The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has acknowledged significant progress in Nigeria’s efforts to address its humanitarian crisis but emphasised that more work remains to be done.
UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Mr Gilles Fagninou, made this statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
Fagninou is currently visiting Nigeria to assess UNICEF’s ongoing programs in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fagninou’s visit to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, revealed notable progress in humanitarian efforts over the past few years.
However, he noted that humanitarian needs were still significant.
“Humanitarian needs have been addressed, but we still see a lot of children in need.
“I visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, schools, and stabilisation centres.
“While progress has been made, these centres still have many malnourished children.
“In the Northeast, malnutrition remains a critical issue, and there is also a significant number of out-of-school children, exceeding the national average.
“Many children are still unhealthy. While a lot has been done, the needs persist, so it is difficult to say the humanitarian crisis is over,” he said.
Fagninou emphasised the need to intensify efforts to ensure long-term impact, noting that addressing the crisis required a combination of humanitarian aid and development strategies.
“The approach taken by UNICEF in collaboration with the Nigerian government is commendable because it goes beyond short-term relief.
“It’s not just about providing Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) or delivering water through tankers; instead, we are strengthening systems to build resilience within communities.
“The goal is to ensure that humanitarian interventions leave a lasting impact,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of preparing communities to better withstand and respond to future crises.
During his visit, Fagninou said he would engage with communities and relevant authorities to evaluate UNICEF’s support to the government, local administrations, and affected populations.
“The assessment will help determine whether our approach is yielding the desired results and guide necessary adjustments,” he added.
NAN reports that UNICEF’s regional office covers 24 countries across West and Central Africa. (NAN)
