A fund set up by the United Nations to tackle looming famine and humanitarian crisis in the north east has reached $24 million in donations and pledges.

The Nigerian Humanitarian Fund launched this February at an international donor conference in Oslo is expected to receive $80m by year end, pooling contributions from donors for a “stronger and timelier response” to the needs of most-affected people in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno, said the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The UN and its partners aim to reach some 6.9 million people this year in areas affected in the wake of Boko Haram terrorism.

The UN Humanitarian Response Plan this year is for $1.05 billion, making it the fourth largest single-country appeal globally.

“We need to do more, we need to do it quicker and we can always do better,” said Peter Lundberg, deputy humanitarian coordinator and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria.

“Funding for the Nigeria appeal this year is pivotal, and I am delighted that donors are fulfilling commitments to the new fund, which will help us respond quicker to new priorities. But we need to step up our collective response – the $1 billion appeal is still only 20 per cent funded and millions need help in what is Africa’s worst humanitarian crisis.”

Countries that have pledged or donated to the NHF include Sweden, Germany, Norway, Belgium, the Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, the Arab Gulf Program for Development, Malta and Sri Lanka. (Daily Trust on Sunday)

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