TheCable

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has listed Nigeria as one of the countries in need of external food assistance across the world.

In its recently released quarterly report, Crop Prospects and Food Situation, FAO said 39 countries are in this category globally.

The 39 countries currently in need of external food assistance are: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini (former Swaziland), Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

“Persisting conflicts are the dominant factor driving the high level of severe food insecurity, as well as climate‑related shocks which have also adversely impacted food availability and access,” the report read.

“In Nigeria, prices of cereals and tubers remained at high levels particularly in northeast areas where market activities have been disrupted by insurgency.

“The conflict in northeast Nigeria continues to affect millions of people across the region and prevent many households from engaging in their typical livelihoods, leading to continued displacement and disruption of economic activities.

“The areas inaccessible to humanitarian interventions are facing the worse food security conditions.

“According to the March 2018 “Cadre Harmonisé” analysis, about 2.7 million people were affected by severe food insecurity (Phase: 3 “Crisis” to Phase: 5 “Famine”) in the area, with 2.3 million people estimated to be severely food insecure in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.”

States in Nigeria’s northeast has been dealing with attacks from Boko Haram insurgents which has left several people displaced from their homes and others dead since 2012.