Amidst escalating concerns over food insecurity, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, has sounded the alarm on the dire situation facing Nigerian children.
According to Fall, approximately 5.9 million children in Nigeria are confronting a severe food and nutrition crisis, marking the highest figure globally.
Speaking at the launch of the 2024 Lean Season Food Security and Nutrition Crisis multi-sector plan, Fall emphasized the urgency of addressing the crisis.
The plan aims to coordinate with existing government initiatives in food assistance, health, and water and sanitation, primarily targeting North-Eastern states such as Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.
Fall highlighted that Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are particularly affected, with 700,000 children under the age of five reported to be malnourished.
Additionally, he underscored that 4.8 million Nigerians are at risk of food crisis during this year’s lean season, exacerbated by challenges such as flooding, inflation, and global conflicts like the war in Ukraine, which disrupt access to food.
To address this pressing issue, Fall stressed the need for immediate action, indicating that a budget of N306 million is required to support 2.8 million people and prevent the crisis from escalating into a catastrophic situation in the region.
The announcement follows Nigeria’s declaration of a national emergency on food security in July 2023, prompted by soaring inflation that rendered basic food items unaffordable for many Nigerians.
As the country grapples with these challenges, urgent intervention and coordinated efforts are imperative to safeguard the well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly children, and mitigate the impact of food insecurity.