US Donates $30m To Ease Humanitarian Crisis In Northeast

The United States of America has announced that it would provide aid to the tune of $30 million to support people facing humanitarian crisis in northeast Nigeria.

The region is the worst hit in the Boko Haram insurgency, with over 20,000 people dead and more than two million others displaced.

The region is also faced with famine, as predicted by UNICEF and some other aid agencies.

In the statement, the US Embassy said the additional funding would bring the total U.S. humanitarian contribution in Nigeria to more than $298 million since October 2015.

“This new funding will support the UN World Food Program in Nigeria, which is providing critical food assistance, nutrition support, and vouchers that can be used to buy food where local markets are functional. 

“This assistance is also helping communities return to their agricultural livelihoods where security allows,” the statement read.

“Humanitarian efforts are vital in northeast Nigeria, where approximately 8.5 million people require assistance, including 5.2 million people who need emergency food assistance, and more than 1.7 million people who are displaced.”

Since October 2015, the United States has been the largest donor for the humanitarian response in the Lake Chad Basin region, providing more than $452 million for people affected by the ongoing crisis.

The U.S. also restated its commitment to working with the Nigerian Government and other donors to provide humanitarian assistance to avert famine and support vulnerable communities.

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