Lake Chad Basin humanitarian crisis calls for action

There is a "clear need for continued action" to try and end the humanitarian crisis in Africa's Lake Chad Basin where around 10.7 million people are in need of emergency aid, up from nine million six months ago.

That's the view of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, briefing the Security Council on Thursday.

Mr. O'Brien said the people of north-east Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad were still suffering violence and economic hardship due to Boko Haram terrorist activity, despite military gains.

Around 2.4 million are currently displaced, the vast majority children, said the UN relief chief.

He added that there had been a "staggering increase" in extreme levels of food insecurity despite a major response by the international community, with levels rising from three million to just over seven million severely food insecure.

"The regional humanitarian crisis that has significantly deepened and broadened with the despicable actions of Boko Haram takes place in an extremely fragile and rapidly changing part of the world, and one that contains many of the elements – poverty, unemployment and the absence of prospects and opportunities for youth – conducive to both violent extremism and protracted humanitarian need. There is a clear need for continued action and attention from the international community and indeed this Security Council."

SOURCE: UN Radio