March 12, 2024 (EIRNS)—The conjunction of terror and economic collapse are leading to a humanitarian crisis in northeastern Nigeria which aid agencies are not equipped to handle. Such is the import of a bulletin issued March 11, by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Titled “Neglected Humanitarian Crisis Escalates in Northwest Nigeria,” MSF begins by noting that “more than 600,000 people have been displaced from their homes in northwest Nigeria, [and] more than 2,000 people were killed in more than 1,000 violent incidents in the region.”
Lamenting that the crisis has been ignored for years, MSF head of mission Ahmed Bilal said: “We have repeatedly expressed our concerns to the UN and donors about the alarming and deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the northwest. The lack of recognition of the crisis is having a severe impact on the health and humanitarian needs of people, and is delaying the response, which is desperately needed.
“There were hopeful signs for the northwest last year, but a series of opportunities have been missed and the same cannot happen again in 2024. This year might become the worst year yet in terms of humanitarian needs and suffering for people.”
