UNITED NATIONS, Nov 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations called for vital support for Nigeria, a country hit by record inflation, climate crises, and ongoing conflicts that could leave some 33 million people in food insecurity.
The figure represents a dramatic increase from the 25 million people currently in need of assistance, the World Food Program (WFP), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) confirmed.
In a joint statement, the three agencies warned that these are rates never before seen in the African country.
However, a recent assessment predicts that immediate assistance is needed to avert a potential food and nutrition disaster.
The analysis cited, among other alarming factors, the triple-digit increases in food prices, the effects of devastating floods, and a 15-year insurgency in the northeastern region.
The United Nations predicted that Nigeria would face a monumental hunger crisis by the second half of 2025, particularly in the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, where some five million people face acute food insecurity.
“Never before have there been so many people in Nigeria without food,” Chi Lael, WFP Spokesperson for the country, told journalists at the UN in Geneva.
She said 5.4 million children and 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women face the threat of acute malnutrition or wasting.
She warned that of this number, an alarming 1.8 million children could suffer severe acute malnutrition and may require critical nutrition treatment.
“What worries us most is the speed of deterioration over the past year, the scale – in terms of number of people at risk, the geographic scope of food insecurity, and the very real risk of a significant worsening in the coming months,” she said. — NNN-AGENCIES
