The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Edward Kallon has declared that increased food prices, climate change and COVID-19 pandemic have denied people access to food.
According to him, the high level of food insecurity is in danger of deteriorating into catastrophic conditions with increased malnutrition among children. Speaking yesterday (Thursday); at a three-day economic summit of the Joint Planning Board and National Council on Development Planning held at Government House, Maiduguri, he said: “Unless this is urgently addressed over 4.4 million people are at risk in the Northeast.”
He warned that the region is on the brink of catastrophic food insecurity in the insurgency affected states. The 12-year conflict has killed over 36,000 people with the destruction of property worth $9.2 billion (N3.42 trillion) in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. He noted that in the insurgency affected states, the outlook is dire with increased food and nutrition crises.
Kallon, who appears worried about food insecurity, lamented: “Without sustained humanitarian assistance in the three states, millions of people will struggle to feed themselves during the 2021 lean season.” The March 2021 Cardre Harmonzed food security assessment also said that about 4.4 million people, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) are to face critical food shortages. Already, he said that about 775,000 people are at extreme risk of catastrophic food insecurity.
Kallon described the looming hunger in the region, “as the worst outlook in four years.”In averting hunger, he said: “The humanitarian community; the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have joined efforts to address the rapidly deteriorating food insecurity situation in the region,” noting that they are working closely with and coordinating with federal and state governments. While assessing food insecurity in the region, he said: “Today’s levels of food insecurity are similar to the 2016-2017 when the crisis was at its worst.
“Women in the affected communities have shared with sleepless children who cry throughout the nights due to hunger and malnutrition.” He said even households were not spared, as family members are desperate and living on nutritional supplements for the children to survive. He attributed malnutrition to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene and health access. He warned that the situation may likely worsen during the rainy season if diseases like cholera and malaria are not prevented.
Kallon added that insecurity has also prevented many farmers from accessing their farmlands during the cropping season. He however; assured that the UN and non-governmental partners are working with the government to respond to the threats of catastrophic food insecurity. On averting famine, he said: “Food insecurity must be addressed in the long term efforts required for people to restore their livelihoods. According to him, the livelihoods of farmers could be restored through agriculture with capital and farm inputs.
