UNICEF warned that 25 million Nigerians will face a food crisis in 2023
A statement from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) drew attention to the October 2022 report by Cadre Harmonise, the UN-backed food and nutrition organization.
It was stated that if the government and international organizations do not take measures, 25 million people will be exposed to a food crisis in June-August, which is considered the drought period in the country.
More than 676 thousand hectares of agricultural land damaged by floods
The statement emphasized that conflict, climate change, inflation and rising food prices have reached alarming levels, and 17 million people could face a food crisis due to these reasons.
It was stated that 3 million of the 17 million people at risk are in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states where terrorist activities are intense, and in Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Benue states where kidnapping and armed extortion cases occur, making it difficult to access food.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency, floods in the 2022 rainy season damaged more than 676,000 hectares of farmland, resulting in reduced harvests.
Extreme weather conditions affect food security
The statement pointed out that extreme weather conditions will remain one of the biggest factors affecting food security in the future.
In the statement, it was stated that 3 million of the 17 million people who lack food security live in the northeastern states of the country, and this figure will increase to 4.4 million if urgent measures are not taken.
Currently, 8.3 million people are in need of assistance, the statement said, mostly displaced populations and not including returnees.
The statement also included the views of Nigeria Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale.
“The food security and nutrition situation in Nigeria is extremely worrying,” Schmale said.
Emphasizing that children are struggling to survive during his visits to the camps, Schmale warned for immediate action to remedy this situation.
Children are the most vulnerable
Children are extremely vulnerable to food insecurity, the statement said, adding that out of 17 million Nigerians, about 6 million are children under the age of 5 living in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara states.
The statement noted that there is a serious risk of death among children due to acute malnutrition and warned that the number of children suffering from acute malnutrition will increase from 1.74 million in 2022 to 2 million in 2023.
In the statement emphasizing that approximately 2.9 million people in Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states of Nigeria are experiencing food insecurity at famine levels, it was noted that this figure will increase to 4.3 million if urgent measures are not taken.
