UN asks for $1bn to help people hit by Boko Haram

The United Nations is launching a $1bn (£721m) appeal in
the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to help millions of people in
need of humanitarian aid in the north of the country.
The Islamist militant group Boko Haram has been carrying
out attacks in the region for the past 11 years. More than
30,000 people have died and millions have been displaced
in that time.
The UN says, despite the scaling up of humanitarian
assistance since 2016, the situation remains dire.
It estimates that nearly nine million severely vulnerable
people in the area need aid.
The international response plan this year is targeting 6.5
million people in the worst affected states of Borno, Yobe
and Adamawa.
The UN and the Nigerian authorities say the impact of the
Covid-19 pandemic has made the humanitarian crisis even
worse.