The united nations have promised to give $20 million in assistance to support the country, due to the hunger crisis in the North-eastern part of Nigeria. UNICEF in May stated that about 23 million Nigerians are at risk of acute food insecurity following the prolonged insecurity in the northeast, especially Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

Farhan Haq who is the Deputy spokesperson of the UN revealed this on Tuesday at the UN headquarters in New York.

“With nine million dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and $11 million from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, we will support the Government-led response efforts across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

“Assistance includes […] ready-to-eat food, access to clean water, health care and agriculture support,’’ he said.

It has been reported according to humanitarian partners that close to 700,000 children under five are most likely to experience life-threatening severe acute malnutrition this year in the region, and over half million people may face emergency levels of food insecurity during the harvest season which is between June to August.

The UN Spokesperson also said the emergency funding would help to fire up the response, but humanitarian partners need more to prevent widespread hunger and malnutrition.

“The $1.3 billion humanitarian response plan for Nigeria is only 26 per cent funded,’’ he said.