ECOWAS Calls for Urgent Aid for 9 Million Displaced by Conflicts and Disasters
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appealed for immediate humanitarian assistance for nine million people displaced by conflicts and climate-related disasters across the region.
Speaking at a mid-term consultation meeting of the Regional Committee for Disaster Management in West Africa (GECEAO) in Abuja on Tuesday, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim, Head of ECOWAS Humanitarian Affairs Division, emphasized the need for coordinated disaster response efforts. The event, which brought together participants from across the sub-region, aims to enhance disaster management strategies and community resilience in West Africa.
Ibrahim highlighted that escalating violence, insecurity, and extreme weather events have forced millions of West Africans to flee their homes, often facing repeated displacement. He noted that conflict and climate change are dual forces driving the humanitarian crisis, further compounding the challenges faced by affected populations.
“The overlap of conflict and climate disasters underscores the need for comprehensive and coordinated responses to break this cycle,” Ibrahim said. He also stressed the importance of increasing humanitarian access and funding to bolster resilience and adaptation to climate change.
Mrs. Zubaida Umar, Director-General of Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), echoed these sentiments, noting that Nigeria is already working to improve disaster risk management. She emphasized that collective efforts and better coordination across the ECOWAS sub-region are essential to addressing the increasing risks posed by natural and man-made disasters.
Representatives from other ECOWAS member states, including Ghana, also called for stronger cooperation and information-sharing to enhance disaster risk reduction and management efforts. The meeting underscored the urgent need to adapt policies and resources to meet the growing disaster management challenges in the region.
