Nigeria: UNICEF reacts to humanitarian crisis in Borno

UNICEF has reacted to the degrading humanitarian situation in Borno state north-east of Nigeria where thousands are facing starvation as a result of the activities of terrorist group, Boko Haram.

In an exclusive interview with Africanews, UNICEF Abuja based Chief of communication, Doune Porter said there are approximately two million people that are inaccessible in the region.

“The children are the most vulnerable of the population. But all of the population in Borno state have been severely affected by the Boko Haram crisis. It was a poor area of Nigeria to start with, infrastructure was weak but during the cause of the conflict health centres, water and sanitation facilities have been destroyed” she said.

Porter noted that most of the activities in the area are not reported adding that more donations are needed to help in supporting people in the region.

“Its not that they have not delivered on their promises, its that people have not yet come forward. Obviously, there’s is a lot competition for resources, there are lot of problems in the world. This is why we are highlighting this thing very much. This is very much a hidden problem, this is one of the biggest displacement problems in the world” she added.

The UN children ‘s agency had warned that tens of thousands will die if treatment does not reach them soon and said it found people without water, food or sanitation in the region.

According to UNICEF there are some 750,000 people living in areas that are now accessible but cannot all be reached due to inadequate resources.