The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it allocated $25 million in 2024 to fight terrorism in Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Fatou Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, disclosed this during a news conference at the commission’s headquarters on Friday in Abuja.

Ms Sarr said $4 million was dedicated to humanitarian action to curb the devastating consequences of terrorism and mitigate the fallout of natural disasters in the sub-region.

She noted that humanitarian actions were critical because of the multiple crises and displacements within the community, adding that such actions never stop even where the target country is under sanctions.

“In 2024, ECOWAS released $9 million for internally displaced people, refugees, and asylum seekers and for the communities that welcome them (i.e., all 15 countries).

“ECOWAS has allocated $1 million for stabilisation in Nigeria, that is, victims of terrorism, displaced people, injured people, rehabilitation and strengthening community resilience.

“Out of a fund of $25 million intended for the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, Burkina, Mali and Niger, ECOWAS has reserved $4 million for humanitarian actions,” she said.

The commissioner said that in 2023 alone, ECOWAS provided over $12. 6 million in support to four million of the 8.5 million victims of violent conflicts and disasters across West Africa.

She said the Republic of Guinea, while under sanctions in January, received $600,000, of which 100,000 was allocated to fire disasters and $499,390 for floods in the country.

Ms Sarr said the commission also carried out programmes for developing and promoting young people within the subregion under three key intervention areas: volunteerism, sports and economic integration.

“Since 2014, ECOWAS has posted 217 volunteers to the following countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria, Burkina, and Bénin,” she said.

Ms Sarr identified sports as a crucial integration factor used by the ECOWAS to encourage youths from all member countries and create in them a feeling of oneness and belonging.

“ECOWAS also supports sports federations with $100,000 each per year.

“In 2023, ECOWAS initiated cooperation with the People’s Republic of China to support young people. Thus, 12 entrepreneurship projects for young people in the subregion received an award out of 100 worldwide.

“For the ECOWAS Gender Centre, 1,720 excellence scholarships were distributed from 2010 to 2022 to young girls from disadvantaged families,” the commissioner said.

Ms Sarr announced that an ECOWAS youth conference would be held in May 2024 to appraise the current situation and identify the changes and ruptures which have led to some malaise in the subregion.

(NAN)