In response to the escalating food security and nutrition crisis in the northeastern region of Nigeria, the United Nations (UN) has approved a substantial allocation of $20 million. The announcement was made by UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq during a press conference held at the UN headquarters on Tuesday.
The funding will be sourced from two key humanitarian funds: $9 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and $11 million from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund. These resources will primarily support the response efforts led by the Nigerian government across the states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.
The assistance provided through this allocation will encompass a range of critical interventions. It will include the distribution of ready-to-eat food, ensuring access to clean water, providing healthcare services, and extending support to the agricultural sector in the affected areas, according to Haq’s statement.
Humanitarian partners have expressed grave concern over the situation, predicting that nearly 700,000 children under the age of five in the region will face life-threatening severe acute malnutrition this year alone. Additionally, over half a million people are expected to experience emergency levels of food insecurity during the lean season, which typically spans from June to August.
While the emergency funding will help initiate the response, Haq stressed that additional support is urgently needed to prevent widespread hunger and malnutrition. He revealed that the current humanitarian response plan for Nigeria, which amounts to $1.3 billion, is only 26% funded.
In a separate update regarding Sudan, Haq highlighted the ongoing efforts of the humanitarian community in providing vital assistance to the affected population. He noted that on Tuesday, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) facilitated the transportation of life-saving aid via 388 trucks to various parts of the country.
Haq also shared information from the World Food Programme (WFP), stating that the agency has already reached over one million people with emergency food assistance in Sudan since resuming its operations six weeks ago. Among those assisted, over 375,000 individuals reside in North, South, East, and Central Darfur.
The deputy spokesperson acknowledged that the violence in Sudan has led to a significant number of people seeking refuge in neighboring countries. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 500,000 individuals have fled across Sudan’s borders to escape the ongoing turmoil.
Highlighting recent developments, Haq revealed that a substantial amount of funding was pledged to support the humanitarian response in Sudan. During a high-level pledging event co-hosted by the UN, the Governments of Egypt, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the African Union, and the European Union, donors announced contributions exceeding $1.5 billion.
The allocation of $20 million by the UN for the food security crisis in northeastern Nigeria reflects the urgent need for immediate intervention. With millions of lives at stake, the international community must rally together to provide the necessary resources and prevent a devastating humanitarian catastrophe in the region.
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