The UN agency Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that 1.5 billion dollars was needed for the four countries this year.
“This crisis has been largely overlooked,” Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said. “We are therefore seeking to mobilize greater international involvement and increased funding for humanitarian efforts to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.”
Of the over 10.7 million people affected, almost a quarter have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict or food shortages. Attacks are blamed on the Islamist militant group Boko Haram which for years has terrorized north-eastern Nigeria and attacked its neighbours.
More than 7 million people were struggling with food insecurity, and over a half million children were severely malnourished.
Several charities including Save the Children, the Red Cross, and the Norwegian Refugee Council have underlined the need to increase protection of vulnerable groups like women and children as well as aid convoys.
In addition to the foreign ministers of the three host countries, ministers from the affected region, UN agencies, the African Union and the European Union as well as donor countries were expected in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.
