The United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, has raised concerns about the lack of funding of the UN humanitarian agency to continue addressing severe food Insecurity in insurgency-hit North-East Nigeria, highlighting the risk of widespread hunger and fatalities. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) joined forces with Nigeria to initiate an appeal in April for $306 million in order to 2.8 million individuals in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. These areas have been heavily affected by a 15-year Islamist uprising, especially during the lean season when food shortages are most severe.
Speaking to the press, Mohamed stated that even with the $11 million pledged by Nigeria and an additional $11 million from the UN, the agency’s target is still out of reach due to a lack of support from global donors. This deficit in funding is a continual challenge for OCHA, extending beyond the lean season and suggesting a decrease in humanitarian aid for Nigeria. Fall projected the agency to receive a maximum of $300 million, a substantial decrease from the $500 million obtained in the previous year.
Emergence of new crisis has reduced financing level.
Fall stated that the funding decrease was due to the financial consequences of COVID-19 on key contributors and the rise of fresh international issues, leading to a shift in focus and support. The emergence of the Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan crises within the last couple of years has made it challenging to uphold previous levels of financing. Adding to the financing issue is the country’s worsening cost-of-living crisis, as Inflation surpassed 33 percent and Food Prices skyrocketed by over 40 percent . Without prompt action, OCHA cautions that the north east region of Nigeria could experience catastrophic effects of food insecurity.
In April, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reported that over 120,000 children have been hospitalized for severe acute Malnutrition in the region, surpassing the annual target of 90,000. The consequences of not taking action are numerous, with the most urgent being a rise in child mortality, Fall noted. In the North East region, 2.2 million people have been displaced due to conflict, while another 4.4 million are experiencing food insecurity in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. Borno State, which is at the center of the insurgency, is home to three million of these individuals.
Additional aid is necessary to safeguard the most at-risk.
It is anticipated that child malnutrition will increase, putting around 700,000 children in danger of severe wasting. The United Nations announced in May 2023 that they are aiming to raise $396 million in order to combat global hunger, including the North Eastern part of Nigeria. In the absence of further financial support, humanitarian organizations will only have the capacity to assist approximately 300,000 individuals who are at risk within the nation. Just like in past years, providing financial support early on can make a crucial difference in helping families struggling with food insecurity.
Moreover, the UN allocated $20 million (₦13.2 billion) in June 2023 to assist with the emergency in North East Nigeria. The funds were drawn from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF). Despite this contribution, it falls significantly short of the $400 million estimated by the UN for addressing the crisis. Although the funding is a crucial advancement in addressing the crisis, the UN emphasized the necessity for additional assistance to safeguard the most at-risk populations, specifically children, from being overlooked.
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Persisting operations of insurgents have intensified the challenges faced by a delicate resource ecosystem, increased feelings of instability, impeded developmental progress, and exacerbated the food and Nutrition shortages experienced by at-risk women and children. In Nigeria, unrest and instability, escalating prices, and the effects of Climate Change persist in fuelling starvation, with an estimated 26.5 million individuals nationwide expected to endure severe hunger during the lean season of June-August 2024. This number far surpassed the 18.6 million individuals who were food insecure as at the end of last year.