About 9.2-million people suffering as a result of forced displacement, deprivation and disease across the Lake Chad basin region will benefit from the $27-million in new humanitarian assistance announced on Wednesday in Cameroon by US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Anne C. Richard.

Together with the United Nations (UN) assistant secretary-general and regional humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel, Toby Lanzer, and European Union Commissioner Christos Stylianides, Assistant Secretary Richard was travelling in Cameroon and Chad to highlight the devastating impact of Boko Haram aggression and strengthen international cooperation to ease the desperate plight of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria.

Nearly five-million people were classified as food insecure, 155 000 as refugees and 2.6-million as IDPs. 

According to the UN, the number of displaced people had tripled over the last two years. Further, recent humanitarian assessments had found possible famine conditions in parts of Nigeria, which required immediate aid to prevent further deterioration and death. 

The funding announced would bolster efforts by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide Nigerian refugees with essential assistance, such as access to clean water and sanitation facilities, healthcare, essential household items, and shelter. 

It will further support the UNHCR’s protection efforts for IDPs and refugees in the region, maintain access to asylum and prevent forced returns, as well as address issues of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, and provide programmes to protect children. 

The funding would also back the expansion of urgently needed food assistance so that it reached hundreds of thousands more in north-eastern Nigeria and in Niger. 

Contributions to the UN Humanitarian Air Service in Chad and Cameroon will ensure the safe and reliable transport of aid workers and humanitarian cargo.  
 
This new funding brought the total US government humanitarian assistance for the Lake Chad basin humanitarian response in financial years 2015 and 2016 to nearly $281-million. 
 
UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator Stephen O’Brien said the Lake Chad basin crisis urgently needed a more robust response. 

He said the US urged all nations to join in doing more to address the extraordinary level of need and to contribute generously to the UN and other Lake Chad basin humanitarian appeals.