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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