$5b needed for famine

THE UN needs $5.7 billion by the end of March to prevent catastrophic hunger and famine in South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen, yet just $120 million has been collected so far, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said yesterday.

With more than 20 million people at risk of starvation over the next six months and famine declared in parts of South Sudan, “we are facing a tragedy,” Mr Guterres said.

UNICEF has warned that almost 1.4 million children are at “imminent risk of death”.