The Trumpet Newspaper Issue 551 (August 11 - 24 2021)

Page10 TheTrumpet AUGUST 11 - 24 2021
News
‘Millions of children going hungry
in North-East Nigeria’
– Save The Children warns
Millions of children going hungry in North-East Nigeria
Save the Children has expressed deep
concern that an estimated 2.3 million
children and youth, including some
700,000 children under Five, are going
hungry in North-East Nigeria.
in the area are facing food shortages as
attacks by militants are forcing farmers
from their lands. Save the Children strongly
condemns the reported attacks and
displacement of farmers and other civilians.
An estimated have fled their homes
because of the violence, leaving families
and children wanting food, a safe place to
live and, for many children, education.
Shannon Ward, Acting Country
Director, Save the Children International
Nigeria, said: “The situation is extremely
dire. Millions of children have already been
through a decade of suffering, violence and
humanitarian crisis. Thousands and
thousands have died, and many more saw
their rights impacted to survive, learn and
be protected.”
“The reported loss of livelihoods, land
and crop coupled with the effects of
COVID-19 is beyond something the
community can bear. We are extremely
worried that this will lead to an even bigger
food crisis in the northeast of the country.”
“We call upon the Federal and State
Governments to ensure that farmers are
supported and protected, so they can work
their lands, and feed their families and
communities. And we call for safe access
for humanitarian workers, so we can reach
those most in need.”
“Children, girls and women are more
vulnerable at times of attack and
displacement. As a result of overcrowding,
family separation, a lack of basic social
services and desperate measures people
take just to survive, such as marrying off
their children, they run a high risk of
gender-based violence, physical and sexual
abuse. Many children will be urged to drop
out of school, and some will never return –
with their childhood dream fading away.”
The crisis in Nigeria comes at a time
when the world is facing its biggest hunger
crisis of the 21st century, with an estimated
across the globe. A further 13 million
children under 18 are facing extreme food
shortages, the organisation said.
Save the Children urges the authorities
in Nigeria and the international community
to commit more resources to address the
massive critical needs of the displaced
people in North-East Nigeria.
Save the Children was one of the first
humanitarian organisations that responded
to the humanitarian crisis in the area,
reaching 1.2 million people since the start
of the response. The organisation is
providing food assistance and protection
services to more than 320,000 children and
families regularly.
Save the Children remains committed to
working with the authorities to deliver
urgent, life-saving humanitarian assistance
for children and their families in need.
All combatants have the obligation to
protect Eritrean refugees
Continued from Page 1<
collaboration with the other side in the
conflict.”
The situation has continued to
deteriorate, with fighting spreading to
new areas and a recent escalation of
violence against Eritrean refugees. An
estimated 80,000 refugees would now be
at imminent risk in the Tigray and Afar
regions. “I am extremely alarmed at
reports of reprisal attacks and killings,
sexual violence, beatings of Eritrean
refugees and looting of camps and
property. This violence directed at
refugees must stop,” Babiker said.
At the end of July, UNHCR, the UN
Refugee Agency, expressed concern
about the fate of some 24,000 Eritrean
refugees in Mai Aini and Adi Harush
camps, who it said have been cut off from
humanitarian assistance and are facing
intimidation and harassment.
Recent armed confrontations have
also displaced thousands of people in the
Afar region, which hosts an additional
55,000 Eritrean refugees. In January,
Hitsats and Shimelba refugee camps were
destroyed. Some 20,000 refugees were
displaced and hundreds went missing.
“International humanitarian law has
long recognized the need to protect
civilians caught in conflict,” Babiker
said. “Today I specifically call on all
sides to respect the 1951 Refugee
Convention.”
“All armed actors must respect the
neutrality of refugee camps, allow
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humanitarian actors to provide urgently
needed assistance, and facilitate the
relocation of refugees to safer areas,” he
said. “This horror must stop. All civilians,
including refugees must be protected
from hostilities.”