Saturday, 29 June 2024 04:56

Mass hunger to worsen in Nigeria’s Northeast as UN funding dwindles, official warns

Rate this item
(0 votes)

The United Nations humanitarian agency is struggling to secure funding to combat severe food insecurity in Nigeria's insurgency-hit northeast, raising fears of mass hunger and deaths, its resident coordinator warned.

In April, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) launched a $306 million appeal alongside Nigeria on behalf of 2.8 million people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, states ravaged by a 15-year Islamist insurgency, during the lean season, a period of peak food scarcity.

OCHA chief Mohamed Malick Fall told Reuters that, despite an initial $11 million commitment from Nigeria and another $11 million from the UN's central pool, the target remained far off due to reluctance among international donors.

"We are far from where we want to be. That is something we are confronted by even beyond the lean season which is that we have noticed that humanitarian assistance to Nigeria is shrinking," Fall said in an interview on Thursday.

Fall anticipates receiving only $300 million in the best-case scenario, a significant drop from the $500 million secured last year. He attributed the decline to the economic impact of Covid-19 on major donors.

Competition from new global crises has also diverted attention and resources.

"Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan have all emerged in the past two years which makes it difficult to maintain the same pace of funding," Fall said.

The situation is further exacerbated by Nigeria's worst cost-of-living crisisin a generation, with inflation exceeding 33% and food prices soaring above 40%.

OCHA warns of "catastrophic" consequences of food insecurity in Nigeria's northeast without immediate intervention.

UNICEF data from April already shows more than 120,000 children admitted for treatment of severe acute malnutrition in the region, exceeding the entire year's target of around 90,000.

"The cost of inaction has many folds with the most pressing being an excess mortality among children," Fall said.

 

Reuters

March 15, 2025

Dangote Refinery further reduces petrol loading price amidst fresh crude supply from NNPCL

In a significant development in Nigeria's downstream oil sector, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has further…
March 14, 2025

I know individuals in Tinubu’s govt who bought ministerial positions, El-Rufai claims

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has revealed that he knows individuals who paid to…
March 14, 2025

How leaders train themselves to rethink and adapt faster

Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio Recognizing the value of rethinking is one thing—making it a habit is another.…
March 01, 2025

Man offers to split $525,000 jackpot with thieves who stole his credit card to buy…

A Frenchman appealed to the homeless thieves who stole his credit card to buy a…
March 14, 2025

Gunmen invade Kaduna communities, abduct 10

Suspected bandits have abducted ten villagers from three remote communities in Kajuru Local Government Area…
March 15, 2025

What to know after Day 1115 of Russia-Ukraine war

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE Putin urges Kiev to order troops in Kursk Region to surrender Moscow is…
March 15, 2025

Humanoid robot with human-like competence unveiled in China

Du Qiongfang Humanoid robot manufacturer AgiBot in Shanghai unveiled on Tuesday its latest humanoid robot…
January 08, 2025

NFF appoints new Super Eagles head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Prof Wale Are Olaitan: Editorial Consultant; Femi Kawonise: Head, Production & Administration; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.