– The United Nations Organisation has said that it has supported over two million people devastated by Boko Haram in the North east of Nigeria
– The UN humanitarian coordinator, Edward Kallon, says though there are challenges, the UN agencies are making wave in the region
– Borno state Governor Kashim Shettima who initially criticised the organisation for non-performance tendered an unreserved apology
The United Nations Organization has said that not less than two million people have been reached by the humanitarian assistance of the UN in the North eastern states of Nigeria, The Cable reports.
IDPs in camp in North east Nigeria
Edward Kallon, humanitarian coordinator of the UN made the revelation when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state.
Accompanied by other senior UN officials, Kallon said though the challenges are enormous, there has been a lot of progress on humanitarian response since October last year when he assumed duty as the UN resident and UNDP representative in Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Governor Kashim Shettima accuses UNICEF, 126 NGO’s of failing to provide services to IDPs
He revealed that prior to his coming to Nigeria, the international community was only reaching about 100, 000 people, adding that as at December 2016 the humanitarian assistance had grown to reaching over a one million people across Boko Haram ravaged states in the North east.
But “Presently’, he said, ‘humanitarian assistance is reaching about two million people in the north-east, there has been a huge progress so far.
Kashim Shettima Borno state governor
“The UN system is an accountable system and if we receive a request from the Governor of Borno on what we are bringing in and what is being spent, we would give that information. Such information is not hidden.”
In a visit to the Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, apologized to the UN representatives over his statement where he was reported to have criticized the United Nations accusing its agencies of misusing funds meant for the internally displaced people in the state.
He told the UN officials that he was angry with indigenous NGOs whom he accused of fleecing the IDPS for their personal benefit.
He was reported to have poured venom on UNICEF, blaming its officials of cruising around with exotic cars but making no impact in the lives of the IDPs.
READ ALSO: Boko Haram scandal: UN strikes back at Governor Shettima
But Shettima said he was misquoted by journalists, hence he tendered an apology before the UN officials, saying his anger being on the UN agencies it is on the indigenous NGOs that are parading around but making no impact in the lives of the IDPs.
He acknowledged the contribution of the UN, saying the organization had been with them in the dark hour of the region.
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