Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The European Union (EU) has; expended 271 million euros (N108.4 million) on providing humanitarian assistance to 5.6 million displaced persons in camps and host communities of Northeast. The five-year EU humanitarian funding; focuses on providing life-saving emergency assistance in Boko Haram insurgency affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. In a statement Monday in Maiduguri, Borno state, EU Commissioner, Janez Lenarcic said the assistance, comprise emergency food aid and shelter in camps and host communities.
According to him, access to basic primary healthcare, hygiene and sanitation are to prevent disease outbreaks in communities. He added that five-year humanitarian funding; is also to educate over two million children caught up in decade long Boko Haram insurgency. “We supported the screening and treatment of malnutrition in children in camps and host communities,” he said, saying that community-based protection support for women and children in conflict areas were also provided. On child soldiers, Lenarcic said: “This includes psycho-social support and referral services to victims of gender-based violence, unaccompanied children. “It will also help former child soldiers released from armed groups to be reintegrated into society.” He said EU is bringing together humanitarian and development aid to build vulnerable communities’ long-term resilience. He said the building of vulnerable communities; could provide a holistic approach to social protection in the long run.
