ABUJA – With over 400,000 children facing starvation and limited access to basic necessities of life in the Northeast Geo-political zone, the United Nations Deputy Humanitarian Chief, Peter Lundberg, has said Nigeria is facing the worst humanitarian crisis on the African continent.
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He disclosed this in a press statement posted on UN website for Humanitarian Affairs.
According to Lundberg, the Nigerian Humanitarian Response Plan for 2016, which requires US$484 for life-saving interventions, is less than 37 per cent funded, and without the availability of means to respond, innocent citizens in the Northeast will die.
He noted that humanitarian needs are currently higher than the available response capacity and the highest priority requirement for meeting this response remains food security which is just 25 per cent funded.
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He urged humanitarian organizations to continue to maintain neutrality, impartiality and independence as they continue to render humanitarian services where security situations permit in the Northeast.
The statement reads: “Nigeria is facing the worst humanitarian crisis on the African continent. Currently up to 400,000 children face starvation and citizens suffer with little or no access to clean water, health, protection, education and food security.
“The Nigerian Humanitarian Response Plan for 2016, which requires US$484 for life-saving interventions, is less than 37 per cent funded. Without the means to respond, innocent boys, girls, women and men will die. The highest priority requirement for this response remains food security which is just 25 per cent funded.
“Humanitarian organizations should continue to maintain neutrality, impartiality and independence and we will continue to work where security permits. Needs are currently higher than the response capacity and we must ensure that we have both access and resources to scale up our humanitarian support in the months to come.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria will benefit from 6.3 million euros allocated, Wednesday, by Italy for emergency actions in the Lake Chad Basin.
The actions will be carried out by Italian civil society organizations and other non-profit stakeholders working in the region with the aim of providing large families, displaced people, refugees, women and children prey to malnutrition, immediate support and to curb the migration flows headed towards Europe.
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