$13.4m Life-Saving Aid for NE Nigeria
As the rehabilitation and revamping of the Northeast Nigeria continues to draw global attention, the United Nations, through its Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, has again allocated $13.4m to assist thousands of children, women and men in the crisis region.
At its last estimate, about 8.5m people are in dire need of life saving aid in 2017 alone in three worst hit states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
The UN describes the emergency situation in the three states as “the worst” in recent years.
According to the statement from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF) allocation will help address this devastating situation by financing 24 projects in the sectors of protection, nutrition, water and sanitation, health, education, shelter and non-food items, rapid response and early recovery, targeting a total of 950,000 people.
“Humanitarian needs in north-east Nigeria are still vast,” said Mr Edward Kallon, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria.
“The United Nations and our partners, in support of the Government of Nigeria, are committed to assisting those in need, especially in pivotal areas such as protection and health”, Kallon said.
Most of the funds will particularly be used to expand and improve sexual and reproductive health services for nearly 130,000 women and adolescent girls in areas of Borno, the epicentre of the crisis, and boost mental health services for vulnerable children, women and men.
Gender-based violence will also be addressed by providing more accessible medical care.
In light of the recent cholera outbreak and to mitigate the risk of faecal contamination and poor hygiene, funds have also been allocated to improve the availability of safe water and sanitation for 125,000 people.
To date the NHF has received $41 million in contributions and pledges with support from Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, the Republic of Korea, Canada, Spain, Luxembourg, the Arab Gulf Program for Development, Malta, Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka.