4.3m people in Northeast Nigeria risk severe hunger from June to August, UN raises alarm

The United Nations (UN)nhas disclosed that about 4.3 million people face severe hunger risks in Northeast Nigeria.

The international body noted that three states — Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe — risk severe hunger from June to August this year, adding that child malnutrition is expected to rise with 700,000 children at risk of severe wasting.

This was disclosed by the UN Deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, at a news conference at the UN headquarters, New York.

According to Haq, the UN needs $396 million to fight hunger globally including in North Eastern Nigeria.

Persecondnews recalls that the UN had in January this year warned that 25 million Nigerians are at risk of hunger between June and August this year as it urged public and private stakeholders to commit resources to address food insecurity in the country.

The UN cited inflation, conflicts and rising food prices as key drivers of the risk of hunger.

Haq said: “We alerted last week, 4.3 million people in the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States risk severe hunger from June to August, and child malnutrition is expected to rise with some 700,000 children at risk of severe wasting.

“Without additional funding, humanitarian organizations will only be able to reach about 300,000 of the people at risk.

“As we have seen in previous years, early funding can help pull food insecure households back from the brink.”