President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged $3 million for the takeoff of the African Union Humanitarian Agency, just as he advocated more concerted and institutionalised efforts in order for Africa to ameliorate the suffering of refugees and its Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
President Buhari, who spoke at the 16th African Union Extra-ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government on Humanitarian Crises in African and Pledging Conference, holding in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, said only a “collective and coordinated” approach would make a difference.”
The President, who stated that more than five million people had been displaced in the Lake Chad region, with 70 per cent of them mostly Nigerians, said the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria necessitated the creation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, which was designed to provide a national response strategy.
He however welcomed the establishment of an African Union Humanitarian Agency to cater for the growing needs of displaced persons and refugees.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Buhari thanked the African Union, government and people of Equatorial Guinea for providing the platform for leaders to deliberate and address pressing issues confronting the continent.
While pledging US$3million for the takeoff of the African Union Humanitarian Agency, he also appreciated the Specialized Technical Committee for their hard work to produce the statutes.
The African Union chairman and president of Senegal, Macky Sall, pledged US$3m on behalf of his country, urging other African leaders to contribute to the establishment of the humanitarian agency.
The president of the host country, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, pledged US$4m, with $2m for the new agency, while $2m will go to Mozambique.