(CNN)The
United Nations is appealing for $174 million to help Nigerian refugees
who’ve fled to neighboring nations following militant attacks.
United Nations is appealing for $174 million to help Nigerian refugees
who’ve fled to neighboring nations following militant attacks.
Boko Haram has killed thousands in the nation’s northeast by attacking villages, schools, churches and mosques.
It
has also kidnapped students, including more than 200 schoolgirls
abducted in April last year. A majority of them remain missing.
has also kidnapped students, including more than 200 schoolgirls
abducted in April last year. A majority of them remain missing.
The militants have attacked relentlessly for six years, sending 192,000 people seeking shelter in Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
“Displaced
people in northeastern Nigeria and across borders are in a very
dramatic situation, they fear for their lives and are at this point
unable to return to their homes,” said Liz Ahua, who’s coordinating
Nigerian refugee efforts for the U.N.
people in northeastern Nigeria and across borders are in a very
dramatic situation, they fear for their lives and are at this point
unable to return to their homes,” said Liz Ahua, who’s coordinating
Nigerian refugee efforts for the U.N.
Aid agencies are scrambling to provide the refugees with clean water, shelter, food and access to education.
“In
the refugee camps, thousands of school-age refugee children cannot
attend school because of lack of classrooms and teachers,” Ahua said.
the refugee camps, thousands of school-age refugee children cannot
attend school because of lack of classrooms and teachers,” Ahua said.
Mental
health needs are crucial to help the survivors of physical attacks and
those who’ve witnessed violence, according to the U.N. Some children
are separated from their parents amid the trauma.
health needs are crucial to help the survivors of physical attacks and
those who’ve witnessed violence, according to the U.N. Some children
are separated from their parents amid the trauma.
“The
conflict has had a devastating impact on children, including many who
were forcibly recruited by the insurgents in Nigeria,” Ahua said.
conflict has had a devastating impact on children, including many who
were forcibly recruited by the insurgents in Nigeria,” Ahua said.
The appeal encompasses the needs of 23 agencies and nongovernmental organizations helping the refugees.
“Adequate
funding is crucial to make sure aid agencies can improve the living
conditions for refugees in asylum countries and respond to their
protection needs,” Ahua said. “We relocate refugees away from the
conflict border areas, and establish additional refugee camps where
needed.”
funding is crucial to make sure aid agencies can improve the living
conditions for refugees in asylum countries and respond to their
protection needs,” Ahua said. “We relocate refugees away from the
conflict border areas, and establish additional refugee camps where
needed.”
The Islamist group has said
its aim is to impose a stricter form of Sharia law across Nigeria, which
is split between a majority Muslim north and a mostly Christian south.
its aim is to impose a stricter form of Sharia law across Nigeria, which
is split between a majority Muslim north and a mostly Christian south.
An additional 1.2 million people are displaced within Nigeria as a result of the insurgency.
