We need to increase humanitarian assistance Everywhere – UNHCR Chief

NAN-H-11
Assistance
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Dec. 17, 2016 (NAN) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, has called for increased humanitarian assistance for the refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
Grandi made the call while speaking with newsmen on his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Saturday on official visit to Nigeria.
He said the UNHCR had launched an appeal on Friday in Yaounde to provide more assistance for Nigerian refugees in cameroun in 2017.
Grandi said his visit to the four Boko Haram ravaged countries was to enable him review the situation of displacements that had taken place in the last couple of years in thèse countries.
He said he had visited Cameroun, Chad and Niger, adding that he would visit Maiduguri to get the complète picture of displacement in the northeast and discuss with the government to find solution to the crisis.
“The right of refugees in neighbouring countries is generally positive but of course, we need to increase humanitarian assistance everywhere.
“That is why yesterday we launched an appeal in Yaoundé for next year’s humanitarian assistance for refugees that have gone out Nigeria waiting for a time to come back.
“I am touring the region to review the situation of displacements that have prevailed here for the past couple of years not only in Nigeria but also in Niger, Chad and in Cameroun.
“I have been to those three countries already and now my tour in Nigeria, I will travel tomorrow to the northeast to Borno.
“That will give me a complète picture of the causes of the displacement and activities that we need to do in favour of the refugees and Displaced and the solutions that we can find together with the governments of this region for this phenomenon,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Grandi had on Friday in Cameroon launched a multi-million dollar inter-agency appeal to help about half-a-million people affected by insurgency in Niger, Chad and Cameroon .
The appeal is also meant to assist more than 183,000 Nigerian refugees in those countries.
He disclosed that 36 partners of the 2017 Nigeria Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) asked for 241 million dollars for 2017 to help some 460,000 Nigerian refugees, internally displaced people and host community members in the three countries.
According to Grandi, more than half 154.29 million dollars is required for Niger, with the response in Cameroon requiring 67.25 million dollars and 19.61 million dollars for operations in Chad.
“This is one of Africa’s largest displacement crises and the world cannot afford to brush it under the carpet,” he said. (NAN)
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=========Edited by Morayo Omolade