COVID-19 is Threatening Food Security in Nigeria
GENEVA - Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy and most populous country,
is reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A steep drop in
international oil prices, Nigeria’s major export, since the outbreak of
the coronavirus has sparked fears of a recession.
Nearly
12,500 cases of coronavirus, including 354 deaths are confirmed in
Nigeria. The United Nations reports lockdown measures aimed
at containing spread of the deadly disease could result in as many as 13
million job losses if the restrictions go on for very much longer.
The
World Food Program warns this would unleash a situation of
widespread hunger in a country where some 90 million people live on less
than $2 a day. In response, the agency says it plans to scale up its
operations to feed three million of the neediest people.
WFP
spokeswoman, Elisabeth Byrs says among those who will benefit from the
program are city-dwellers in Kano, Abuja and Lagos who are particularly
hard hit by the socio-economic knock-on effects from COVID-19.
Others
who will receive increased food and nutrition support, she says, are
women, men and children affected by a decade-long insurgency in the
north-eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
"We
are concerned about conflict-affected communities in the north-east
Nigeria who already face extreme hunger and who are especially
vulnerable. They are on life-support and need assistance to survive,”
she said.
Byrs says WFP is distributing a two-months’ supply of food and nutrition assistance in camps for displaced people to make sure they have enough to eat during the COVID lockdown period.
She
says WFP is providing technical support to strengthen government-run
social protection programs. These include feeding programs for some nine
million children who are missing out on meals because of COVID-19
school closures.
The
agency is urgently appealing for $182 million to provide crucial
assistance over the next six months in Nigeria. Much of the aid, it
notes, will help people whose livelihoods and incomes have taken a big
hit by COVID-19.
VOA
AFEEF:
Hadhwanaagnews marnaba masuul kama aha Aragtida dadka kale. Qoraaga ayaa xumaanteeda, xushmadeeda iyo xilkeeda sida. waxa kaliya oo Hadhwanaagmedia dhiirigalinaysaa, isdhaafsiga aragtida, canaanta gacaliyo talo wadaagga!