The aid organization is expanding its area of focus from 9 countries to the east to now also include conflict-torn Nigeria, where 1,700 people in the northeastern Borno state receive cash for food and education in nutrition and food hygiene.

The humanitarian situation in Nigeria is desperate and the displacement crisis in the northeastern part of the country is one of the most acute in the world.

The past years has seen some of the most horrific violations against civilians during the conflict. Humanitarian needs in Nigeria are immense: over 8.6 million people are in need in some form of assistance, 5.1 million of them are children, 1.9 million are women, 1.31 million are people with disabilities (PWDs) and 0.4 million are elderly.

Over 2 million internally displaced people need help urgently. As many as 74 percent of them live in Borno State, where Mission East is now responding with emergency aid to 1,700 of the most vulnerable people.

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Utilizing expertise

Mission East is thus expanding its commitment to not only reach 9 countries to the ‘east’ with emergency aid, early reconstruction and long-term development. With private donations and support from Danida, the aid organization can now also provide emergency aid in Nigeria and thus utilize its expertise in helping hard-hit populations in crisis and conflict countries.

In Nigeria 1,700 conflict-affected individuals in the Monguno district will now receive cash to buy essential food items and cooking oil for two months. They will also receive training in nutrition and food  hygiene. This is done in close cooperation with the Dutch aid organization ZOA and the local partner organization Community Health, Justice and Peace Initiative for Development (JDPH).

Stable cooperation

This intervention follows a request for support from Mission East’s long-term and trusted Integral Alliance partner ZOA, a Dutch NGO, which has as long-term presence in Nigeria and good quality programmes with local partners as well as being certified as compliant with Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS). Mission East have previously worked closely with ZOA in Iraq, Afghanistan and in the Nepal Earthquake response, where they funded part of Mission East’s response.

The JDPH is a programme of Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Jos and has been working in Central and North Eastern Nigeria since 1970. The Catholic Province of Jos covers the 7 states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba and Yobe. In each of the 7 states JDPH has offices coordinating a range of humanitarian and development projects.

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