The food security crisis in north-east Nigeria is forecast to deteriorate between now and the end of August, moving the country even closer to famine, food security experts have said.
Food security experts at the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) predict a rise in the number of people facing crisis, emergency and famine conditions from 4.7 million to 5.2 million in north-east Nigeria by the end of August
And according to a new United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Global Early Warning report, the experts say this includes 50,000 people forecast to be affected by famine-like conditions.
“But due to a lack of access to communities because of insecurity, the exact number of people dying of hunger is impossible to confirm,” the experts said.
Cheick Ba, NRC’s Country Director in Nigeria said “Armed conflict and violence are driving this food crisis” in Nigeria.
He further stated that “Insecurity is preventing people from farming, and restricting access to local markets”.
This, he said, “is depleting grain stocks and pushing food prices beyond people’s reach, with devastating consequences for affected families, including 450,000 acutely malnourished children”.
“This is a man-made conflict that needs a man-made solution. Providing people with food is only a short term solution.
“The crisis will only end when the conflict has been resolved and communities can safely return to their land to rebuild their lives,” said NRC’s Country Director.