FG, UN Launch $1bn Fund for 6.5m Victims of North-east Insurgency

The federal government and the United Nations have launched a $1
billion virtual appeal fund to provide critical humanitarian
assistance for 6.5 million most vulnerable people in Borno,
Adamawa, and Yobe states.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and
Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq yesterday reiterated
the growing need to assist displaced people affected by the crisis
in north-eastern Nigeria through the 2021 Humanitarian Response
Plan.

She noted that the need to seek more support for the affected
persons, particularly women and children has become a priority in
the light of north-east conflict which is now in its 12th year and
which has impacted many Nigerians.

She said the federal government is committed to the plight of
the affected people and is leading the response to secure and
provide lifesaving assistance to those in need, in collaboration
with international humanitarian community.

“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. I am encouraged
that the NHDPF emphasises promoting longer-term durable solutions.
We must always look forward, beyond the immediate crisis, to ensure
that we help people, re-establish their lives and strengthen
communities, so that we can reduce dependence on aid and promote
resilience and self-reliance,” she said.

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr.
Edward Kallon noted that the only solution to the crises in the
area was to prevent humanitarian crises by embracing peace.

He urged stakeholders to use the opportunity to solve the
problems in the restive areas, noting that last year, over three
million people were provided with basic humanitarian needs, while
presently 8.7 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.

In her address, an advocate of the Borno State Network of Women
Led Civil Society Organisations, Ms. Ann Darman, stated that
protection remains a key issue and challenge for women and girls in
conflict settings, particularly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa
states.

She said sexual and gender-based violence continue to pose risks
in the lives of many women and girls, adding much must be done to
protect the vulnerable ones.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs yesterday said $1 billion is needed in 2021 to
address the humanitarian needs of those affected by ongoing
insurgency in the North-east.

It said that the fund is needed to attend to the humanitarian
needs of 6.4 million out of 8.7 million people affected by the
crisis that has nearly brought the region on its knees for about 12
years.

A statement by UNOCHA lamented that the ongoing conflict
continues to be the main driver of humanitarian needs in north-
east Nigeria, where millions of people have been displaced.”

It also decried that long standing insecurity and violence,
compounded by climate change, and the impact of COVID-19 are
increasing the vulnerability of close to 9 million people, with
about 2 million people internally displaced, while millions of
people depend on humanitarian partners for basic services, even as
5.1 million people are facing hunger in the lean season, which was
described as the worst outlook in four years.

The statement said: “The humanitarian community and the
Government of Nigeria officially launched the north-east Nigeria
Humanitarian Response Plan for 2021 earlier today (Tuesday). The
plan requests $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.”

The federal government and the United Nations have launched a $1
billion virtual appeal fund to provide critical humanitarian
assistance for 6.5 million most vulnerable people in Borno,
Adamawa, and Yobe states.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and
Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq yesterday reiterated
the growing need to assist displaced people affected by the crisis
in north-eastern Nigeria through the 2021 Humanitarian Response
Plan.

She noted that the need to seek more support for the affected
persons, particularly women and children has become a priority in
the light of north-east conflict which is now in its 12th year and
which has impacted many Nigerians.

She said the federal government is committed to the plight of
the affected people and is leading the response to secure and
provide lifesaving assistance to those in need, in collaboration
with international humanitarian community.

“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. I am encouraged
that the NHDPF emphasises promoting longer-term durable solutions.
We must always look forward, beyond the immediate crisis, to ensure
that we help people, re-establish their lives and strengthen
communities, so that we can reduce dependence on aid and promote
resilience and self-reliance,” she said.

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr.
Edward Kallon noted that the only solution to the crises in the
area was to prevent humanitarian crises by embracing peace.

He urged stakeholders to use the opportunity to solve the
problems in the restive areas, noting that last year, over three
million people were provided with basic humanitarian needs, while
presently 8.7 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.

In her address, an advocate of the Borno State Network of Women
Led Civil Society Organisations, Ms. Ann Darman, stated that
protection remains a key issue and challenge for women and girls in
conflict settings, particularly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa
states.

She said sexual and gender-based violence continue to pose risks
in the lives of many women and girls, adding much must be done to
protect the vulnerable ones.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs yesterday said $1 billion is needed in 2021 to
address the humanitarian needs of those affected by ongoing
insurgency in the North-east.

It said that the fund is needed to attend to the humanitarian
needs of 6.4 million out of 8.7 million people affected by the
crisis that has nearly brought the region on its knees for about 12
years.

A statement by UNOCHA lamented that the ongoing conflict
continues to be the main driver of humanitarian needs in north-
east Nigeria, where millions of people have been displaced.”

It also decried that long standing insecurity and violence,
compounded by climate change, and the impact of COVID-19 are
increasing the vulnerability of close to 9 million people, with
about 2 million people internally displaced, while millions of
people depend on humanitarian partners for basic services, even as
5.1 million people are facing hunger in the lean season, which was
described as the worst outlook in four years.

The statement said: “The humanitarian community and the
Government of Nigeria officially launched the north-east Nigeria
Humanitarian Response Plan for 2021 earlier today (Tuesday). The
plan requests $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.”