By Adedapo Adesanya
A charity organisation known as Save the Children has called on the Nigerian government to urgently assist more than 2.3 million children, including some 700,000 children under five, and youths starving in North East Nigeria.
The crisis in Nigeria comes at a time when the world is facing its biggest hunger crisis of the 21st century, with an estimated 5.7 million children under five on the brink of starvation across the globe. A further 13 million children under 18 are facing extreme food shortages, the organisation said.
A recent United Nations report found out that 4.4 million people in the North-East area of Nigeria are facing food shortages as attacks by militants are forcing farmers from their lands.
Save the Children also strongly condemned the reported attacks and displacement of farmers and other civilians.
The group said it was worried that an estimated 2.2 million people have fled their homes because of the violence, leaving families and children wanting food, a safe place to live and, for many children, education.
Speaking on this, Mrs Shannon Ward, Acting Country Director, Save the Children International Nigeria, said, “The situation is extremely dire. Millions of children have already been through a decade of suffering, violence and humanitarian crisis. Thousands and thousands have died, and many more saw their rights impacted to survive, learn and be protected.
“The reported loss of livelihoods, land and crop coupled with the effects of COVID-19 is beyond something the community can bear. We are extremely worried that this will lead to an even bigger food crisis in the northeast of the country.”
“We call upon the Federal and State Governments to ensure that farmers are supported and protected, so they can work their lands, and feed their families and communities.
“And we call for safe access for humanitarian workers, so we can reach those most in need.
“Children, girls and women are more vulnerable at times of attack and displacement. As a result of overcrowding, family separation, a lack of basic social services and desperate measures people take just to survive, such as marrying off their children, they run a high risk of gender-based violence, physical and sexual abuse. Many children will be urged to drop out of school, and some will never return – with their childhood dream fading away,” she added.
Save the Children urged the authorities in Nigeria and the international community to commit more resources to address the massive critical needs of the displaced people in North-East Nigeria.
The group was one of the first humanitarian organisations that responded to the humanitarian crisis in the area, reaching 1.2 million people since the start of the response.
The organisation is providing food assistance and protection services to more than 320,000 children and families regularly.
