The United Nations is stepping up its efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the northeast of Nigeria.
The international body has announced plans to relocate its Humanitarian Coordination Centre to Maiduguri to achieve more effective response to the challenges created by Boko Haram insurgency in the region.
After a humanitarian situation assessment visit to Borno State, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ms Fatma Samoura, said that the move would also enable the organisation have direct access to affected areas.
She added that relocating the coordination centre from Abuja to Maiduguri had become necessary considering the condition at the Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camps and communities hosting them.
“I have decided that the centre of coordination be moved from Abuja to Maiduguri and UN senior staff will be deployed accordingly.
“In the weeks to come, seasoned and top-notch staff will be deployed to really cater for the needs of the IDPs and the host communities.
“This is in order to scale-up support and enhance coordination of our humanitarian response in the light of the significant challenge that the crisis presents.
“This will also ensure that they are closer to the IDPs, emergency management bodies and the state authorities,” she said.
Ms Samoura lamented the situation at the IDPs camps and urged development and humanitarian actors to do more to support the Borno government’s efforts.
According to the UN coordinator, nearly 15 million civilians have been affected by insurgency in the region, resulting in over 2.2 million people being displaced most of whom are in Borno State, totalling about two million IDPs.
Samoura said that the UN would continue to support the government of Nigeria to provide humanitarian assistance to survivors, especially vulnerable women and girls and also to reach those in dire need.
