The United States (U.S) government has unveiled a humanitarian aid package amounting to $27 million for Nigeria, aimed at supporting vulnerable communities and enhancing resilience against the challenges posed by food insecurity and the impacts of climate change.
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria announced on Tuesday in Abuja that this contribution is a part of the broader $536 million humanitarian aid package allocated by the U.S. government to sub-Saharan Africa.
Naija News reports that Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, officially unveiled the comprehensive aid package which brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa in Fiscal Year 2024 to nearly $3.7 billion.
“The funding will be channelled to those in need through the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
“It brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa in Fiscal Year 2024 to nearly $3.7 billion.
“The assistance aims to address the critical needs of vulnerable individuals across the sub-Saharan region,” the mission explained.
It added: “This includes refugees from war and terrorism violence, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, stateless individuals, and other conflict-affected people.
“It will focus on crises in the Sahel, among other areas, and support efforts to build durable solutions, such as voluntary returns and refugee integration.”
In an address regarding the development, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, highlighted the significance of the recently announced U.S. funding.
Mills noted that the initiative underscored the United States’ dedication to delivering essential aid and safeguarding the well-being of vulnerable populations and the communities that host them across the African continent.
“This assistance will make a real difference in the lives of those most in need in Nigeria and across the continent.
“This 27 million dollars in aid demonstrates the U.S.’s unwavering commitment to supporting Nigeria in addressing humanitarian challenges.
“We stand with Nigeria in its efforts to provide for vulnerable populations and build resilience against food insecurity and climate change impacts,” the mission quoted Mills as saying.