YOLA — Report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said over 657,000 people across Adamawa, Northeast Nigeria, are suffering from a food crisis.
OCHA stated that out of the total $1 billion estimated to be required for humanitarian assistance in Northeast Nigeria this year, $225 million (22.5 per cent) is required for Adamawa State.”
The insurgency in the region, various studies have said, has worsened displacement and food insecurity.
The report published on Monday, June 28, covers the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Adamawa. It stated that 1,317 children under the age of five were diagnosed with malnutrition in Michika and other LGAs.
OCHA said it was important to screen infants for the easy detection of cases of malnutrition.
“There is need to provide nutrition counselling and sensitization on infant and young child feeding (IYCF).”
“There is need to support more farmers in Mubi North and South LGAs with agricultural inputs (seeds, tools and agrochemicals) to enhance food production.”
“There is need for admitting and treating severe and acute malnutrition (SAM) cases both with and without medical complication, including those in deeper field locations without access to outpatient therapeutic interventions.”
“The risk communication campaign on prevention and control of COVID-19 at the household level needs to be enhanced.” the report said.
The agency further emphasized the need to make supplementary drugs and personal protective equipment (PPE) available at primary healthcare facilities.
It also observed that “there is inadequate access to hygiene kits for proper handwashing and environmental sanitation in Michika.”
According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), as many as 8.6 million people are food insecure in Northeast Nigeria, with 3.4 million facing acute hunger.
Meanwhile, the Head of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) sub-office, Northeast, Mr. Al-Hassan Cisse has paid a visit to the Deputy Governor of Crowther Seth to seek collaboration with the state government on provision of intervention to improve food security in the state.
Receiving the officials of FAO in his office on behalf of the state government, Deputy Governor lauded the assistance of the organization in the state, which he noted has complemented government efforts in the agriculture sector.
“I acknowledged that the sole mandate of FAO is to build resilience of people affected by insurgency and encourage food security, especially in the three North-Eastern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa.”
“The present administration will support and cooperate for the extension of their projects in the state,” Seth added.
Mr. Cisse had earlier told the Deputy Governor that the visit was to share information with the government among other stakeholders in Adamawa regarding their achievements so far and to synergize on better service delivery of their projects.
“The organization was exploring new ways of supporting those affected by insurgency, through intervention in crop, livestock production, aquaculture, agro-business as well as provision of water among others,” Cisse said.
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