UN Calls for Increased Humanitarian Intervention in Lake Chad Basin

Food insecure people now 5.2 million in North-east, FAO reveals

Michael Olugbode crisis in the Lake Chad Basin with the view to finding permanent solution to it.”

According to him, “Clearly, there has been important progress in bringing security and safety across the region in the last two years. There is the need for the scale up of humanitarian effort to this region, which includes getting access to people to prevent starvation.

“I wanted to come here because next week, the leaders of the UN will be meeting and we need to know what the situation is right now and I am taking with me messages.”

He said: “I have come to Niger and Nigeria to see the impact of the massive Lake Chad Basin crisis and the response with my own eyes, and most importantly, to listen to the people affected. I will bring their stories to world leaders at the UN General Assembly next week.”

He added that his visit has given him information on the need for substantial need for protection, security and safety. He noted that though progress has been made on this “but there is still substantial need for further progress.”

Lowcock lamented that he discovered that women and children in particular are still endangered, and there is need for protection dealing with sexual based violence.

Meanwhile, the FAO has raised an alarm that the food insecure people in the Boko Haram ravaged North-east has risen to 5.2 million.

The organisation in its situation report made available to our correspondent, said the increase in the food insecure people rose from 4.7 million to 5.2 million people in the crisis ridden region between March and June, this year.

It lamented that the “ongoing lean season is contributing to a deterioration in food insecurity in northeastern Nigeria – in the three most affected states, the number of food insecure people increased from 4.7 million to 5.2 million people between March and June.”

It stated that: “While planted crops are generally benefiting from average rainfall across the country, heavy rains have led to widespread flooding, severely affecting areas of Yobe State and impacting livelihoods. In addition, crop production is affected by infestation of the fall armyworm in some farming communities.”

It was revealed that in order to help alleviate food insecurity in conflict-affected Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, FAO provided 1.09 million IDPs, host community members and returnees with enough seed and fertilizer to meet their food needs for six months.

It further stated that there was shortfall in the resources required to stem the tide of food insecurity in the crisis ridden region as funding was short in coming.

“To-date, FAO’s appeal for USD 62 million – contributing to this year’s Humanitarian Response Plan – to respond to the food security and livelihood needs of the most vulnerable is just 33 per cent funded,” the report lamented.

In October, FAO will launch its dry season programme to assist around 70,000 farming households to bolster their capacity to grow food, thereby reducing impact of the food crisis, improve nutritional status and aid income generation.

The report lamented that, “heavy rains in August have led to flash floods and widespread flooding, particularly affecting areas of Yobe State. The flooding has destroyed properties and displaced people – including farmers – in Karasuwa Local Government Area.

“Preliminary assessment reports further indicate water logging in some crop fields and windstorm damage in Wachakal and Jajimaji areas. Farming communities are also facing the impact of fall armyworm infestation on crop production, and insecurity has impeded agricultural activities in some areas. Nonetheless, harvesting in the northeast will soon begin and prospects for cereal crops are expected to be favourable.”