North-East Nigeria at risk of famine – World Bank warns, pledges $775 million

The World Bank has warned of imminent famine and food shortage in the north-eastern part of Nigeria.

World Bank Country Director, Rachid Benmessaoud gave the warning at the dashboard launch of Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative (PCNI), held on Tuesday in Abuja.

Benmessaoud disclosed that as a result, it will focus its $775-million financial intervention to solve problems relating to health, education, social protection as well as livelihood deficits.

His words: “North East Nigeria is currently faced with a confluence of humanitarian development and security- related crisis, a situation which calls for strengthened humanitarian development and security collaboration to deliver a comprehensive and strategic response across the short-medium and long term.

“The World Bank’s $775-million financial support to the North East Nigeria focuses on addressing service delivery gaps in health, education, social protection as well as livelihood deficit, youth, unemployment and social cohesion issues created by the protracted crisis. The North East is also facing a credible risk of famine and food scarcity which is amplified by the conflict.”

Culled from The Nation