- Puts aid to Nigeria since Feb 2015 at $318m
- As NEMA seeks more psycho-social support for traumatized victims
Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
The United States government, through its Agency for International Development (USAID), on Wednesday said that they will be providing more than $37 million US dollars as additional humanitarian assistance to the people affected by the ongoing conflict and severe food insecurity in Nigeria and throughout the Lake Chad Basin.
With this latest contribution, USAID said the United States will be providing more than $318 million in humanitarian assistance since February 2015 to Lake Chad Basin region and continues to be the single largest humanitarian donor to the region.
The fund, according to the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistant Director, Jeremy Konyndyk, and Office of Food for Peace Deputy Director, Matt Nims, will be disbursed to the United Nations and NGO partners to help tens of thousands of people receive critically needed humanitarian assistance, including food, water, shelter, and services to address acute hygiene, protection, and nutrition needs.
Jeremy stated this during a meeting with the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammed Sani-Sidi in his office, Abuja.
According to him, “The savagery of Boko Haram has triggered a humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and sorrounding countries in the Lake Chad Basin region. Families have been driven from their homes.
“Millions are left without enough to eat, and human rights abuses are widespread. Despite gradually improving security conditions, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Throughout the region, approximately 5 millions people need emergency food assistance and 2.5 million people are displaced”.
