WASHINGTON, June 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-
USNewswire/ -- The following is a letter from
21st Century Wilberforce Initiative:

Dear Mr. President: We write with great urgency
regarding the dire crisis continuing to unfold in
northeastern and central Nigeria, much of it as
the direct result of Boko Haram. Just yesterday,
in the Washington Post , Kevin Sieff noted,
"Thousands of Boko Haram victims are on the
verge of starvation in northeastern Nigeria." Six
people, on average, are dying every day from
malnutrition. According to Medicins Sans
Frontieres , "on certain days more than 30
people were dying due to hunger and illness,"
and that 66 percent of the children they
screened were emaciated.

This is in addition to a recent Refugees
International report which quoted a top UN
official as saying, "Nigeria is our biggest
failure." Another chief UN humanitarian official
described the Lake Chad region as the "world's
most neglected humanitarian crisis."

Should Nigeria further fracture it would also
constitute one of the greatest security threats
in West Africa. The Global Terrorism Index now
considers Boko Haram the most lethal terrorist
organization in the world with the Fulani
militants of Nigeria's Middle Belt the fourth
deadliest. Our own research indicates that in
just the first four months of this year, there was
a 190% increase in people killed by Fulani
militants.

Earlier this year, we, along with others from the
21 Century Wilberforce Initiative, traveled to
Nigeria and witnessed first-hand what is taking
place. We met with over 500 people, drove
through entire villages burned to the ground,
visited with families forced to live in caves to
elude terrorists, and heard firsthand testimony of
communities surviving by eating grass. We have
continued to liaise with those affected on the
ground, diaspora groups, Congressional offices
and State Department officials, and just released
a report, "Nigeria: Fractured and Forgotten. "

The crisis in Nigeria and the surrounding
countries is larger than Boko Haram and cannot
continue unaddressed. We are grateful you and
your Administration have already designated
Boko Haram as an FTO and offered significant
assistance to Nigeria. However, given that this
is the world's most neglected humanitarian
crisis and one of the most significant security
threats in West Africa, we believe what is
needed is a Special Envoy for Nigeria and the
Lake Chad region.

A Special Envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad
region directly reporting to Assistant Secretary
of State Linda Thomas-Greenfield could relate to
Boko Haram, terrorism, IDP's, refugees, psycho-
social care, etc. It is our firm belief that the
United States and other Western nations have a
vested interest in confronting one of the worst
humanitarian crises of our day. The
appointment of a Special Envoy would send a
strong signal and further strengthen American
leadership .

We urge you and your Administration to act
quickly and appoint a Special Envoy for Nigeria
and the Lake Chad region.

Thank you for your consideration.

Randel Everett
President, 21 Century Wilberforce Initiative

Frank R. Wolf
Distinguished Senior Fellow


www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nigeria-dire-crisis-spawns-letter-to-president-obama-300289929.html

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