U.S. gives additional $41m assistance to Boko Haram victims in Lake Chad Basin region

The United States announced today more than $41 million in additional humanitarian assistance to people affected by the ongoing conflict and severe food insecurity in Nigeria and throughout the Lake Chad Basin region, where more than 6 million people need emergency food assistance, and 2.6 million people are displaced.

According to a press statement from the Office of the Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power made the announcement at a high-level event on the humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad Basin, on the margins of the 71st United Nations General Assembly.

With this announcement, the United States is providing more than $359 million since fiscal year 2015 to people affected by Boko Haram-related conflict and the related humanitarian crisis. The United States continues to be the single largest humanitarian donor to the region.

This new funding to United Nations and NGO partners will help tens of thousands of people receive critically needed humanitarian assistance, including food, water, shelter, and services to address acute hygiene, protection, and nutritional needs.

The United Nations estimates an additional $542 million is needed to meet the humanitarian needs of people in the region between September and December 2016. The U.S. calls on other donors to contribute additional humanitarian assistance for the millions of people in the region whose lives have been affected by Boko Haram violence.