Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 19th Jan. UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Operations Director Edem Wosornu on Thursday called on the international community to boost support for communities in Niger, warned that limited funding and access challenges have put lives at risk.
OCHA reported that 4.3 million people, over half of the children have been affected by a multifaceted crisis characterized by conflict, climate-induced disasters, hunger and epidemics.
A military coup in July 2023 and the political instability has exacerbated the plight of Niger.
Edem Wosornu told reporters in New York via video link from Niamey that the people “need help now”.
“We need to do more, and we need to do more now, putting people at the centre,” she said.
“If we do not help them now, we will miss the planting season [and] we will not be able to support them and lift them out of their vulnerabilities.”
Ms. Wosornu has been in Niger meeting with authorities, aid organizations and affected communities.
She visited Diffa in the remote southeast, where refugees from Nigeria have settled after fleeing Boko Haram militants.
Ms. Wosornu said despite the challenging conditions faced by the refugees, women and children, she felt a strong sense of hope and resilience among the communities.
“The stories I heard also illustrate so clearly what we need to do as humanitarians, with the support of the wider international community,” she said.
She emphasized the need of mobilizing effective, life-saving assistance and promoting opportunities for people to regain self-sufficiency.
“As we look into the new year, we want to ensure that everything we can do to help the people in Niger, both to meet their immediate needs and to promote solutions,” she said.
UN humanitarian efforts require approximately $662 million, but funding levels have decreased, and accessing affected populations poses difficulties.
“Without funds and without access, we will not be able to reach people as quickly and as sufficiently we need to,” she said.
Ms. Wosornu echoed statements from UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths and other principles of the Interagency Standing Committee, emphasized the global consensus on supporting the people of the Sahel region.
“They reminded us that for years the world has agreed that we must the help the people of the Sahel. Now is the time to turn these words into action,” she said.
She concluded “Now is the time to be behind the people in Sahel, including the Nigeriens.”
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