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| The UN resident coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale |
ABUJA, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, has said over four million Nigerians in the region are expected to face the severe pain of food insecurity in the approaching lean season.
Schmale said this at an advocacy event held in Abuja on food security and nutrition in North-East Nigeria.
He noted that a total of 8.4 million Nigerians would need humanitarian support in the North-East, while 4.1 million people face severe pain of food insecurity in the North-East.
Schmale said up to $351 million is needed to provide humanitarian support for people in North-Eastern Nigeria.
He said, ”Across North-East Nigeria today, 8.4 million people need humanitarian assistance. Alarmingly, almost half of these crisis-affected people, 4.1 million are expected to face the severe pain of food insecurity in the approaching lean season.
”In 2021, the gap between people in need and people supported by food and nutrition assistance was 1.8 million. Due to reduced funding, that number is projected to dramatically increase to 2.9 million this lean season.
“Unless resources are urgently mobilised, almost three million people in dire need of food and nutrition support will go unassisted.
“I have heard stories from last year’s lean season of people in the North-East eating grass to stay alive, and I fear the recurrence of this tragedy if we fail to act quickly,” the UN official remarked. — NNN-AGENCIES
