UN Report: Over 657,000 People Experiencing Food Crisis,1,317 children malnourish In Adamawa

Over 657,000 people across Adamawa, Northeast Nigeria , are suffering from a food crisis, according to a report compiled by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The report, which was 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 Askira Uba LGAs.

OCHA recommended that “there is need to support more farmers in Mubi North and South LGAs with agricultural inputs (seeds, tools and agrochemicals) to enhance food production.”

It also said it was important to screen infants for the easy detection of cases of malnutrition.

“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 report said.

“There is need to provide nutrition counselling and sensitization on infant and young child feeding (IYCF).”

The United Nations agency further emphasised the need to make supplementary drugs and personal protective equipment (PPE) available at primary healthcare facilities.

“The risk communication campaign on prevention and control of COVID-19 at the household level needs to be enhanced,” it said.

It also observed that “there is inadequate access to hygiene kits for proper handwashing and environmental sanitation in Michika.”

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. 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.