The European Union has provided €225,000, approximately N340 million, in humanitarian aid to support individuals displaced by conflict in Kebbi State, Nigeria. This funding, announced on Wednesday, will enable the Nigerian Red Cross to offer lifesaving assistance to conflict-displaced persons across the state over a six-month period. The intervention aims to prioritize multipurpose cash assistance to help affected families meet urgent needs.
The EU's response will target approximately 7,700 displaced people living in settlements and host communities across Kebbi State. Priority will be given to female-headed households, persons with disabilities, elderly people, and individuals facing acute protection risks. The intervention will also involve continuous monitoring of population movements and the mobilisation of local volunteers.
The humanitarian assistance is in response to the deterioration of security in Kebbi State following an escalation of armed attacks and communal violence across seven local government areas. According to the EU, displacement has been ongoing since mid-August, but a sharp escalation in violence around 31 August triggered the humanitarian response.
The violence has affected more than 16,600 people across the state, including 7,706 people who have been displaced and 108 others who have been injured. Displaced families in temporary settlements and host communities are facing urgent needs for shelter, food, clean water, healthcare, and protection amid a complex security environment.
The funding is part of the EU's broader contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The European Commission has signed a €16 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the IFRC to support the DREF.
The EU's humanitarian assistance, delivered through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department, aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and protect the dignity of people affected by conflicts and disasters. The DREF, established in 1979, enables National Societies to access immediate funding when disasters occur.
For small-scale emergencies, the IFRC provides grants from the fund, which can subsequently be replenished by donors. The EU's assistance will also contribute to the foundation for longer-term recovery interventions by other humanitarian actors, ensuring a more comprehensive response to the crisis.
Key points
- The European Union has released €225,000 in humanitarian aid to support individuals displaced by conflict in Kebbi State, Nigeria.
- The funding will target approximately 7,700 displaced people and prioritize multipurpose cash assistance and protection services for vulnerable groups.
- The humanitarian assistance is part of the EU's broader contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
