The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon; has
said that the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is to maintain
strategic directions to achieve three objectives in Northeast.
According to him; the objectives include saving lives, equitable
access to multi-sector assistance and protection to strengthened
resilience of victims of armed conflicts.
Kallon in a statement Wednesday in Maiduguri disclosed: “The 2020 HRP;
is to save lives by providing timely and integrated multi-sector
assistance and protection intervention to the most vulnerable.”
He added that; there will be unhindered and equitable access to
multi-sector assistance and protection interventions through
principled humanitarian action.
He said the response plan, will also promote early recovery and
voluntary and safe solutions to displacement and support social
cohesion.
While lamenting operational constraints, Kallon warned: “The
humanitarian community anticipates that the operational constraints
that hampered effective response in 2019 will continue or worsen in
2020.”
He noted that populations living in inaccessible areas in Borno and
Yobe states; will be targeted in line with risk analysis and
monitoring framework of plan.
“We’re therefore targeting 5.9 million people out of 7.9 million
people in need of humanitarian assistance in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe
states,” he said, adding that this indicated a reduction of five per
cent from last year’s target.
Continued; “Of the 5.9 million, over 71 per cent need short-term
assistance to address their acute physical and mental well being and
living standard needs.”
Kallon assured that the response will adapt to the dynamic, complex,
and rapidly evolving operational environment in the insurgency
affected states of northeast.
He also expected the Federal Government the responsibility of
providing urgent life-saving assistance to victims of conflict.
According to him, the three insurgency affected states, are
characterised by rising insecurity, driving waves of new
displacements, deepening food insecurity and malnutrition.
He said that there are widespread protection concerns and rights
violations; adding that; “the constricted humanitarian space has also
reduced access that hampered effective delivery of humanitarian
assistance.”
