UN envoy seeks assistance for Nigeria’s humanitarian needs

Mr Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, has advocated for ongoing assistance to address the humanitarian needs in northeastern Nigeria.

Schmale made these remarks in response to inquiries from the UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York during a press conference on the humanitarian situation in Nigeria,

Schmale said that he had previously visited Washington, DC, where he reviewed opportunities and difficulties related to humanitarian relief, development, and peacebuilding.

Schmale was in New York for a Resident Coordinators retreat.

“I’ve spent two days with my colleague in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, (OCHA )Washington to try and drum up support to get the funding gap closed,’’ he said.

Along with top staffers from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, he also met with representatives of civil society, the media, the U.S. Institute of Peace, USAID, and the U.S. State Department.

In order to address humanitarian needs, hasten the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and counter violent extremism, he emphasised the alarming humanitarian situation in northeastern Nigeria and the significance of increased international help and collaborations.

He said that the organisation would shortly unveil its Humanitarian Response Plan 2024, which will prioritise helping vulnerable girls and women while being realistic about funding trends.

“We’re trying to make sure that 700,000 malnourished children, severely malnourished kids get the food they need and the protection they need.

“We’re trying to prioritise and use the resources; we hope we will get next year as effectively and efficiently as we can,”; he added.