Nigeria: US provides $10.5 grant for IDPs in North East

US ambassador to Nigeria JF Entwistle

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded  a $10.5 million grant for humanitarian assistance for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in north east Nigeria.

The US ambassador to Nigeria James F. Entwistle made the announcement Thursday, at the grant signing ceremony which was attended by the Governors of Adamawa, Borno and  Yobe states in Abuja.

The grant which is expected to support the activities of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),  United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) would improve access to health care services such as: Nutritional supplements for malnourished children, health care services to those living in camps with host communities, clean water, sanitation, hygiene supplies and protection of services to affected region.

The Ambassador stated that with  this new funding of $10.5 million,  "the total U.S. humanitarian assistance since the start of the crisis is nearly $44 million".

He added that US welcomes  and supports President Muhammadu Buharis's commitment to taking the necessary actions to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

" I have assured him that he has no greater partner in that effort than the united States," he said.

The envoy explained that bearing all outside support the primary responsibility to respond to "this enormous challenge lies with the local authorities".

 Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima while addressing the press, expressed optimism that the insurgency which has it roots in poverty will come to an end "this crisis, this madness will very soon come to an end, beneath the mayhem of Boko haram lies the real cause which is extreme poverty."