Following the forced closure of its offices in Borno and Yobe states, Action against Hunger strongly rejects accusations of supporting terrorist groups

ACTION AGAINST HUNGER LIFE SAVING ACTIVITIES TO RESUME IN NIGERIA. UPDATE 31/10/2019

Action Against Hunger is pleased to announce that the suspension of its activities in North East Nigeria has been temporarily lifted. Action Against Hunger would like to thank the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, the Humanitarian Community and its donors for their assistance to get this suspension lifted.

It is time for our teams to step up and to get back to communities quickly and ensure that they have access to the services and life saving assistance that they have not been able to access for the last six weeks.

Action Against Hunger is providing food assistance to people who had no access to livelihoods and food. We also deploy lifesaving health and nutrition services across health facilities in Borno and Yobe states.

Action against Hunger activities still suspended in Borno and Yobe states – Update 18/10/2019

One month after the closure of its offices and interventions in Borno and Yobe states by the Nigerian army, Action Against Hunger alerts on the horrific impact caused by this situation for the most vulnerable populations of northeastern Nigeria.

More than 2.6 million people are food insecure in Borno and Yobe states. In this context, Action Against Hunger was providing food assistance to approximately 240,000 people every month who had no access to livelihoods and food.

Action Against Hunger also deployed lifesaving health and nutrition services across 87 health facilities in Borno and Yobe states. Over last month, more than 40 000 people would not have had access to health services. As a consequences more than 8000 malaria cases will go untreated while it is one of the first cause of mortality in the area.

5834 children under five suffering from severe acute malnutrition were treated every month in these centers by Action Against Hunger teams. The cessation of activities since a month significantly increased the risk of mortality.

The closure of Action Against Hunger’s bases in Borno and Yobe states has also massive consequences for more than 79,000 people relying on the safe water trucking and distribution organized by the NGO.

Action Against Hunger hopes to be authorized quickly by the relevant authorities to restart its activities for the most vulnerable populations of the northeastern Nigeria. 

On 18 September, Action Against Hunger was ordered by the Nigerian Army to close its main offices in Borno and Yobe states, north eastern Nigeria. This decision, given without notice, has put into jeopardy the vital assistance that Action Against Hunger is providing to millions of people across Borno and Yobe states.

Action Against Hunger strongly rejects the accusation of “aiding and abetting” a terrorist organisation, and is working productively with the Nigerian authorities to try and resolve this situation.

Action Against Hunger stands ready to support any investigation, and will work tirelessly with the Nigerian authorities to allay any concerns they may have about our operations in the region.

Action Against Hunger delivers neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian aid to millions of people in Borno and Yobe states by providing basic services to the most vulnerable people, especially women and children.

We do not have more comments at this stage.