NAN-H-2
Solidarity
By Lizzy Agbaji
Abuja, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) Ms Angele Dikongue-Atangana, the Country Representative, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), has called for international solidarity and intervention in the crises situation in Nigeria.
Dikongue-Atangana made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during the UNHCR annual stakeholders and donors briefing to highlight its achievements in 2016 and its 2017 operational plans.
She said that intervention needs, especially in the North-East region were huge and outstripped the capacity of a single government or institution.
According to her, the Nigerian crises situation is the most neglected one in the world and the least funded one even though the magnitude of the need is high.
She, therefore, urged the international community, stakeholders and partners to join hands with Nigeria to save the country from further troubles.
The Country Representative said that in spite of the immense humanitarian protection and funds challenges, the commission in 2016, significantly scaled up its response activities in the North-East.
“As part of UNHCR’s achievement for the year, the Commission, in its screening activity, identified 133,294 vulnerable Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and registered 143,848 Nigerian returnees from neighbouring countries.
“Twenty two thousand two hundred and six individuals received emergency shelter,and 96,624 individuals were provided with material protection-based assistance.
“Three thousand one hundred and eighty persons were trained in core protection services, including peace building, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM).
“In order to better serve the IDPs, the agency relocated its sub office from Bauchi to Maiduguri which is the epicenter of the displacement crises and host of most IDPs.
“As part of our advocacy drive, UNHCR’s team met with the Senate President to lobby for the creation of a committee on IDPs and other persons of concern.
“In like manner, we also met with the House of Representative’s Committee on IDPs and North-East initiative.’’
She said the aim of UNHCR’s operational strategy in Nigeria was to support the government and relevant authorities to establish an effective coordination and protection system for persons of concern.
According to her, persons of concern include refugees, asylum seekers, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), stateless persons and returnees.
Dikongue-Atangana said the commission’s operational strategy for 2016/2018 outlined the strategic objectives for the office and the intervention to be carried out in collaboration with its partners and stakeholders.
She noted that it was in line with its country humanitarian response plan that the commission implemented various activities to ensure that persons of concern accessed and enjoyed their fundamental rights.
She thanked donor agencies that had partnered the commission and called for more support from them and others.
Also speaking, the Chief Humanitarian Coordinator of the Federal Government, Dr Ayoade Alakija, further called on international partners to support Nigeria.
Alakija stressed the need for increased protection for displaced persons, especially women and children against Sexual and Gender- Based Violence (SGBV).
She said that persons of concern should not just be seen as IDPs but as their own children who deserve the basic needs of life.
In a remark, the High Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria, Amb. Salaheddine Ibrahimma, described humanitarian crisis in Nigeria as a global one.
He explained that addressing the deadly crossing across the Mediterranean could not be effectively achieved without the international community assisting in addressing the North-East crisis situation.
According to him, Nigerians account for a good number of those migrating elsewhere including to Europe, America and the western world in general for safer haven.
He, therefore, urged stakeholders to complement the efforts of UNHCR in Nigeria and the sub-region as part of their own contribution to the development of the world. (NAN)
LIZ/NKO/NKO
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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo
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