Mr. Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, has called for continued assistance to tackle the humanitarian needs in northeastern Nigeria.
Schmale made these remarks during a press conference in New York, where he discussed the humanitarian situation in the country.
During his visit to Washington, DC, Schmale engaged in discussions with various stakeholders, including representatives from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, civil society, the media, the U.S. Institute of Peace, USAID, and the U.S. State Department. The aim of these meetings was to garner support and close the funding gap for humanitarian relief, development, and peacebuilding efforts in Nigeria.
Schmale highlighted the urgent humanitarian situation in northeastern Nigeria and stressed the importance of increased international assistance and collaboration to address the needs, achieve Sustainable Development Goals, and counter violent extremism. He mentioned that the upcoming Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024 will prioritize providing aid to vulnerable girls and women while considering funding trends realistically.
The UN Coordinator expressed the organization’s commitment to ensuring that 700,000 malnourished children receive the necessary food and protection. They aim to effectively and efficiently allocate resources by prioritizing areas of need and utilizing the resources they hope to receive next year.
