Humanitarian Chief to Visit Lake Chad Basin The new humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock, will travel to Niger and Nigeria from 9 to 12 September 2017 GENEVA, Switzerland, September 8, 2017/APO/ -- WHO: Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
WHAT: Mission to the Lake Chad Basin
WHEN: 9 to 12 September 2017
WHERE: Niger and Nigeria The new humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock, will travel to Niger and Nigeria from 9 to 12 September 2017. The purpose of his visit is to raise the global profile of the Lake Chad Basin crisis, which is affecting some 17 million people in the region.  In Niger, the number of food-insecure people is around 1.8 million. Some 800,000 children are affected by acute malnutrition and almost 250,000 people are either IDPs, returnees or refugees from Nigeria. In northeast Nigeria, around 6.5 million people need life-saving assistance. Nearly 5.2 million are severely food-insecure and 450,000 children will suffer from severe acute malnutrition, this year. The US$1.1 billion appeal for the country is currently only 48 per cent funded. In both countries, Mr. Lowcock will meet communities affected by the conflict, national authorities, humanitarian partners and the diplomatic community to mobilize additional support for humanitarian operations, with a focus on averting the risk of famine and reaffirming the centrality of protection in humanitarian action. Mr. Lowcock began his roles as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator on 1 September 2017. For more details on this mission and for interview requests, please contact:
• Katy Thiam, OCHA Niger | +227 99 71 7139 | thiamk@un.org
• Samantha Newport, OCHA Nigeria | +234 906 227 7205 | newports@un.org
• Jens Laerke, OCHA Geneva | +41 79 472 9750 | laerke@un.org 
• Russell Geekie, OCHA New York | +1 917 331 0393 | geekie@un.org
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