Millions of Nigerians go hungry as rains worsen suffering

Millions of Nigerians go hungry as rains worsen suffering

The relentless price increase, coupled with a fierce insurgency, has significantly impacted the ability of families in northeastern Borno State, Nigeria, to secure adequate food supplies. In September, a dam failure led to significant flooding in the state capital and adjacent agricultural areas, leaving numerous residents with few alternatives.

Currently, individuals are lining up for assistance in camps designated for those who have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict between extremist Boko Haram rebels and the military. As their resources dwindle, individuals turn to local farms for employment, facing the dangerous threat of violence or sexual assault from nearby bandits.

“I find myself unable to shed tears any longer.” “I’m too tired,” stated Indo Usman, who attempted to restart his life in the state capital, Maiduguri, by rearing animals for the two annual Muslim holy days, following years of consistently fleeing rebel attacks in rural Borno.

The flood obliterated their home, forcing her, her husband, and their six children into a stark room at Gubio, an incomplete housing project located approximately 96 km (60 miles) northwest of Maiduguri, which has now transformed into a displacement camp.

This year, torrential rains and flooding have impacted 29 of Nigeria’s 36 states, destroying over 1.5 million hectares of cropland. The crisis has affected more than nine million individuals, as reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Climate change plays a significant role, alongside Nigeria’s inadequate infrastructure and the vulnerabilities stemming from the declining Naira currency and the removal of a government fuel subsidy.

The prices of essential staples such as rice and beans have dramatically increased, with costs doubling, tripling, or even quadrupling over the past year, varying by location. This surge presents an overwhelming challenge for millions of low-income families.

In the northwest, mass kidnappings for ransom have become a troubling trend, while the central belt, known as the nation’s bread basket, is grappling with escalating conflicts between farmers and pastoralists. These issues have significantly disrupted agricultural activities and strained regional food supplies.

According to estimates from the World Bank, approximately 40% of Nigeria’s population, which exceeds 200 million, exists below the international poverty threshold of $2.15 per person per day.

According to a joint analysis conducted by government and U.N. agencies, 25 million individuals currently face acute food and nutrition insecurity, placing their lives and livelihoods in immediate jeopardy. The figure is projected to increase to 33 million from June to August next year.

“The food crisis in Nigeria is immense, as we are witnessing a crisis within a crisis within a crisis,” stated Trust Mlambo, head of the program for the northeast at the World Food Programme, during an interview with Reuters in Maiduguri.

As international donors prioritize emergencies in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, Mlambo has highlighted a significant shortfall in funding to address Nigeria’s escalating demand for food assistance adequately.

“We are placing a strong emphasis on addressing the needs of those most in need,” he stated.

On September 9, the Alau dam, located upriver from Maiduguri in Borno, collapsed just four days after state officials assured the public of its safety. Residents and engineers in the area had raised concerns about the increasing strain on the infrastructure.

According to aid workers, who requested anonymity due to concerns about state government repercussions, hundreds of individuals lost their lives in the catastrophic flood. The state government’s spokesperson has yet to respond to inquiries for comment.

Zainab Abubakar, a self-employed tailor residing in the city, enjoyed relative comfort alongside her husband and six children in a home equipped with a refrigerator. However, her tranquility was shattered at midnight when she was abruptly awakened by the sound of water rushing into her bedroom.

As the floodwaters surged, they fled in desperation, watching helplessly as their home was engulfed and their belongings, including her cherished sewing machine, were swept away. Currently, they are taking refuge in Gubio, where they receive rice from aid organizations stored in plastic buckets.

“There is no alternative,” she stated.

In Banki, located on Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, approximately 133 km (83 miles) southeast of Maiduguri, Mariam Hassan has faced devastating losses this year. Repeated flooding has destroyed her maize, pepper, and okra crops on her subsistence farm, leaving her without food or income.

“I implore the neighbors and relatives to provide food, not just for myself but for my children, so that we can survive,” stated Hassan, a father of eight. “The circumstances have reduced me to a state of dependency.”

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