Nigeria’s Resident Coordinator for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Mohamed Fall, has called for immediate action to save millions of children from malnutrition in northeast Nigeria .
During his visit to the Stabilisation Centre in Yola, Adamawa State, he emphasized the need for urgent intervention to address the growing crisis.
The UN-OCHA reports that 4.8 million people are at risk of food insecurity, with 230,000 children facing life-threatening severe acute malnutrition.
A response plan has been developed to address the crisis, but it remains only 30% funded, with $306 million still needed .
“It is only befitting that as we mark the 2024 World Humanitarian Day, we should all stand in solidarity with the little children whose lives are on the line.
“With mothers who are struggling to feed their children, boys and girls who are missing out on a childhood.
“Because they have been forced by circumstances to take on adult roles to help their families make ends meet, these people need our collective humanity,” he noted.
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria has urged partners to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.
He emphasized the need for stakeholders and government agencies to mobilize resources to address the crisis, particularly in supporting vulnerable children.
The situation is dire, with millions facing severe hunger and malnutrition, and immediate action is necessary to prevent further suffering .
“I visited a stabilisation centre for malnourished children that is run by the government and supported by the International Rescue Committee and UNICEF here in Yola.
“The scenes I saw were heart-wrenching because I saw babies fighting for their lives. It is unconscionable that we should see this level of suffering today.
“We must stand together to act for humanity to make sure that we can put an end to their plight,” he said.
He stressed worries about the ability of families to bear the cost of treatment hence the need for collective action to support humanity.
He said, “Malnutrition also comes at an enormous cost to children’s physical and intellectual development, meaning that they may never reach their full potential.
“I met mothers who were both hopeful and worried. They are hopeful that
their children will get better soon but they are also worried that their children may get sick once again.
“Because they can’t access enough nutritious food to sustain their health and I share their worries.
“Our ability to support these efforts is rapidly diminishing because the resources that we saw mobilised for the COVID-19 response, and the global solidarity are no longer there.”
He, however, explained optimism with the federal and state government’s support to address the situation.
”What gives me hope is that the state government working with development partners can bring hope to people in need.
“So, for me, the humanitarian space is one of the main spaces where humanity has its true expression.
“It is a space where you see humanitarian actors risking their lives to save other people’s lives, to reduce vulnerability, to protect and to help people get back on their feet,” he stated.
