By Linus Aleke
No fewer than 8.4 million women, men and children are in need of some form of humanitarian assistance in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe state, with over 2.2 million displaced due to conflict in 2022, Christian Aid International Nigeria, estimated statistics revealed.
It also noted that there is evidence of increasing poverty and inequality, especially in the rural areas, adding, the conflict in northeast Nigeria has generated an alarming and large-scale humanitarian and protection crisis that shows no sign of abating.
The Programme Officer, Christian Aid (UK) Nigeria, Ms Faith Alobo, in a statement on Tuesday, said, the displaced people in Northeast Nigeria face daily threats to their health and safety.
As part of activities to commemorate 2022, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Christian Aid in collaboration with World Food Programme (WFP), said, the day presents an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and struggles of people living in poverty, make their concerns heard, and recognize their willingness to use their expertise to contribute to the eradication of poverty.
2023: Tinubu, Atiku, Obi take battle to Kaduna
It added that the theme for this year’s celebration is “Building a sustainable future: Coming together to end poverty and discrimination”.
The statement quoted the March 2022 Cadre Harmonise, as saying that there are 4.1 million people at risk of hunger this lean season, normally lasting from June to September.
“Among them is an estimated 587,955 people who are projected to be at emergency levels (Phase 4). This crisis is happening to a population that is already highly vulnerable, as millions of people have been pushed into survival mode, the statement said.
On the intervention to curtail the above debilitating condition, Ms Alobo said, that Christian Aid with funding from World Food Programme (WFP) has been working together since 2018 to improve the lives and livelihood of some of the most vulnerable conflict-affected people, lifting them out of poverty by providing food, cash, and decent income generating activities to strengthen their resilience.
She said, “22,400 households have benefitted from our livelihood interventions across Monguno, Mafa, Jere, MMC, Biu, Hawul, Kwaya-kusar, Bayo and Shani LGAs in Borno State. Currently, 1,639 households are benefiting from an ongoing livelihood intervention in the Malakyariri Community of Mafa LGA of Borno State. This intervention has six components which are: Aquaculture (fish rearing, fish feed production and fish processing), Conditional cash transfer Crop production (dry and wet season farming) Forestry and Natural Resource Management (NRM), which is a communal activity for households across the other components. It is focused on reducing the effects of climate change and deforestation through tree planting. Livestock and hydroponics fodder production. Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) and 20 different Income Generating Activity (IGAs)”.
Carry opposition parties along, Kenyatta urges Nigerian politicians
She noted that these include food processing, tailoring, making of caps, shoes, bags and other wears, bricklaying, and production of briquettes and energy-efficient stoves.
Ms. Alobo, added that all of these are geared at meeting the immediate needs of the people, boosting economic growth, creating jobs, and improving the overall livelihood and well-being of individuals and households.
“To showcase the expertise and willingness of the households to contribute to the eradication of poverty, an exhibition was put together to mark this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. It is an open space market where our project participants showcase the acquired skills gained and businesses set up from the livelihood intervention. This is an avenue to create market linkages between the community and external consumers. Binging potential investors to see, assess and patronise the locally made products,” the statement further revealed.
Speaking at the event, Alemu Bunaka, Humanitarian Response Manager, Christian Aid Nigeria said, the biggest achievement from its humanitarian interventions over the last five years is that some people who needlessly suffer do not suffer because of the work of the households.
