Hunger looms in Nigeria, 12 other countries, says FAO

Nigeria is among 12 countries that are predicted to experience acute food shortage by August, according to a report released by the World Food Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Food Programme (WFP).

Other countries to be affected include; Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Sudan, South Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.

The report, ‘Hunger hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity: March to July 2021 outlook’, was released recently to issue an early warning to 20 countries recognised as hotspots, where parts of the populations are at risk of acute food insecurity.

READ ALSO: NDDC board: Akpabio at crossroads as Tompolo, others insist on ultimatum

For Nigeria, the report highlighted issues such as the inter-communal crisis, which led to multiple displacements and destruction of livelihoods that have worsened the possibility of food security.

The report highlighted that in the conflict-affected areas of Northern Nigeria, the situation is extremely concerning given the marked deterioration of food security conditions despite the recent harvest.

It noted that the majority of people with critical food insecurity were in Borno State, as a result of heavy constraints to humanitarian access and ongoing conflict.

The report read, “Here, the localities of Abadam, Dikwa, Guzamala, Kukawa, and Marte, as well as other only-partially accessible garrison towns, remain of extreme concern. Should the situation deteriorate further, these areas may be at risk of famine.

READ ALSO: FG accuses Twitter of bias over removal of Buhari’s tweet

“Across 15 states in northern Nigeria, nearly 13 million people are expected to face a crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity in the next lean season (June to August 2021), up from 9.2 million between October and December 2020.

“This marks a steady trend of serious deterioration, having risen from 8.7 million in mid-2020. Of the 13 million, 3.9 million are projected to be in the northeast and 5 million in the northwest, where there is little humanitarian presence,” the report detailed.

However, Yemen, South Sudan, and northern Nigeria represent the highest alert level with a risk of famine.