This archive report was first published on 31 October 2019.
On October 31, 2019, Nigeria's military unexpectedly closed the offices of Action Against Hunger (ACF) and Mercy Corps in northeast Nigeria, sparking concerns over the impact on humanitarian aid in the region.
The military accused Paris-based ACF of 'aiding and abetting terrorists and their atrocities' by supplying food and drugs to Boko Haram fighters, a claim the NGO denied.
Humanitarian Affairs Minister Sadia Farouq announced the temporary lifting of the ban on the two organizations, stating that the concerns and recommendations of a board of inquiry would continue to receive attention.
According to the United Nations, the suspension of the aid groups has left nearly 400,000 people without food and essential help for the past month.
Renewed Boko Haram violence has displaced 140,000 people this year alone, and over three million people are food-insecure due to the inability of farmers to plant crops.
