European Union has announced a significant boost to its humanitarian assistance in

Nigeria, with an additional €5 million allocated to address critical food insecurity and

displacement issues.

This latest funding increase, revealed in a statement on Monday, August 26, 2024, raises

the EU’s total humanitarian support for seven West African countries to €160.6 million this

year.

The new funds will be directed towards alleviating the severe humanitarian crises impacting

various regions, including Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, and the Gulf of

Guinea coastal countries. These areas are grappling with widespread food insecurity and

displacement, driven by escalating political instability, ongoing conflicts, and pervasive

violence.

The EU indicated that the funding will help meet the emergency needs of the most

vulnerable people, especially in the areas of food assistance, nutrition, health, water,

sanitation, shelter, and protection. EU data reveals that 10% of Mauritania’s population is

currently facing food insecurity. In Nigeria, the volatile security situation in the Northeast

and Northwest is causing new and ongoing forced displacements. These regions require

multi-sectoral support to address the growing humanitarian needs.

The EU is one of the leading contributors of humanitarian aid in Nigeria. In 2023, the EU

allocated €47.4 million in humanitarian aid. Since 2014, the EU has provided close to €482

million to help people in need in the country, including €31.5 million in 2024,” the statement

partly read. According to EU data, 7.9 million people in North-East Nigeria require

humanitarian aid. It stated that 4.8 million people in the Northeast could struggle to find

enough food during the lean season (June-August 2024) without humanitarian assistance,

which is 14% higher than in 2023.