‎The European Commission on Thursday announced a support package of €143 million for the early recovery and reconstruction needs in Borno State, Nigeria which is suffering from a worsening humanitarian crisis.

In a press statement, the Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica said: “This brings total EU support for the crisis in Nigeria’s Borno state to €224.5 million for 2017, following earlier announcements of €81.5 million in humanitarian aid. Our support package of €143 million will assist approximately 1.3 million internally displaced people and affected communities in and around the Borno State.”

According to the statement, “the package combines short term EU humanitarian aid with long term development support to help those in the affected area, which has been devastated by the terror campaign of Boko Haram. Our assistance will not only target the immediate needs of the people but, it will also help to restore basic services, stimulate employment and create livelihood opportunities, particularly for women and young people."

“Borno crisis in Nigeria faces one of the worst humanitarian crises in its history over five million people in need of urgent food assistance.

“A large proportion of the Borno population has little or no access to clean water, sanitation, shelter, education, primary health care (60% of health infrastructure is either destroyed or damaged), and is food insecure,” Mimica added.

Also in the statement, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides added: “The European Union is committed to get lifesaving aid to those in need in Nigeria. Emergency aid can help them but to do so, aid organisations need safe and full access to do their job. We also need to think about the long term affects and how to help communities recover.

“I have visited the country several times and seen the suffering caused by the victims of terrorism but also the strength and determination of the local people to rebuild their lives. It is this desire to rebuild a better future that the EU will support.”

The release indicated that Nigeria is one of four countries across the globe experiencing or at risk of famine this year, along with Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.

The release added: “EU support will provide immediate humanitarian assistance for the most vulnerable populations affected by the ongoing emergency situation, as well as for early recovery and restoration of basic services, such as health, nutrition, education, water access, sanitation and hygiene, solar power, in areas of return or resettlement.

“It furthermore will provide social protection, stimulate employment and livelihood opportunities, with a special focus on women, young people and vulnerable households.

“By strengthening public administration and financial management systems in the Borno State, it will help improve sustainable public service delivery, crisis management and coordination of related donor activities.”

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