The World Bank has set aside $800 million to support the rebuilding of infrastructure destroyed in the North East region of Nigeria by the Boko Haram the activities.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ms Fatma Samoura, disclosed on Thursday in Maiduguri during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima.
Samoura, who double as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, stated that the international body had increased its presence in Borno and other North East States affected by the activities of the sect.
According to her, “Yesterday, we had a long discussion with the World Bank team that came from Washington to attend the workshop. The workshop is for validating the year findings of the recovery and peace-building assessment. They have promised to leverage 800 million dollars for the North East to response to recovery, rehabilitation, de-mining, waste management and debris processing for the North East of Nigeria”.
The UN, she stated was having challenges mobilising resources for Nigeria in view of the humanitarian crises in other parts of the world.
On her words, “As we all know, the Syrian crisis that is affecting Europe is also taking a heavy toll in terms of funding from our traditional donors. We are trying our best to ensure that our advocacy and our communication strategy are up to the level where we will be receiving more attention from the donor community”.
She continued, “The humanitarian response plan, as we speak, is just 10 per cent funded, meaning we have only received $24 million. This is out of $248 million dollars budgeted for the North East of Nigeria for 2016”.
She assured that the United Nations would continue to complement the World Bank and the European Union supports to address the root causes of poverty and exclusion in the North East.