Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has called for more support for displaced people in the north-eastern part of the country through the 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan.
The Minister made the call at a virtual appeal launch of $1 billion targeted at 6.5 million most vulnerable people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.
She said the need to seek more support for the affected persons, especially women and children had become a priority following conflict in north-east Nigeria which was now in its twelfth year.
“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 emphasizes 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”
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq pledged the federal government’s continued support and cooperation of the humanitarian community to address suffering of the people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states as elaborated in the Response Plan and articulated in the National Humanitarian Development Peace Framework.
At the launch of the appeal funds, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Edward Kallon noted that the only solution to the crises in the area was to prevent humanitarian crises by embracing peace.
“We will continue to search for a durable solution to the crises through advocacy, dialogue and peacebuilding. This is the time for stakeholders to use this opportunity to solve the problems in the crises areas. In 2020, over 3 million people were provided with basic humanitarian needs. Today, 8.7 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.
An advocate of the Borno State Network of Women-Led Civil Society Organizations Ann Darman said protection continues to be a key issue and challenge for women and girls in conflict settings, particularly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
The UN and its partner NGOs are appealing for US$1 billion to provide critical humanitarian assistance to 6.4 million people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
RN