World Bank approves $200m to tackle Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria

by Azeez Adeniyi

The World Bank’s Board on Tuesday approved a $200 million credit for humanitarian activities and victims of Boko Haram insurgency in North East Nigeria.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the World Bank’s spokesperson, Olufunke Olufon, the credit will provide rehabilitation in health, education, transport , water and sanitation in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

The statement said over 20,000 lives have been lost while two million people have been displaced.

“The project will contribute to resolve constraints to restoring livelihoods and access to food, including road rehabilitation, technical assistance and program management support and will positively impact over 150,000 people including forcibly displaced populations, host communities and other conflict-affected communities in the states.

“Up to $5 million of the approved funds will help farming families combat the food security crisis in the region. Activities related to promoting food security include restoring access to productive assets by providing agricultural inputs including, but not limited to, seeds of local staple crops, fertilizers and tools. The project is a part of the larger multi-partner solution to crisis recovery in the region,” Olufon said.

The bank’s Country Director, Rachid Benmessaoud, said, “Communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the region are experiencing a particularly wide range of profound challenges. Their vulnerability is multidimensional, including severe damage to their social fabric, the extensive destruction of property and infrastructure, and significant basic survival and socio-economic needs that remain largely unmet.

“As such, responses should be multi-sectoral, offering avenues to self-reliance and following international standards on safe and voluntary return or reintegration.”

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