From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has reported that an estimated 7.8 million people affected by over a decade of violence require urgent humanitarian support, including life-saving aid, protection, safer water, and sanitation.
Mr Trond Jensen, Head of Office for UN humanitarian coordination in Nigeria, made this announcement during a virtual press conference attended by The Sun reporter on Tuesday, ahead of the launch of the 2025 Nigeria Humanitarian Need and Response Plan.
“In 2025, an estimated 7.8 million women, men, and children across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states will require humanitarian assistance,” he declared.
Trond stated that over 1.8 million people have been forced to flee their homes, living in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps and unable to return to their original communities due to persistent violence.
Although nearly 1.4 million people have returned to their homes, they still lack access to essential services like water, sanitation, and livelihoods, which remain significant issues in the violence-hit region, according to the UN humanitarian official.
He explained that about 4.6 million people taking refuge in host communities in the three states are equally facing the dire consequences of the violence.
He warned that urgent funding is required to support the affected population, cautioning that 2.5 million people could face malnutrition this year if immediate support is not provided.
Humanitarian response in Nigeria is hampered by inadequate funding, ongoing attacks, adverse weather, and restricted environments due to military operations, Trond added.
“We have not received funding for 2025. Since 2022, funding has reduced,” he announced.
He said the 2025 humanitarian response aims to save lives, provide protection, and ensure affected people have access to basic needs such as safe water, hygiene, and sanitation.
“Humanitarian need and response is a plan put in place by the UN for regions affected by conflict,” he stated, noting that the UN is focusing on the northeast at the invitation of the Nigerian government.
The UN aid chief also mentioned responding to humanitarian needs in the northwest, which is experiencing banditry, but clarified that the intervention would be social rather than economic.