Boko Haram mayhem: Over 2 million people displaced in Nigeria’s north–east region, says European Union

The European Union(EU) and Economic Community for West Africa States(ECOWAS)  have confirmed that over two million people remained displaced from their homes in the North-east of Nigeria.

Penpushing reports that, the new Head of Delegation for the bodies, Samuela Isopi made this known at the premiere of ”HOPE”, a documentary film, sponsored by the European Union(EU) in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory(FCT).

The envoy noted that, decade after the start of the insurgency in the northeast of Nigeria; the region is still suffering from the loss of lives and property, food insecurity and a very poor standard of living.

“More than two million remain displaced from their homes, while hundreds of thousands are living in overcrowded displacement sites, without proper access to sanitation and clean water’, she added.

“More than 3 million people have food insecurity and an equal high number of children are suffering from acute malnutrition. The number of out of school children has also increased exponentially,” she said.

Penpushing further reports that, Isopi explained that that the European Union (EU), as Nigeria’s partners in development, has committed about 130 million euros over the past four years to assist the Nigerian government in rebuilding, rehabilitation and peace efforts.

“This support has contributed to the restoration of basic services, such as health and nutrition , agriculture, sanitation, social protection education , conflict management, among others.Thanks to this support we are happy to see people are gradually returning to their communities with hope for a better future,” she said.

Penpushing also reports that, the Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Sadiya Farouq, in her remarks agreed with the European Union (EU) envoy about the importance of food security stating that the ministry, through the North-east Development Commission was seriously addressing this issue.

The Minister represented by the Executive Director, Disaster Management, Suleiman Abubakar, explained that President Buhari had similarly shown commitment to address the issues of food insecurity and malnutrition.

“By initiating the national poverty reduction with a bold strategy, which specifically aims to address hunger, malnutrition and poverty through economic growth and social protection programmes.

“Furthermore, the government’s focus on promoting local production , providing loans to farmers and skills acquisition to others to enhance the social economic capacities of the people’, he said.

‘It is, therefore, worthy to know that the EU had been a key partner of the ministry in addressing some of the humanitarian challenges in the northeast. So, we further call on the EU to continue to support our efforts towards addressing the issues of food insecurity, particularly in the Northeast,” he said.

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