UN Report Warns of Acute Hunger in Nigeria, 20 0thers
BUHARI
United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) have warned of impending acute hunger in Nigeria and 20 other countries in the next few months except adequate measures are taken to check it.
In a report, the FAO and WFP said the Nigeria and the 20 other countries need to avert the hunger and risk of famine as a result of increasing food insecurity.
The report said that people in Northern Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen would be at great risk for hunger.
Other countries identified include Afghanistan in Asia, Syria and Lebanon in the Middle East, to Haiti in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In a joint statement which was released by the two organisations, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said amount of suffering was becoming too high, adding that now is the time to save lives.
The statement urged the countries to take advantage of the planting season to increase local food production.
He said, “We must run against the clock and not let this opportunity to protect, stabilise and even possibly increase local food production slip away.”
WFP Executive Director David Beasley, also said, “We are seeing a catastrophe unfold before our very eyes. Famine – driven by conflict, and fuelled by climate shocks and the COVID-19 hunger pandemic – is knocking on the door for millions of families.”
“We urgently need three things to stop millions from dying of starvation: the fighting has to stop, we must be allowed access to vulnerable communities to provide life-saving help, and above all we need donors to step up with the US$ 5.5 billion we are asking for this year. .
“In conflict-hit northern Nigeria, projections for the June-August lean season show that the number of people in emergency level of acute food insecurity is likely to almost double – to over 1.2 million – since the same period last year.
“In the next six months, food and nutrition insecurity is set to rise considerably in northern Nigeria with some 13 million people affected unless food and livelihood assistance is scaled up.”
In a report, the FAO and WFP said the Nigeria and the 20 other countries need to avert the hunger and risk of famine as a result of increasing food insecurity.
The report said that people in Northern Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen would be at great risk for hunger.
Other countries identified include Afghanistan in Asia, Syria and Lebanon in the Middle East, to Haiti in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In a joint statement which was released by the two organisations, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said amount of suffering was becoming too high, adding that now is the time to save lives.
The statement urged the countries to take advantage of the planting season to increase local food production.
He said, “We must run against the clock and not let this opportunity to protect, stabilise and even possibly increase local food production slip away.”
WFP Executive Director David Beasley, also said, “We are seeing a catastrophe unfold before our very eyes. Famine – driven by conflict, and fuelled by climate shocks and the COVID-19 hunger pandemic – is knocking on the door for millions of families.”
“We urgently need three things to stop millions from dying of starvation: the fighting has to stop, we must be allowed access to vulnerable communities to provide life-saving help, and above all we need donors to step up with the US$ 5.5 billion we are asking for this year. .
“In conflict-hit northern Nigeria, projections for the June-August lean season show that the number of people in emergency level of acute food insecurity is likely to almost double – to over 1.2 million – since the same period last year.
“In the next six months, food and nutrition insecurity is set to rise considerably in northern Nigeria with some 13 million people affected unless food and livelihood assistance is scaled up.”
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