Nigeria Partners With UN To Address $306 Million Food And Nutrition Crisis In Three States

Nigeria Partners With UN To Address $306 Million Food And Nutrition Crisis In Three States....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Federal Government, alongside local and global partners, has launched an urgent plea, aiming to secure $306 million to expedite the distribution of food aid, nutrition support, clean water, healthcare, and protection services to vulnerable populations. This initiative comes in response to the escalating food security and nutrition crisis in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states, particularly pronounced during the lean season spanning from May to September.

Based on the Government-led Cadre Harmonisé analysis released in March this year, approximately 4.8 million individuals in the BAY states are grappling with severe food insecurity, marking the highest level recorded in seven years. Of significant concern are vulnerable demographics including children, pregnant and lactating women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

The appeal, dubbed the lean season food security and nutrition crisis multisector plan, aims to deliver urgent aid to 2.8 million of these affected individuals. Zubaida Umar, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, stressed the importance of mobilizing funds and resources to address the lean season food security and nutrition crisis in the northeast, emphasizing its alignment with the Federal Government’s efforts to prevent malnutrition-related fatalities and associated health issues.

The ongoing violence and insecurity in the BAY states, coupled with the impacts of climate change, exacerbate the underlying causes of this food and nutrition crisis. Escalating food prices, driven by the removal of fuel subsidies and currency depreciation, have surged by 300 to 400 percent over the past year, surpassing families’ capacity to cope with inflation and elevating the cost of essential commodities like food.

Expressing grave concern over soaring malnutrition rates, officials noted that approximately 700,000 children under five are projecte