Thursday that the federal government and the six North-east states
spent $6.4 billion on interventions in North-east between 2016 and
2017.
The minister made this known at the launching of the 2018 Humanitarian
Response Plan, HRP, for North-east Nigeria in Abuja.
The minister explained that the HRP being launched was also in line
with President Muhammadu Buhari Plan and the United Nations
Development Partnership Framework.
According to her, in 2016, $3.3 billion was spent on intervention,
while in 2017 another $3.1 billion was expended.
She disclosed that that a similar amount is being budgeted in the 2018
budget, which was still work in progress.
Ahmed said that Nigerian government as part of her commitment,
specifically, announced the sum of $1 billion for security in 2018.
She said that the Nigerian government would ensure that the 2018 HRP
is supported and aligned with the humanitarian and development
strategies as captured in the Nigerian Economic Recovery and Growth
Plan.
Ahmed thanked all international donors and humanitarian partners and
appealed for more resources to meet the immediate needs of the nearly
7.7 million people.
In his remark, Edward Kallon, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria
said that the launch of the 2018 HRP demonstrates the commitment of
the International Community to the people of Nigeria.
He said that it was also a clear and positive indication of the strong
and continued partnership between the International humanitarian
commit and the Government of Nigeria.
Kallon noted that the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria's North-east has
spilled into the Lake Chad region, which is in its ninth year and was
one of the most severe in the world today.
He said that the crises which was first and foremost a protection
crises has evolved into a food security and nutrition crisis with 7.7
million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance in the worst
hit states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY).
Kallon revealed that 6.1 million people are being targeted for
humanitarian assistance in the 2018 HRP by 60 organisations including
UN agencies, International and National Non-governmental
Organisations.
He said that the assistance ranges from food, protection, water,
shelter, sanitation, medicine, agricultural support, which would be
delivered to vulnerable women, children and men across the three
states.