European Union allocates N171 million to fight malnutrition in the northeast of Nigeria

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In response to the high levels of malnutrition in northeastern Nigeria, the EU is providing €100,000 (over 171 million Nigerian Naira) in humanitarian assistance to help those most in need. The funding will help 160 000 people in the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

This EU funding will enable the Nigerian Red Cross to provide emergency assistance to reduce malnutrition, with a focus on malnourished children, as well as pregnant and lactating women. Support will include cash grants to mothers and caregivers of malnourished children to help them cover their dietary needs, as well as information activities such as community workshops on nutrition and feeding practices. In addition, it is also foreseen to distribute water purification tablets and to carry out hygiene campaigns, in order to prevent diarrheal diseases.

This funding is part of the EU's overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

In northeast Nigeria, the severe malnutrition crisis has been exacerbated by ongoing conflict, displacement, and limited access to essential services. Most cases are coming from hard-to-reach locations and children under 5 are particularly vulnerable.

Background

The European Union and its Member States are the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent, and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.

Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.

The European Commission has signed a €8 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), to support the Federation's Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to 'small-scale' disasters, those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.

The Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) was established in 1979 and is supported by contributions from donors. Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can be replenished by the donors. The delegation agreement between the IFRC and ECHO enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (within its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €8 million.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS.