Nigeria and other West African nations will get an additional $176 million in humanitarian relief, according to the US administration.
On Tuesday, May 28, 2024, this was revealed in a news release that was posted on the official website of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
According to USAID, the financial response is being made in light of the worsening security conditions in certain regions of Cameroun, Nigeria, and other West African nations.
Objectives for funding
The United States clarified that money is essential, pointing out that while demands considerably exceed existing aid, humanitarian efforts in Nigeria and other West African nations are terribly underfunded.
In part, the statement continues,
“In response to worsening security conditions and rising humanitarian needs in communities cut off from assistance due to conflict, the United States, through USAID, is providing nearly $176 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin regions of West Africa.”
“This additional funding from USAID will support communities facing staggering humanitarian needs amid conflict, food insecurity, and displacement in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Nigeria. Funds from the recently passed bipartisan supplemental appropriation are also included in this funding.”
“The UN World Food Program, UNICEF, and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs are among the UN and NGO partners through which these funds will be provided.”
“With the help of these funds, our partners will be able to provide food assistance, nutrition, clean drinking water, emergency medical attention, protection for the most vulnerable, and other essential aid to more people.”
In order to help save lives and lessen the suffering of the most vulnerable people in the region, the United States took advantage of the opportunity to call on other donors to join in increasing aid to West Africa.
Further details
In 2018, the US government declared that it would provide humanitarian aid to Nigeria and other nations surrounding Lake Chad totaling approximately $533 million.
The US takes great satisfaction in being one of the main contributors to the humanitarian efforts in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel.
The aid is a component of the US’s effort to maintain and improve bilateral ties with Nigeria.
This follows the sixth Binational Commission between the United States and Nigeria, which took place in Abuja on April 29–30, 2024.
The U.S. delegation praised Nigerian suggestions for incorporating American contributions to achieving Tuggar’s 4D policy—Demography, Development, Democracy, and Diaspora.
The United States delegation mentioned that the United States International Development Finance Corporation possesses a portfolio of about $700 million in finance support for Nigeria, including loan guarantees and direct loans.
Nigeria is the second-largest destination for US exports in Sub-Saharan Africa, with two-way trade in goods between the US and Nigeria estimated to reach over $8.1 billion in 2022, according to US research.
