The federal government says no fewer than 1.7 million Nigerians in the North-East region of the country are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Humanitarian affairs minister Sadiya Umar Farouq made this known in her keynote address at the 2022 management retreat of the ministry on Thursday in Abuja.

“It is estimated that about 7.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the North-East region alone,” the minister said, “while a total of about 1.8 million people are internally displaced as a result of disasters, conflicts, insurgencies and terrorism.”

Ms Farouk noted that climate change is also a factor that contributes to the humanitarian situation; worsening floods and drought that depletes arable land resources in the country.

She explained that in addressing the situations, the ministry has developed policies and plans that positively impact the victims of these crises and alleviate their conditions.

“During the recent celebration of World Humanitarian Day in Maiduguri, Borno, Buhari directed the Ministry and its Agencies to come up with specific programmes.

“And such programmes should be able to address urgent threats posed by explosive remnants in the North-East region as well as ensure unimpeded return of IDPs to their ancestral homes in the region,” Ms Farouq said.

The retreat, which is the maiden edition with the theme “Strengthen Social Inclusion for Improved Living Standards of Nigerians,” was organised by the ministry.

The retreat is an assembly of the management staff of the humanitarian sector designed to brainstorm on ways of improving the actualisation of the mandate of the ministry.

(NAN)