The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed new donor contributions, including funding from the United States, which will support emergency food and nutrition assistance for communities affected by conflict in Northeast Nigeria. The region faces severe humanitarian challenges, with over 5 million people experiencing acute hunger and more than 2.5 million children malnourished. This funding will keep 187 nutrition clinics operational across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, ensuring treatment for over 300,000 malnourished children and mothers, services that were at risk of closure.
David Stevenson, WFP Country Director in Nigeria, highlighted the escalating conflict in the northeast, which has forced farmers from their fields and resulted in over three attacks per day over the past nine months. These disruptions to food production have left families unable to feed themselves, while displaced populations face hunger and the threat of recruitment by armed groups. WFP emphasizes that Nigeria’s stability is critical for the wider Sahel region, and continued humanitarian support is essential for restoring Northern Nigeria’s agricultural potential.
With the latest funding, WFP will sustain operations over the next three months, providing food assistance to 850,000 people in camps and host communities. This is a significant reduction from the 1.5 million people assisted in July, reflecting ongoing funding shortfalls. WFP urges additional support from donors, including the Nigerian government and private sector, to close the funding gap and prevent further reductions in aid, which could put millions at risk of deepening hunger.
Since July, WFP has received support from several donors, including the United States, United Kingdom, EU-ECHO, France, the African Development Bank, Saudi Arabia, and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). These contributions are critical to sustaining life-saving operations in Northeast Nigeria and addressing the urgent needs of vulnerable communities.
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