The Head of EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen has said that it’s a priority to help Nigeria address the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the vulnerable group. Karlsen disclosed this Thursday, while launching the COVID-19 impact project in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital. According to him, the EU and its members are leading on COVID-19 response, as witnessed with the recent arrival of four million COVAX vaccines for immediate administer. “We’re targeting the front line health workers as a priority,” he said, noting that it’s an immediate response to meet the needs of people affected by the pandemic that claimed many lives. While the EU collaborates with Yobe, he called on the EU representatives, international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), civil society organisations and top government officials to “highlight and present” programmes that could address the impact of COVID-19 in three council areas of the state. “Today’s event will respond to an urgent need to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the most vulnerable households,” he said. A recent study by Mercy Corps and Save the Children also indicated that most of the households in the state have reported economic hardships. According to the Study, the hardships among households were attributed to reduced incomes and food insecurity. He said with the funding from the EU, Mercy Corps and Save the Children the impact of the pandemic will be executed.
He said that the two-year project will benefit about 5,000 households by strengthening government and communities to respond to and recover from the impacts of pandemic. He added that the COVID-19 project could also build resilience to future shocks of pandemic in communities. “This includes strengthening social protection systems and working with the State Social Registry,” he said. He noted that it’s a landmark and an illustration of the EU’s support to Nigeria and the State Government to respond to people’s needs affected by COVID-19. Mercy Corps’ Country Director, Ndubisi Anyanwu also stated: “It is critical that we take time to examine what works, as well as the challenges. “To ensure that households have the skills, social networks, and opportunities, they needed to thrive in their daily lives,” he said, adding the COVID-19 project was to restore and improve the vulnerable group’s livelihoods. He said the vulnerable will be more resilient to conflict and climate change and stresses in communities. On reducing COVID-19 impact, he said: “This project will provide opportunities to enhance the capacity of child-led community forums, and strengthen their participation in community awareness for the protection of children.”
