Nigeria Humanitarian Emergency OCHA 21 June 2022
/
2:16
/
MP4
/
329.2 MB

Edited News , Press Conferences | OCHA

Nigeria Humanitarian Emergency OCHA 21 June 2022

Nigeria: crisis in north-east will get worse without urgent help, says OCHA

UN humanitarians issued an alert on Tuesday on the deteriorating situation for millions of mainly women and children in north-east Nigeria who continue to be affected by protracted armed conflict, just as the country enters the lean season.

Well over eight million people are in need of assistance in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states and an estimated 600,000 face emergency levels of food insecurity because of extremist violence centred around the Lake Chad region, that’s now in its 12th year.

Although previously dominant Boko Haram militia have been significantly weakened since the group’s leader was killed over a year ago, it continues to carry out indiscriminate attacks, said the UN’s top relief official in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale. Another extremist offshoot, ISWAP, is also dangerous, although it had also suffered setbacks, he noted.

As in previous years, a staggering one million people are also beyond the reach of international aid teams, said Mr. Schmale, who is the acting UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria. More than 80 per cent of those in need are women and children, who also face “abductions, rape and abuse”, while indiscriminate attacks in Borno state make it the most “unstable place to be”, he added.

“We’ve been asking to support out of the 8.4 million people in need of support at least 5.5 million,” Mr. Schmale told journalists in Geneva. “The conflict has left 2.2 million people presently displaced…We’ve just entered what is called the lean season that normally lasts ‘til September; last year it lasted ‘til November, so we’re also seeing the impact of climate change.”

Mr. Schmale noted that although Nigeria is a major oil producer, it lacks refineries which means that it has not benefited from the global surge in energy prices, linked to war in Ukraine.

“It’s early days yet in terms of understanding the full impact, as you may know, in Nigeria from the beginning there was speculation as to whether Nigeria would benefit as an oil-producing country. We’re not seeing that in fact at all, because Nigeria, as contradictory as this may sound, depends very largely on imports of refined oil so, the price rises we’ve seen are not benefiting Nigeria, that’s one concern.”

In time, the massive country could feed itself and avoid ever costlier food imports, the UN official insisted, although for the moment, it lacks the infrastructure and agricultural investment required to be competitive at a global level.

Of particular concern are the 1.74 million children under five who are expected to be suffer from acute malnutrition in the north-east in coming months.

“A key message is ringing the alarm bell,” Mr. Schmale said. “If we don’t get immediate funding soon for an initial multisector response plan worth $350 million, we will have a crisis that will be much worse in a couple of months.”

He added: “We hope that the international community realises that you ignore a situation like in the north-east of Nigeria at your own peril; it could have far-reaching consequences beyond the borders of Nigeria if we’re not able to keep it stable.”

ends

STORY: Nigeria Humanitarian Emergency - OCHA

TRT: 2 mins 15s

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 21 June 2022 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior wide shot, flag alley, UN Geneva.
  2. Medium shot, UN Geneva Press room.
  3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Matthias Schmale, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “A key message is ringing the alarm bell. And what I mean by that is if we don’t get immediate funding soon for an initial multisector response plan worth $350 million, we will have a crisis that will be much worse in a couple of months.”
  4. Medium shot, participant, seated, in front of large TV screen showing Mr. Schmale.
  5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Matthias Schmale, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “There are 600,000 people projected to be at emergency risk level in terms of food insecurity.”
  6. Medium shot, podium speakers, journalists.
  7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Matthias Schmale, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “Now this is all happening in the context of a protracted crisis caused by a non-international armed conflict as many of you will know across the three states in the north-east in Nigeria: Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.”
  8. Medium shot, journalists writing on notepad or laptop in foreground, participant to rear.
  9. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Matthias Schmale, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “We’ve been asking to support out of the 8.4 million people in need of support at least 5.5 million. The conflict has left 2.2 million people presently displaced.”
  10. Medium shot, participant in foreground, podium speakers to rear.
  11. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Matthias Schmale, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “We’ve just entered what is called the lean season that normally lasts ‘til September; last year it lasted ‘til November, so we’re also seeing the impact of climate change.”
  12. Medium shot, journalist in foreground, podium speakers to rear.
  13. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Matthias Schmale, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “It’s early days yet in terms of understanding the full impact, as you may know, in Nigeria from the beginning there was speculation as to whether Nigeria would benefit as an oil-producing country. We’re not seeing that in fact at all, because Nigeria, as contradictory as this may sound, depends very largely on imports of refined oil so, the price rises we’ve seen are not benefiting Nigeria, that’s one concern.”
  14. Wide shot, journalists, TV camera on tripod, lighting panel on stand.
  15. Close-up, podium speakers seated in front of UN Geneva backdrop.
  16. Medium shot, journalists, UN staff.

Similar Stories

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on escalating gang violence  in Haiti

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on escalating gang violence in Haiti ENG FRA

The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the UN Human Rights Office have today released a report detailing the evolution of violent gang incidents beyond the capital Port-au-Prince since October 2024 up to June 2025, and the resulting loss of life and mass displacement. 

OHCHR reaction to US sanctions imposed on Special Rapporteur Albanese

1

1

1

Statements , Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNOG

OHCHR reaction to US sanctions imposed on Special Rapporteur Albanese ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani at the Geneva press briefing in response to questions about US sanctions imposed on UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 11 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNHCR , OHCHR , WHO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 11 July 2025 ENG FRA

Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the UN Refugee Agency, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the World Health Organization.

Gaza Deir Al Balah killings OHCHR - WHO 11 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OHCHR

Gaza Deir Al Balah killings OHCHR - WHO 11 July 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: ‘Unacceptable’ choice between getting shot or getting fed – UN humanitarians 

Following the deaths of several children in an Israeli strike on Palestinians waiting in line for nutritional supplements in central Gaza on Thursday, UN humanitarians have once again condemned the killings of people at aid distribution sites in the enclave. 

WMO Press conference: Annual Sand and Dust bulletin - 10 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WMO

WMO Press conference: Annual Sand and Dust bulletin - 10 July 2025 ENG FRA

Sara Basart, WMO Scientific Officer, speaks.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 08 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR , WHO , UNCTAD

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 08 July 2025 ENG FRA

Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the International Trade Centre, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, World Health Organization, and United Nations Trade and Development.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on recent violence in Kenya

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on recent violence in Kenya ENG FRA

At the United Nations bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights made the following comments on the recent violence in Kenya.

US tariffs impact - ITC

1

1

1

Edited News | ITC

US tariffs impact - ITC ENG FRA

US tariffs uncertainty hurts world economy, with poorest countries hit hardest – top UN economist

A new US decision to further delay the end of a 90-day pause on tariffs is bad for business, a top UN economist said on Tuesday.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 04 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WIPO , UNICEF , UNHCR , WHO , IFRC

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 04 July 2025 ENG FRA

Rolando Gómez, of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Federation of the Red Cross, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the Organisation Internationale pour la Francophonie, and the GIGA Connectivity Forum.

Gaza aid site casualties WHO - OHCHR 04 JULY 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OHCHR

Gaza aid site casualties WHO - OHCHR 04 JULY 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza aid site horror continues as more starving people shot trying to get food

Amid intensifying hopes for a new Gaza ceasefire, UN humanitarians confirmed disturbing details on Friday of continued killings and injuries of Palestinians desperately seeking food at aid sites.

OHCHR/ Special Procedures - Press conference: Special Rapporteur on OPT - 3 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | HRC

OHCHR/ Special Procedures - Press conference: Special Rapporteur on OPT - 3 July 2025 ENG FRA

Launch of the latest report of the Special Rapporteur "From economy of occupation to economy of genocide".