The United Nations (UN) has revealed that 4.3 million people in northeast Nigeria are facing hunger and food insecurity.

Development Diaries understands the UN made this known during an online briefing on the humanitarian situation titled ‘Northeast Nigeria: Act Now, Avert the Worst’.

The briefing was facilitated by the Nigerian Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadia Umar-Farouq, and the UN Resident Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Edward Kallon.

Speaking at the briefing, Kallon said, ‘Nigeria, today, and particularly the conflict-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe – the so-called BAY states, are facing unprecedented challenges.

‘A resurgence in violence continues to ravage entire communities 11 years into a protracted conflict.

‘We are also facing extraordinary challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, a global health crisis that no country was adequately prepared for.

‘A few years ago, our rapid joint mobilisation succeeded in reversing a situation where hundreds of thousands of people were on the verge of famine.

‘Not only was famine averted, but many people who had seen their lives shattered by the conflict were starting to rebuild their lives and communities’.

He also said, ‘There were hopes that we had turned a corner and we could start focusing on recovery and development.

‘Today, these hard-won gains are in jeopardy. Ladies and gentlemen, as we speak, the number of people needing humanitarian assistance in the BAY states is the highest ever recorded in the five years of a joint humanitarian response.

‘At least 10.6 million people need our assistance to survive.

‘Despite tremendous efforts by the humanitarian community to feed over 2.5 million people, violent attacks continue preventing people from reaching their lands and rebuilding their livelihoods.

‘Every year of the crisis, an additional one million people have become food insecure’.

Source: THISDAY

Photo source: Roberto De Vido