By National Record, With Agency Report
THE FEDERAL Government of Nigeria and the United Nations issued a stark warning on World Humanitarian Day, declaring a severe and escalating food and nutrition crisis that places millions of lives at immediate risk.
In a joint communiqué released in Abuja, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction (FMHAPR) and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) honoured aid workers who have lost their lives in service of others.
They simultaneously issued an urgent global plea for the protection of humanitarian personnel and civilians, demanding that international humanitarian law be upheld, especially for vulnerable women and girls.
The statement paints a grim picture of the current humanitarian landscape, both globally and within Nigeria. It decries a collapse in international solidarity and humanitarian financing, leaving the world’s most vulnerable populations with little to no support.
The communiqué identifies a dire situation within Nigeria, where humanitarian needs are rapidly increasing. The central crisis is one of food insecurity and malnutrition, described as an “unfolding disaster.” The pipelines for food and nutrition, which serve as lifelines for millions, are reported to be “severely disrupted, if not completely depleted.”
The statistics presented are alarming: an estimated 31 million people are food insecure; over 10 million children under five are acutely malnourished; 3.5 million children are severely acutely malnourished (SAM), a life-threatening condition; and approximately 400,000 children with SAM require immediate intervention to save their lives.
Citing “unprecedented challenges” where multilateralism is being replaced by short-term self-interest, the communiqué calls for an urgent reform of the global humanitarian system.
A key focus of the joint plan is a fundamental shift in how aid is delivered in Nigeria. The humanitarian community committed to three core actions, which include fully supporting a government-led and government-coordinated humanitarian response; working with the government to ensure a transition from internationally-supported operations to locally-led action, and shifting the international community’s role from direct aid delivery to an enabling function, focusing on diplomacy, coordination, and upholding humanitarian principles.
The Federal Government, represented by the Minister of State, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, pledged to increase funding for humanitarian interventions and institute transparency and accountability frameworks. It also committed to promoting a “nexus approach” that links humanitarian, development, and peace efforts to create more durable solutions.
The communiqué concludes with an urgent appeal to all stakeholders, both international and domestic, to provide additional funding and resources specifically for food and nutritional support. The Government and its partners vowed to “do its utmost to mobilise resources” to address the ongoing crisis while ensuring humanitarian partners can operate safely and according to their principles in conflict zones.
More humanitarian workers killed in 2024 than ever before – OCHA
Meanwhile, more humanitarian workers were killed in 2024 than ever before, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
A total of 383 aid workers lost their lives in 2024, or about one-third more than the year before, the agency reported on Tuesday to mark World Humanitarian Day. In addition, 308 were injured, 125 abducted and 45 arrested.
The trend has continued this year: by mid-August, 265 aid workers had already been killed, either while on duty or at home.
The deadliest locations in 2024 were the Gaza Strip and Sudan.
“Even one attack against a humanitarian colleague is an attack on all of us and on the people we serve,” said UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher. He called the scale of violence “a shameful indictment of international inaction and apathy.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross said: “Every attack is a grave betrayal of humanity.” Humanitarian staff work for aid organisations responding to war, conflict or natural disasters, ranging from UN agencies to groups such as the Red Cross, Malteser, Caritas and World Vision. Most were locally employed people who know the culture and conditions of crisis regions.
Under international law, humanitarian personnel must be protected.
In 2024, the UN Security Council reaffirmed in a resolution that member states are obliged to safeguard aid workers and investigate every attack. However, perpetrators are rarely held accountable. (dpa/NAN)
