By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Nations (UN) launched a $1.3 billion appeal on Thursday to help six million people severely affected by conflict, disease, and disaster in northeast Nigeria.
Regarding the situation as a “ticking time bomb”, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the number of children suffering from acute malnutrition is projected to increase to two million in 2023, up from 1.74 million last year.
High levels of severe acute child malnutrition are projected to more than double from 2022 to a projected 697,000 this year.
This is particularly worrying, noted Mr Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, warning that “The large-scale humanitarian and protection crisis shows no sign of abating.
“An estimated 2.4 million people are in acute need – impacted by conflict, disaster, and disease – and require urgent support.”
“Women and girls are the hardest hit,” said Mr Schmale. “Over 80 per cent of people in need of humanitarian assistance across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are women and children. They face increased risks of violence, abduction, rape, and abuse.
OCHA warned that without urgent action, 4,000 people in Bama, Borno state, are expected to face such catastrophic conditions as starvation, death, destitution, and extremely critical acute malnutrition levels become prevalent.
Nigeria’s northeast region, during an ongoing 13-year-long armed conflict, has seen children, girls, women, and people with disabilities most affected. They require additional attention through enhanced access to protection and basic health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, and learning services.
Meanwhile, two million people have been displaced due to conflict, many of them experiencing daily threats to their health and safety, the UN said.
The body warned that non-State armed groups continue to stage unpredictable attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. In addition, the recent closure of camps for internally displaced persons is leading to new vulnerabilities.
In 2022, the UN provided emergency assistance to almost 5 million people in Nigeria in response to these and other crises, including severe malnutrition in the northwest and the worst flooding Nigeria has seen in a decade.
Earlier this month, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Ms Alice Nderitu, raised concerns about a worsening security situation, calling for urgent action to address conflicts and prevent atrocity crimes.
The 2023 plan prioritises life-saving needs while working to reduce vulnerabilities and build resilience. Contributions can be made to the Humanitarian Response Plan through the Financial Tracking Service, Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, or the Central Emergency Response Fund.
