At least $1 billion is required to bring respite to more than 6.4 million people facing humanitarian challenges in the northeast of Nigeria, according to the latest humanitarian response plan.
The North-east Nigeria Humanitarian Response Plan for 2021 launched in Abuja shws insecurity, violence and impact of COVID19 compound the situation of vulnerable people.
- FG tasks clerics on COVID-19 vaccine sensitisation
- 4 mass abductions after Buhari says there won’t be more
“The plan requests US$1 billion to enable partners to provide critical services to the 6.4 million most vulnerable people amongst a total of 8.7 million people in need of some form of humanitarian assistance in 2021,” according to the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon.
Two million people are internally displaced, while millions of people depend on humanitarian partners for basic services, and up to 5.1 million people are facing hunger in the lean season the worst outlook in four years
“The humanitarian crisis in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, unfortunately, remains one of the largest in the world and continues to have a profound impact on Nigeria and its people, causing untold suffering and deprivation for millions of vulnerable women, men and children.
“The year 2021 marks the twelfth year of the conflict and the sixth year of the international community working together with the Government of Nigeria to provide humanitarian support,” he said.
Kallon continued, “Last year was a challenging year for vulnerable people in north-east Nigeria. It was a year marked by a new reality, the COVID-19 pandemic. The socio-economic impact of the pandemic has already diminished the resilience of millions of people, increasing the fragility of those who were already extremely vulnerable,” he added.
The minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq said the requirements for this 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan “reflect a growing need, while we know that the available resources will very likely not be commensurate with those needs”.
“We are facing additional challenges in terms of security and access for humanitarian partners, which is why we have developed the National Humanitarian Development Peace Framework.
“In 2020 the Government took major steps to strengthen its coordination and leadership role and structures at federal and state levels to bring better coherence to addressing humanitarian needs, while laying the foundation for stabilization and development of conflict-affected states.
“One of these steps includes the inauguration of the National Humanitarian Coordination Committee, which is the highest national advisory body to guide humanitarian activities in the country,” she added
