By Busari Kabirat
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has allocated $9 million to help in the upkeep of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and stateless individuals all over its member nations.
The major financial commitment includes $1 million specifically designated for Nigeria’s North East terrorism victims assistance.
Musa Nuhu, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Permanent Representative Committee, made this known while speaking at the 2024 ECOWAS Ambassadors retreat held in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, with all ECOWAS ambassadors from member states.
The three-day retreat, which took place from Thursday to Saturday, themed “Enhancing Protection for Refugees, IDPs, and Stateless Persons in West Africa and Finding Solutions to Forced Displacements.”
The organisers of the event emphasised on the urgency and importance of the need to address forced displacements caused by climate change, political instability and violence.
The discussions also emphasized on the recent formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger along side their subsequent withdrawal from ECOWAS which make these countries have the highest numbers of refugees and IDPs.
Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, signifies the importance of collective efforts with the United Nations to achieve common objectives in helping the needy.
She said: “Contributions from partners are crucial for the success of various projects.”
