reach and deliver aid in remote
areas of the North-east, especially where roads are unusable,” the UN said.
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