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Tag: Samantha Power

  • Boko Haram: U.S. to mobilise more aid for Nigeria – Amb. Power

    The U.S. on Friday pledged to mobilise more aid and support for Nigeria and other countries affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power made the pledge at a Town Hall Meeting with the students and staff of American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola.

    Power noted that the current assistance to Nigeria and other affected countries was inadequate in meeting the food and medical needs of the Internally Displace Persons (IDPs), among others.

    “When I return to United Nations in New York, I plan to deliver an urgent message to other member states that we together need to do much more to support Nigeria and other affected countries in responding to this immense problem,’’ she said.

    Power noted that so far, the U.S. support to Nigeria covered only 13 per cent of the UN requirements in meeting the needs of the IDPs in the country.

    She commended the efforts of the Nigerian military to contain the Boko Haram insurgents, citing the soldiers’ latest repel of the insurgents’ attack in Kareto as a feat.

    She urged the military to continue the campaign within the rules of engagement by respecting the people’s human rights in the fight so as to garner the citizens’ trust and goodwill.

    “This (respect for human rights) is something we had discussed in all our meetings with the leaders in Cameroon, Chad, President Buhari and respective regional militaries,’’ she said.

    Power noted that Boko Haram had an unparalleled record in the area of human rights abuses, adding that the U.S. was now very active in efforts to strengthen the Nigerian military’s capacity to perform optimally.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while in Yola, Power visited IDPs camps, addressed a news conference and took time off in the evening to play basketball with the students of AUN.

  • FG compiling data on IDPs to quicken resettlement – Buhari

    FG compiling data on IDPs to quicken resettlement – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said his administration has started compiling comprehensive data on all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Nigerian refugees in the country.

    This, he said, will speeding up their resettlement.

    He spoke while receiving the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amb. Samantha Power, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the compilation of reliable data on the IDPs and refugees was being handled by designated Federal Government agencies, the military and other security agencies.

    He said: ‘‘We have frightening indices of the number of people and the situation in the IDP camps across the country. And despite the government’s efforts and the hospitality of individuals and organizations, the situation needs better handling.

    ‘‘A large segment of the IDPs are mostly women and children. Some of the children are orphaned and don’t know where they came from.

    “Now we are working on getting a comprehensive data of all the people in the camps so that the government and NGOs will be properly briefed on where and how to support them,.”

    The President said that IDPs, who were into farming before they were displaced by Boko Haram, will be mobilized and assisted by the Ministry of Agriculture to return to their farms.

    Amb. Power commended the Federal Government for always being the first and highest responder to the IDPs in various camps in the country.

     

  • Boko Haram: U.S team visits Northeast Friday

    The United Nations Permanent Representative to the United Nations and leader of President Barack Obama’s team to Nigeria, Amb. Samathan Power and other members of the team will visit the Boko Haram ravaged Northeast on Friday.

    The visit will enable them the team to have first hand information on humanitarian situation in the region.

    Power disclosed this during a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, in Abuja, Thursday.

    She noted that they are concerned about the economic situation of the people, which had been crippled by the terror group’s activities.

    Onyeama commended the U.S government for the strong support and solidarity in the efforts to defeat the Boko Haram sect.

     

  • Obama’s team in Nigeria to back Buhari’s plans

    Obama’s team in Nigeria to back Buhari’s plans

    The United States President, Barack Obama, has sent a 42-member high-power delegation to Nigeria in support of the three priority areas of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    Leader of the delegation, Ms Samantha Power, said on Thursday in Abuja that the three areas – security, economy and governance remain the focus of the delegation’s visit to Nigeria.

    Power at a joint press conference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said Nigeria remains a strategic partner to the U.S. not only in Africa but globally.

    “As you (Onyeama) indicated, Obama has sent me and members of his cabinet to lead an inter-agency delegation to Nigeria,” she said.

    Power, who is U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, said the delegation would reflect on the three pillars of the present administration which are security, economy and governance.

    She explained that the partnership is so much bigger and would bear fruits to include other aspects of our partnership.

    “It will include dealing with Boko Haram, trade, economic development, the strengthening of institutions and the fight that you the country is waging against corruption.

    “All of these are intrinsically central for the people of Nigeria who want to live in a secured environment and dignity and have maximum opportunity.”

    According to her, all the other aspects that the visit will cover include focus on critical areas for dealing with the emergency situation, caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.

    She also said the Nigeria-U.S Bi-National Commission meeting, which held in Washington in March, had started yielding fruitful results.

    “It’s been a very fruitful dialogue and I think there is a lot of homework that has come out of it.

    “And there are a number of issues which I look forward to discussing with you; that’s how we move forward in stronger ways,” she said.

     

  • Rescuing Chibok girls still our priority – U.S envoy

    Rescuing Chibok girls still our priority – U.S envoy

    The United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Samantha Power, on Thursday maintained that rescuing the abducted Chibok girls still remained the priority of the U.S government.

    She spoke with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to her, the U.S had in recent months provided additional information sharing platforms and additional surveillance to aid the fight against Boko Haram.

    She said: “The issue of the Chibok girls and other adaptations is of huge priority to the U.S. And it was the issue I discussed at length with President Buhari today.

    “We had moved to provide the information and intelligence needed to the Nigerian authorities. We have in recent months been able to allocate additional information sharing platforms and additional surveillance to aid the fight against Boko Haram .

    “We will not rest.  We will continue to deepen our partnership and be more effective with our partners on the ground.”

     

  • Boko Haram: U.S. gives extra $40m for humanitarian needs

    Boko Haram: U.S. gives extra $40m for humanitarian needs

    The U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, has announced nearly 40 million dollars in new humanitarian assistance to support people whose lives have been affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

     

    Power said that she made the announcement in Cameroon during a trip to the Lake Chad Basin region to highlight the growing threat of Boko Haram.

     

    The U.S. State Department made this known in a statement that was issued on Wednesday.

     

    It said that approximately 7 million people were suffering displacement, deprivation, and disease from the consequences of armed conflict in Nigeria, including 2.2 million internally displaced persons.

     

    “As a result of the prolonged crisis, communities, who have generously hosted IDPs, have also exhausted their resources and find themselves struggling to make ends meet,” it said.

     

    There are nearly 170,000 Nigerian refugees, who have fled to Cameroon, Chad and Niger countries whose citizens have also suffered from Boko Haram attacks and consequent displacement.

     

    The statement said that the funding would support the work of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

     

    The UN World Food Programme (WFP) and other international aid organisations in the region promise to provide essential protection and assistance to those affected.

     

    This new funding brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance for the Lake Chad Basin humanitarian response in the 2015 and 2016 financial years to more than 237 million dollars.

     

    “Funding announced today will allow UNHCR to provide Nigerian refugees with essential assistance, such as access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

     

    “Health care, essential household items, shelter, programmes, which protect children, and activities to prevent and respond to gender-based violence,” the statement said.

     

    It will also support UNHCR’s protection efforts across the region, including maintaining access to asylum.

     

    “The U.S. contribution will also allow our partners to extend and expand the reach of emergency food assistance in north eastern Nigeria.

     

    “By providing the most vulnerable people, including displaced persons, with cash and vouchers for food, the U.S. is promoting household food security while supporting local markets and trade,” the statement said.

     

    In total, the UN estimates that there are 9.2 million people across the Lake Chad Basin region in need of immediate assistance and has requested 535 million dollars for the 2016 response.

     

    The U.S. urged other donors to join us in responding to this humanitarian crisis.