UN Distributes Food Aid In Northeast Nigeria

The United Nations has disclosed distribution of food and nutrition assistance to no fewer than 26,000 people in Rann town, Northeast Nigeria.

The development was revealed by the UN Secretary-General Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, during a news conference at UN headquarters, New York.

Haq described the beneficiary town, Rann, as one of the most challenging environments for aid workers in the region, adding that it was the site of repeated attacks by non-state armed groups during which hundreds of civilians, internally displaced people as well as aid workers were killed.

Speaking, he said, “Humanitarian agencies have been forced to reduce their footprint there (Rann) in recent years. For example, a major international health partner suspended its work in Rann in June following the heightened risk of attacks targeting civilians and aid assets. “With the lean season now underway, some 4.1 million people urgently need food assistance across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe in northeast Nigeria.’’

Haq explained that due to funding shortages, only about 1.2 million people were receiving food aid as of the end of May, noting that aid agencies had reached some 1.8 million people during the first quarter of 2022.

Also, he informed that the UN team in the region, led by Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim, Matthias Schmale, had continued to support the Government’s work to respond to and recover from the pandemic.

“Our team contributed to the provision of health care services to more than 125,000 members of vulnerable communities in Borno while implementing risk communication initiatives, including on the ongoing work to tackle obstetric fistula, reaching nearly 68,000 people. On the socio-economic front, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) provided more than one million dollars to vulnerable smallholder farmers to sustain and boost production,’’ Haq added.

Agro Nigeria