UN warns of imminent food crisis in north-east Nigeria

The United Nations has warned that some 5.5 million people might go hungry in Nigeria’s north east region by next month due to attacks by Boko Haram and the economic crisis.

World Food Programme officials say food aid has been delivered to close to 170.000 people in the region and hopes to reach 700.000 people by next year.

“ The drop in oil prices and the sharp rise in the cost of imported staples has compounded the years of violence that these poor people had to suffer. So we are concerned, our experts are warning that it could go as high as 5.5 million people by next month,” WFP spokeswoman, Bettina Luescher said.

The UN High Commission for Refugees says the situation remains dangerous and volatile following an attack on an aid convoy last month.

“On 27th of July, you’ve heard here before, a U.N. convoy was attacked, this was with an improvise explosive device, with gunfire, it resulted in injuries to three humanitarian as well as two members of the military escort,“UNHCR spokesman, Andrian Edwards said.

The UNHCR explain that there is an urgent need to provide psycho-social support to women and girls who were recently released by Boko Haram as their trauma levels were high.

Many of the women are pregnant or have given birth in Boko Haram camps and do not want to speak openly to humanitarian groups.