International Non-Profit Organizations (INGOs) have acknowledged that 11 million individuals in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria remained affected by a multifaceted crisis resulting from protracted conflicts and displacements, adverse effects of climate change, and deepening economic challenges.
In light of this, the INGO community welcomed the commitments made during the Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum, which took place in Ndjamena, Chad between 5 and 7 July 2023, aiming to establish partnerships to address humanitarian, development, and peace needs.
The INGOs recognized that there has been improvement in certain areas of the Lake Chad Basin and applauded the efforts made by the government and international stakeholders through their strategy to stabilize and develop the basin.
A statement released yesterday in Maiduguri by the director of the Nigeria INGO Forum, Camilla Corradin, stated that they also acknowledged that meeting humanitarian needs remains one of the prerequisites for building self-reliance and fostering lasting change.
“The situation in the countries surrounding the Lake Chad Basin continues to raise significant concerns among INGOs. In our daily operations, we witness the burden on the people we aim to assist amidst insecurity and a decrease in the resources available to carry out humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development assistance. However, we also have optimism that coordinated action by all stakeholders, starting with the government and supported by partners including the international community, can save lives, enhance resilience, move this region towards greater stability, and revive the development process that has been constrained by the ongoing crisis in the LCB region.”
The statement added that in addition to dealing with physical and psychological traumas, populations affected by the crisis face challenges in accessing essential services like food, water, shelter, and healthcare. Furthermore, insecurity is on the rise in the region as approximately 5.6 million individuals are experiencing severe hunger, the highest figure in four years, and 758,000 children are severely malnourished.
“Humanitarian, development, and peace interventions are not mutually exclusive. As emphasized by the LCB governors during the forum, if these actions are carried out in a complementary and coordinated manner and based on joint analysis, they can amplify their impact.
“Given the millions of people impacted by the crisis in the LCB and despite a complex operational environment, INGOs such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC) provide support to people in need through initiatives that encompass prevention, humanitarian response, and resilience-building.
“For instance, IRC has implemented groundbreaking solutions including streamlined and simplified approaches to combat malnutrition and proactive measures with cash programming, empowering communities to better cope with floods and droughts,’ ’ said Modou DIAW, regional vice president for IRC in West Africa.
“Unrestricted humanitarian assistance is crucial for achieving collective goals. Humanitarian access poses a major challenge in the LCB region. To mitigate the impact of the crisis on the lives of hundreds of thousands of families, their needs for drinking water, quality food, and care must be met.’’ said Audrey Hernandez, director of Concern Worldwide in Chad.
“INGOs reiterate their commitment to working and coordinating with governments and appeal for support in facilitating access to people in need. This will enable INGOs to collaborate in creating the conditions for lasting solutions in peace. We also urge donors to contribute to effective and innovative responses to the needs of crisis-affected populations,” the statement concluded.