The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News , Press Conferences | OCHA , UNITED NATIONS
OCHA Presser: Humanitarian Situation In Nigeria
“Looming catastrophic food insecurity in Nigeria could eventually result in a famine”, warns UN Country Office
The UN Country Representative in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, warned today that the country is currently at a crossroad to a critical food insecurity which could result in famine should appropriate action not be taken now while asking urgently the international community for USD 250 million to avert the worse.
Speaking to reporters at a briefing at the United Nations in Geneva, Edward Kallon, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, said that “we are here on a very somber mission, a somber mission in the sense that we are seeing Nigeria at a cross-road to critical food insecure situation and a looming catastrophic food insecurity that could eventually result in a famine, if appropriate actions are not taken now”.
Mr. Kallon added that “we need critically USD 250 million dollars to respond to the acute food insecurity needs of 4,4 million people of which some 705, 000 are at a critical threshold of death if nothing is done now”.
Based on a latest study by the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and partners, an estimated 4,4 million people are urgently in need of humanitarian assistance in north-east Nigeria, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. One of the biggest challenges is getting access to the people in need.
“There are still well over 800, 000 people in inaccessible areas that we cannot access as international humanitarian partners although some of those areas are reachable by the government itself”, reports Mr. Kallon. “So, indeed, we can see the need for a division of responsibility in those areas. What’s critical to the response is going to be the need for freedom of movement of people to come from those enclaves to areas where we can have access to”.
According to Edward Kallon, the malnutrition rates are very worrisome as they have further increased since October 2020 till today.
The socio-economic impact of Covid-19 led to a destruction of livelihoods. The country is extremely worried about the new virus variants of the pandemic and the work of the humanitarian workers has been restricted due to Covid-19.
“This situation has even deteriorated further as a result of 1) limited access, constraints imposed by Covid-19 and also the lack of resources. My call on the international community is to come to our aid now to make sure that we avert a famine”.
The ongoing security concerns resulted in a further displacement of the population, according to Mr. Kallon. “As we are witnessing now as a result of banditry, criminality, and elements of terrorism, we are also seeing high levels of displacement in north-west Nigeria where an estimated 1,4 million people also need immediate humanitarian assistance. And, also in north-central Nigeria where over 1 million people also need assistance”.
The top UN official for Nigeria emphasizes that the response mechanisms are in place and colleagues are working closely with government to gain access in hard to reach areas.
“Security remains a major concern in our operation and at best the security situation in the operation areas remain fluid, volatile and unpredictable”, said Mr. Kallon. “Access remains a concern to us, but we are also very hopeful and working collectively to ensure that the response is localized, and we are using local support to make sure that affected population are reached”.
Edward Kallon reminded that in a similar situation in 2017 a famine was averted through the help of the international community.
-ends-
SHOTLIST
- Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying, a sunny day.
- Wide shot, press briefing at the UN in Geneva
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Edward Kallon, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria: “We are here on a very somber mission, a somber mission in the sense that we are seeing Nigeria at a cross-road to critical food insecure situation and a looming catastrophic food insecurity that could eventually result in a famine, if appropriate actions are not taken now”.
- Medium shot, journalist in press briefing room watching screen
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Edward Kallon, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria: “We need critically 250 million dollars to respond to the acute food insecurity needs of 4,4 million people of which some 705, 000 are at a critical threshold of death if nothing is done now”.
- Medium shot, podium with speakers
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Edward Kallon, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria: “There are still well over 800, 000 people in inaccessible areas that we cannot access as international humanitarian partners although some of those areas are reachable by the government itself. So, indeed, we can see the need for a division of responsibility in those areas. What’s critical to the response is going to be the need for freedom of movement of people to come from those enclaves to areas where we can have access to”.
- Close up, screen with zoom platform
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Edward Kallon, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria: “This situation has even deteriorated further as a result of 1) limited access, constraints imposed by Covid-19 and also the lack of resources. My call on the international community is to come to our aid now to make sure that we avert a famine”.
- Medium shot, podium with speakers
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Edward Kallon, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria: “As we are witnessing now as a result of banditry, criminality, and elements of terrorism, we are also seeing high levels of displacement in north-west Nigeria where an estimated 1,4 million people also need immediate humanitarian assistance. And, also in north-central Nigeria where over 1 million people also need assistance”.
- Close up, camera view finder
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Edward Kallon, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria: “Security remains a major concern in our operation and at best the security situation in the operation areas remain fluid, volatile and unpredictable. Access remains a concern to us, but we are also very hopeful and working collectively to ensure that the response is localized, and we are using local support to make sure that affected population are reached”.
- Medium shot, journalist
- Wide shot, podium with speakers
- Medium shot, Edward Kallon speaking from podium
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The appointment on Thursday of Karla Quintana as head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic is a key development after nearly a year and a half of work by the UN Human Rights Office supporting the institution’s launch.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM , UNICEF , UNRWA , WHO
The head of the UN migration agency stressed on Friday that Syria is in no position to take back millions of Syrians following the fall of the Assad regime, while there is an urgent need to “re-evaluate” sanctions impacting the war-ravaged country.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNHCR , WHO , UNICEF , UNRWA , OHCHR
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the Director-General of the International Organization for Migration, representatives and spokespersons of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Human Rights, the United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the International Labour Organization.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IOM
Amy Pope, IOM Director General, briefs the Geneva press corps on her recent mission to Syria.
1
1
1
Edited News | IIIM , UNHCR
Syria: ‘Key priority’ is to preserve evidence of crimes – UN investigators
In Syria, new access to evidence of horrific human rights violations means that accountability may be closer than ever – if only proof can be preserved, a top UN investigator said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | FAO , UNHCR , WHO , WOAH
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism Investigating Serious Crimes in Syria, representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Meteorological Organization.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IIIM
Robert Petit, Head of IIIM: opportunities and challenges for justice in Syria in the wake of current events.
1
1
1
Edited News | OSE , ICRC , UNHCR
Syria: UN and partners urge action to preserve evidence of prison atrocities, stabilize country
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria five days ago, hundreds of people have rushed to Saydnaya prison, desperate to find loved ones. Disturbing images from the prison and other detention centers have since surfaced, exposing the “unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured for years,” said Jenifer Fenton, spokesperson for the UN special envoy for Syria, on Friday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OSE , UNHCR , ICRC , UNRWA , HRC , ILO , WHO
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization, the Human Rights Council, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
1
1
2
Edited News | UNRWA
Gaza: “Sickening normalisation” of suffering, amid attacks on people and aid convoys
Ongoing military operations by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in Gaza continue to devastate Palestinian children and families, with mounting casualties and a critical lack of humanitarian aid for the desperate population.
“Local media reporting here that last night, 30 people were killed in this area in strikes” said a senior emergency officer with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Louise Wateridge, speaking to reporters in Geneva from central Gaza.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | OHCHR
Rights experts call for end to impunity for Israel’s violations of international law
Four independent human rights experts have jointly called for the international community to sanction Israel’s conduct of hostilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as well as in the wider Middle East region - including in Syria, Lebanon and Iran. They also called for the restoration of trust in the international justice system through the abandonment of “extreme interpretations” and “double standards” in the application of the universal norms regulating the conduct of war.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNHCR
Syria: needs continue to grow amid highly uncertain situation, say aid teams
The historic power shift in Syria and the still volatile situation two days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime have increased humanitarian needs in a country where nearly 17 million people, including millions of internally displaced, already depended on humanitarian aid before the recent events, UN aid teams said on Tuesday.