The United Nations (UN) Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, has said that $1.08 billion (N410.4 billion), is required to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to 7.8 million people in Northeast. The intervention requirements for funds; were reached at an online High-level meeting held Thursday in Abuja. Kallon in a statement Friday in Maiduguri, disclosed that; “The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; has exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation in insurgency affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.” He said the meeting was attended by Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state, Kallon, as well as other UN and NGO representatives. He therefore; called for urgent support for the vulnerable people in the North-eastern part of the country. According to him; the number of people in need of life-saving aid has risen steeply. “The number of people needing humanitarian assistance is the highest ever recorded in five years of a joint humanitarian response,” he noted. Continued: “The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting us all. It’s devastating effects will distress Nigeria’s most fragile region. “Unless we take immediate action, we should prepare for a spike in conflict, hunger and destitution in north-east Nigeria.” He called on donor agencies to step up support for the vulnerable and demonstrate solidarity as aid workers have received less than 30% of needed resources since January this year. He said that the UN and NGO partners have already provided assistance to 2.6 million people since the beginning of this year. “We’re coordinating with the Government, to provide life-saving assistance to those affected by the crisis that has ravaged communities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states,” he said.
