The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon on Thursday disclosed that over $3.2 billion was mobilized for the humanitarian response in the North-East from 2017 to 2020 for the provision of life-saving assistance to over 5.5 million people annually.
Mr Kallon disclosed this in Abuja, during the commemoration of the 2021 World Humanitarian Day with the theme: Climate change’, organized by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, where he underscored the need to invest in Nigeria’s youth to harness the demographic dividend and make young people our strength and empower women; strengthening democratic governance, human rights protection and the rule of law and continuation of the counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism effort in Nigeria.
While noting that the world’s humanitarian needs could double to over 200 million people by 2050, Mr Kallon explained that the humanitarian funding needs could increase to $20 billion annually by 2030.
According to him, about 90 per cent of refugees are from countries affected by the impact of climate change. In 2020, 82 million people were forcibly displaced by conflict, persecution and violence with 48 million of them within their own borders and 26 million as refugees.
Conflicts, combined with the pandemic and the effect of climate change is severely affecting food systems worldwide; causing hunger and even famine.
“The number of people facing starvation has already surpassed 270 million. Today 41 million people worldwide are at a risk of dying of hunger across 43 countries. Of these 11.4 million live in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, southern Madagascar, North-East Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen. The climate crisis is a humanitarian crisis and it exacerbates inequality.
“The original purpose of the WHD is to highlight the need to better protect humanitarian workers in crisis. In 2020, attacks against aid workers globally remained widespread with 276 attacks against aid workers, 475 victims of which 108 were killed, 242 seriously injured and 125 kidnapped according to Humanitarian Outcomes. In 2020, civilians in armed conflict suffered high levels of death, injuries and psychological] trauma, as well as sexual violence, torture and disappearance. Homes, schools, markets, hospitals and other civilian infrastructures were destroyed or damaged.”
He further observed that the “crisis in Northeast Nigeria is a complex emergency and presents an intricate web of issues that require the collective collaboration of different actors in the search of a durable solution.
“The humanitarian crisis in the Bay States remains one of the largest in the world today. At the peak of the crisis in 2017, over 2.2 million people were displaced in the BAY States and 303,963 Nigerian refugees are in neighbouring countries Cameroon (115,695), Chad (16,294) and Niger (171,974). The situation is also very dynamic with an estimated 1.9 million currently displaced in the worst affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. In addition, an estimated 1.6 million displaced people have returned to relatively safe areas in BAY States with limited basic services and livelihood opportunities.
“Over US$ 3.2 billion has been mobilized for the humanitarian response in the North-East from 2017 to 2020, providing life-saving assistance to over 5.5 million people annually. The humanitarian community in Nigeria, including the Government, INGOs, Civil Society and the UN have done very good work over the years in alleviating human suffering, averting a famine in 2017, and bringing hope to millions of people affected by the conflict.
“However, 8.7 million people in the BAY states need humanitarian assistance in 2021, requiring a total of US$ 1.01 billion. In addition, 1.4 million people are displaced in northwest Nigeria and over 1 million in North Central that equally need humanitarian assistance. The ongoing conflict continues to be the main driver of humanitarian needs in north-east Nigeria with the following challenges: Deteriorating security situation and shrinking humanitarian space, increasing humanitarian needs and declining funding, Security and access challenges, increasing food insecurity and risk of catastrophic food insecurity if preventive measures are not scaled-up and enhanced especially during the lean season. An estimated 4.4 million people need urgent humanitarian aid.
He maintained that the ongoing conflict has resulted in a serious protection crisis with continued violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, violations of the rights of children, abduction, rape, arbitrary killings, gender-based violence, and the collapse of traditional coping mechanisms.
“About 80% of people in need of humanitarian assistance across the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states are women and children. Women and children are disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and gender inequalities have been reinforced over the past few months.”
Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo who underscored the need for coordinated policies for humanitarian services with a view to save human race from global crises, applauded those who paid the ultimate price during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“As we mark this day, the conversation regarding how we can strengthen the resilience to fight against climate change to ensure that we leave absolutely no one behind is one that will shape our future as humanity and the role we all play as humanitarian, as world leaders and global citizens of our great planet earth.”
While stressing the need for collective action world over to protect the most vulnerable people of the negative impacts of the climate change, Professor Osinbajo expressed concern over the loss of livelihood of citizens, health challenges and loss of lives.
The Vice President who expressed concern over the plights of the vulnerable population across Nigeria especially the internally displaced persons, estimated at about 2 million in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, he underscored the need for the world to cut the carbon dioxide emission near zero in order to curtail global warming.
In her address, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq who unveiled the National Humanitarian-Development-Peace Framework, tasked all stakeholders on the need to adopt the policy for implementation.
While noting that humanitarian, development and peace needs are not sequential, fundamental challenges remain in the coordination and implementation of aid sector, she assured that the framework provides answers to the coherence question and envisions stronger collaboration and coordination among actors from the fields of development cooperation, humanitarian action and peace building.
“Considering the gaps, we face due to different programming goals and mandates, this framework will provide a more integrated, effective and efficient methodology for the aid sector to support the development and peace objectives of Nigeria.
“The strategic intent of the framework is to reduce vulnerabilities and support and promote peace and stability in Nigeria. It must be understood that vulnerability is not innate, it varies over time meaning that it can be reduced through strategic planning and preparation, as well as through equitable policymaking and investment.
“Thus, it is critical that vulnerable populations be regularly engaged and that they inform all our strategic planning. This modus operandi ensures government hears and acts on the perspectives of how individuals or communities can improve their outcomes in the event of any emergency.”
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