Nigeria is grappling with a severe hunger crisis, affecting nearly 31 million people, as food needs rise across west and central Africa, according to the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP). The WFP regional head, Margot van der Velden, warned that severe funding cuts are exacerbating the situation.
The agency reports that over 1.3 million Nigerians will lose access to food aid due to the cuts, with 150 nutrition clinics in Borno state at risk of closure. Additionally, 300,000 children and 700,000 displaced people face severe malnutrition.
These funding shortages are part of a larger trend across west and central Africa, where WFP operations have been reduced by 60%. The agency is urging urgent funding for Nigeria’s appeal of $130 million to sustain its operations.
The crisis in Nigeria is driven by factors such as depleted food stocks, rising prices, inflation, currency depreciation, and conflict. Funding crises are also affecting other countries in the region, including Cameroon, Mauritania, Niger, and the Central African Republic.
WFP warns that without adequate funding, hunger will deepen, tensions rise, and the risk of instability increases, posing significant challenges to maintaining peace and resilience in the region.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/africa-hunger-crisis-nigeria-funding-un-99c18973805fe354ddd6aad6b4493541