One million in north-east face food aid cut
Quick Read
“The crisis is unfolding amid renewed violence in the north which has devastated rural communities, displaced families and destroyed food reserves,” he said.
More than one million people across Nigeria’s North-East risk losing life-saving food and nutrition support unless urgent funding is secured in the coming weeks, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.
The UN agency said the country is grappling with one of its most severe hunger emergencies in years, driven by conflict, displacement and the destruction of livelihoods.
WFP cautioned that a breakdown in assistance for displaced families could have grave consequences. According to its Nigeria Country Director, David Stevenson, desperation may force people to abandon camps in search of survival.
“If WFP cannot continue supporting the displaced populations in camps, they will leave the sites in a desperate attempt to survive.
“They will try to migrate, or they may join insurgent groups to feed themselves and their families,” Stevenson said.
The agency estimates that close to 35 million Nigerians could experience acute food insecurity during the lean season. Among them are about 15,000 people in Borno State facing the risk of catastrophic hunger, just short of famine conditions.
Stevenson warned that worsening insecurity in northern communities has compounded the crisis.
“The crisis is unfolding amid renewed violence in the north which has devastated rural communities, displaced families and destroyed food reserves.
“Now is not the time to stop food assistance.
“This will lead to catastrophic humanitarian, security and economic consequences for the most vulnerable people who have been forced to flee their homes in search of food and shelter.
“Humanitarian solutions are still possible and are one of the last stabilising forces preventing mass displacement and regional spillover.
“The crisis is unfolding amid renewed violence in the north which has devastated rural communities, displaced families and destroyed food reserves,” he said.
The WFP described the situation as the worst level of hunger recorded in the past decade and said it urgently requires 129 million dollars to maintain operations in the North-East for the next six months, warning that assistance could be suspended if funds are not received.
Comments