The World Bank has approved a $200 million Multi-Sectorial Crisis Recovery Project aimed at tackling the acute humanitarian and forced displacement crisis in the North-east. This project will cover three states; Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, and is expected to restore service delivery and infrastructure rehabilitation in the health, education, transport, water and sanitation sectors.

According to Rachid Benmessaoud (photo), World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the region face intense challenges. “Their vulnerability is multidimensional, including severe damage to their social fabric, the extensive destruction of property and infrastructure, and significant basic survival and socio-economic needs that remain largely unmet. As such, responses should be multi-sectorial, offering avenues to self-reliance and following international standards on safe and voluntary return or reintegration,” he said.

The recovery project is a major part of the World Bank’s support to the country towards the execution of Buhari’s Plan and the Recovery and Peace Building Assessment, prepared by the Government of Nigeria in 2016. Other supporters are the European Union (EU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department for International Development (DFID), amongst others.

Out of the approved fund, $5 million will be used to help families engaged in farming combat the food security crisis in the region. This will be achieved by restoring access to productive assets by providing agricultural inputs such as seeds of local staple crops, fertilizers and tools.

Anita Fatunji