TheCable

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has scaled up its rescue efforts to victims of insurgency in northeastern Nigeria.

UNFPA says it is collaborating with NEMA, SEMA, ministry of health, red cross and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that its current response level reaches 450,000 people who are in dire need.

In a press statement issued on Sunday, the body said about one million people are affected by the crisis, girls and women being the most vulnerable.

“The scale-up plan is based on the most recent UN led inter-agency assessment findings and plans for a caseload of one million people that include presently displaced persons in host communities, and possible new displacements until the end of the year,” the statement read.

“Many more are directly affected and are living on the margins…  women and girls are the most affected in crisis situations and their physiological needs are often overlooked which compromises their safety, health and dignity.

“It is therefore expedient for stakeholders to pull resources to ensure that life for these women is less catastrophic in the midst of the crisis.”

Commending organisations and governments that have rendered one form of support or the other to the victims, UNFPA called for a collaborative effort to put an end to the insurgency.

“UNFPA appreciates the Japanese government and the presidential committee on flood relief and rehabilitation for their financial support for the scale up,” it said.

“The funds will be channelled directly to where it is critically needed to restore functional health systems to cater to the needs of the vulnerable population affected.

“The key overall response is currently geared towards meeting specific needs of a total target of one million population of which 250,000 are women of child-bearing age, 20,000 pregnant women, 4,000 expected complicated pregnancies, 1000 life-threatening deliveries and 5,000 women and girls at risk of sexual violence. This includes provision of psychosocial support.

“Given the recent developments and further deterioration of the situation there is an urgent need to a scale-up of the life-saving reproductive health and gender-based violence prevention and response interventions.”