UN requests over $500 million for Nigeria, CAR crises

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), along with its partners, is seeking $545 million to help those fleeing conflicts in Nigeria and the Central African Republic (CAR).

Liz Ahua, UNHCR's regional refugee coordinator for Nigeria and CAR, said both areas are facing violence on a daily basis, including incidences of suicide attacks and indiscriminate killings.

"These two humanitarian crises must not be forgotten; they are not going away," Ahua said. "The suffering is great and the needs acute among both the displaced and host communities. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we won't see it unless there is a much stronger commitment from African governments and the international community to help re-establish stability and peace."

The requested $545 million would be used to fund two regional response plans supporting both the refugees and the communities that are hosting them, which include Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and the Republic of Congo. The funds would provide food, water, shelter, health care, hygiene and sanitation and education.

While all partners combined are asking for $198.76 million for the Nigerian crisis and $345.7 million for CAR, the UNHCR is requesting $62.33 million and $189.54 million, respectively.