Northeast humanitarian response to cost N378bn in 2018

Humanitarian response in the Northeast of Nigeria will require $1.05 billion (nearly N378 billion) this year, according to the latest appeal launched yesterday.

The 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan hopes to reach some 6.1 million people in need of assistance in the worst-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

“These are people who have been displaced and are living in camps or host communities, people who have returned home to nothing, and people living in other areas that are hard to reach for humanitarians,” said Edward Kallon, UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria.

But the estimate of people in need of assistance is as much as 7.7 million, leaving some 1.6 million people out of the plan.

The plan will support 2.7 million vulnerable women, children and men with protection services; provide medical care to 5.1 million people; provide nutritional supplements for 2.7 million children and pregnant and nursing women.

The response plan called for $1bn last year, and 70% of the funding was sent in by donors, making it one of the best funded appeals globally.

A total $945 million in both response and non-response intervention was donated last year.

“While we are aware that other large-scale crises also require donor attention, it is essential to continue this positive momentum and build on the results we achieved last year,” said Kallon.

“Should we fail to meet our targets, it could undermine the progress made to date and ultimately impact our ability to save lives.”