US approves $240 million in humanitarian aid for Nigeria, others

The US government has approved more than $240 million in humanitarian assistance to support vulnerable populations in Nigeria and several other crisis-hit countries, in a move aimed at strengthening emergency response and life-saving interventions.

The funding, awarded to Catholic Relief Services, will be distributed across Nigeria, Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti and Sudan, targeting critical sectors including food security, healthcare, nutrition, water, sanitation and housing.

A senior official from the US State Department’s Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response, Ryan Shrum, announced the intervention on Friday in Rome, Italy. He spoke alongside the US Ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, during a high-level meeting involving key humanitarian actors.

Other participants at the event included the United States Representative to the United Nations agencies in Rome, Lynda Blanchard; CRS Vice President for Humanitarian Response Jennifer Poidatz; and the general secretary of Caritas Internationalis, Alistair Dutton.

According to the US government, the grant represents the first in a series of funding disbursements to “trusted and vetted” implementing partners, signaling a strategic shift towards using established humanitarian organizations for rapid and transparent delivery of aid.

The intervention is also designed to supplement the $3.8 billion already channeled through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, with officials stressing that the approach would reduce administrative bottlenecks and improve accountability in the use of funds.

Washington said the funding underscores its commitment to partnering with faith-based organizations with proven ability to provide care in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

CRS, one of the largest humanitarian agencies globally, is already actively engaged in emergency response operations, including Ebola interventions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as broader life-saving support in vulnerable regions.

Analysts say Nigeria’s inclusion in the latest round of funding comes against a backdrop of worsening humanitarian conditions caused by insecurity, displacement and economic hardship, particularly in the northeast, where millions of people remain dependent on aid.

The development is expected to strengthen ongoing relief efforts by local and international partners working to address the country’s growing humanitarian needs.

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