The UN has released 58 million U.S. dollars to assist 2.4 million people affected by Boko Haram-related violence in 2015, a document obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has revealed.
The document was made available to NAN on Tuesday in Abuja by Ms Kate Pond, Public Information in the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
It states that the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated the said amount from March 2015 to Feb. 4, 2016.
“Since 2015, the Emergency Relief Coordinator has released more than 58 million U.S. dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for life-saving assistance in response to Boko Haram-related violence.
“The sum of 27.2 million U.S. dollars was allocated in March 2015 to assist more than 1.6 million internally displaced persons, refugees, returnees and host communities from Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
“An additional 31 million U.S. dollars was provided in late 2015 and early 2016 for live-saving humanitarian response for more than 700,000 affected people in the Lake Chad Basin region,” it said.
It also explained that with the support of CERF’s rapid response funds, humanitarian partners had been providing life-saving assistance and protection for the most vulnerable people.
“The sum of 13.5 million U.S. dollars was provided to assist 350,000 displaced persons who fled from border areas and vulnerable host communities in Niger.
“Also, 20 million U.S. dollars was spent to assist over 1.6 million internally displaced persons and vulnerable host communities in Nigeria.
“The sum of 10.5 million U.S. dollars was released to assist over 187,000 vulnerable internally displaced, returnees, refugees and third country nationals in Chad.
“It included host community members in Chad in need of urgent protection, health, nutrition and food assistance, as well as Non-Food Items (NFIs), shelter and education.
“The sum of 14.1 million U.S. dollars was provided to assist the over 248,000 newly displaced, vulnerable host community members, and women and children at risk of abuse and forced recruitment by Boko Haram in Cameroon,” it added.
The document also explained that CERF was one of the fastest and most effective ways to support rapid humanitarian response for people affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts.
It said the funding support, which is managed by the UN OCHA, receives voluntary contributions all year round from UN member states and Observers, regional governments, private sector, foundations and individuals.
“This money is set aside for immediate use at the onset of emergencies, in rapidly deteriorating situations and in protracted crises that fail to attract sufficient resources,”it said. (NAN)