The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS has announced a number of methods to tackle humanitarian crises in Nigeria and across other West African states.
Dockaysworld reports that this was disclosed by the ECOWAS Commissioner on Human Development and Social Affairs, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr at the weekly ECOWAS press conference in Abuja on Friday.
Professor Sarr spoke about the department’s mandate to ensure development in four aspects including humanitarian, culture, education, and science.
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While speaking on the humanitarian and youth programs she disclosed the activities of ECOWAS in the past year and plans for the current year including programs and budgets.
Speaking on the humanitarian crises across states, Prof Sarr said,
“In 2024, ECOWAS has released 9 million dollars for internally displaced people, refugees, asylum seekers, as well as for the communities that welcome them (i.e. all 15 countries)
ECOWAS has allocated $1 million for stabilization in Nigeria (victims of terrorism, displaced people, injured people, rehabilitation and strengthening community resilience ).
Out of a fund of 25 million dollars intended for the fight against terrorism Nigeria, Burkina, Mali and Niger), ECOWAS has reserved 4 million dollars for humanitarian actions.
ECOWAS emphasizes prevention, we have a disaster reduction strategy and tools such as the observation, monitoring and alert center which allows ECOWAS to monitor displaced populations and floods, to anticipate problems. and better manage crisis situations.”
She went on to stress the focus on developing youths across countries for actualization of future goals. She said,
“For the ECOWAS Gender Center: 1,720 excellence scholarships were distributed from 2010 to 2022 to young girls from disadvantaged families.
ECOWAS YOUTH FORUM
A youth conference will be organized from May 2024 to take stock of the current situation, identify the changes and ruptures which have led to the general malaise observed in the sub-region. Consultations will be organized in member countries by bringing together young people concerned in their geographic, social and socio-professional diversity. These meetings will be extended by webinars to reach a larger number of people, television shows and radio debates will allow populations in each country to know that ECOWAS is looking into youth problems.
At the end of the process, the ECOWAS meetings will be organized in a member country, allowing the regional organization to review its policy, strategy and roadmap accordingly.”
The ECOWAS Human Development and Social Affairs department has expressed readiness for transparency as it aims to achieve community development and wellbeing.
