The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has earmarked $9 million to support refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and stateless individuals within its member countries.
Musa Nuhu, Chair of the ECOWAS Permanent Representative Committee, disclosed this during the 2024 ECOWAS Ambassadors Retreat, conducted in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.
The retreat, which convened all ECOWAS ambassadors from member states, spanned from Thursday to Saturday, focusing on “Enhancing Protection for Refugees, IDPs, and Stateless Persons in West Africa and Finding Solutions to Forced Displacements.”
Organizers stressed the urgency of addressing forced displacements stemming from violence, political instability, and climate change in their opening remarks. Discussions also delved into the recent establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, alongside their withdrawal from ECOWAS, posing challenges due to their hosting of significant refugee and IDP populations.
Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, underscored the necessity of collective efforts in achieving the shared goals of all stakeholders, emphasizing the pivotal role of partner contributions in project success.
Speaking to journalists, organizers elucidated the joint efforts of the United Nations and ECOWAS in protecting and supporting refugees and IDPs in the West African region, including the allocation of $9 million to member states, with $1 million earmarked for victims of terrorism in Nigeria’s North-East.
Representing refugees in South-South Nigeria, Ehini Vera Mwuese, a Cameroonian refugee, highlighted the plight of refugees and displaced persons, urging continued donor support. She emphasized the prevalence of teenage pregnancy resulting from hunger and exploitation, reflecting the dire circumstances faced by affected populations.
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