The UN aid teams have launched a humanitarian appeal in Nigeria, which again focuses on the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe – the Bay states -where conflict, climate shocks and economic instability continue to blight communities’ wellbeing.

OCHA, the UN aid coordination office, in a statement, stated that the target in 2025 would be to reach 3.6 million people in the North-East with health services, food, water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Nutrition for children is also part of the $910 million appeal, along with support for protection, education and other basic services.

To absorb declining global funding, OCHA insisted that the Nigeria plan aims to make scarce resources go further, by supporting those delivering assistance locally more directly – and by shifting to cash and voucher assistance where possible.

According to the statement, a key part of the aid appeal includes prevention work to lessen the impact of floods and disease outbreaks.

In a related development, the UN has suspended all official movements by its teams into and out of Houthi-held areas of Yemen, after more UN workers were detained on Thursday.

The de facto rulers of much of the country, including the capital Sana’a, released the crew of a merchant ship who had been held for more than a year, earlier this week.

The move raised hopes that more than 60 employees from the UN, international organisations and diplomatic missions already being held by the Houthis over the past year, might be released.

Friday’s safety measure announced by Julien Harneis, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, comes as the organisation faces mounting security challenges in its operations in the region.

The Houthis and the internationally-recognised government have been fighting for control of the country in what has become a wider regional proxy war, for

“Yesterday, the de facto authorities in Sana’a detained additional UN personnel working in areas under their control,” Harneis said.

“To ensure the security and safety of its staff, the United Nations has suspended official movements into and within areas under the de facto authorities’ control…this measure will remain in place until further notice.”

Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq elaborated on the response later on Friday, highlighting the UN’s ongoing efforts: “Our officials in Yemen are actively engaging with senior representatives of the de facto authorities, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all UN personnel and partners.”

The detentions mark a troubling escalation for humanitarian operations in Yemen, where access and security remain critical concerns.

The UN continues to emphasise the importance of upholding the safety and neutrality of its personnel to ensure lifesaving aid reaches those in need.

(NAN)