Nigerians face famine. |
The United Nations
International Children Emergency Fund, UNICEF, on Monday said that 1.4
million children suffering from severe malnutrition could die this year
from famine in Nigeria and three other countries. The three other countries are Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.
According to
UNICEF, in Yemen, where war has been raging for nearly two years,
462,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition while 450,000
children are severely malnourished in northeast Nigeria.
Drought in Somalia
has left 185,000 children on the brink of famine but that figure is
expected to reach 270,000 in the next few months, said UNICEF.
In South Sudan,
over 270,000 children are malnourished and a famine has just been
declared in parts of Unity State in the north of the country, where
20,000 children live.UNICEF director, Anthony Lake, appealed for quick action. "We can still save many lives," he said.
In January, a
report by the Famine Early Warning System Network, FEWS NET, an agency
supported by the United States Agency for International Development,
USAID, said that due to persistent conflict, severe drought and economic
instability, Nigeria and three other countries faced a credible risk of
famine in 2017.
The report had
added that the Boko Haram crisis continues to contribute to large scale
population displacement, limit market activity, and restrict normal
livelihoods.
Earlier in 2016,
the presidency had warned Nigerians of a likelihood of famine if the
excess export of Nigerian grains is not checked.
"Huge demand for
our grains in the global market is creating an excellent environment for
the mindless export of Nigerian food across our borders and unless this
is curtailed, Nigerian markets will be bereft of grains by January next
year," presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, had said in November.
Mr. Shehu had added
that the Ministry of Agriculture advised the president to call the
attention of all Nigerians to the issue which, if not addressed
promptly, could lead to a shortage of grains in the country.
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