The World Food Programme (WFP) has intensified its drive towards tackling food insecurity and nutritional problems in north east Nigeria, saying about $242 million is still required to meet the existing needs. Country Director of the global humanitarian organisation, Myrta Kaulard, told Saturday Telegraph in Abuja that the organisation spent about $126 million in the north east in 2017.
Kaulard, who said the WFP started its programme in Nigeria at the request of the government, also revealed that the organisation had provided support for about 1.2 million people so far and hopes to reach 1.5 million people of those displaced by insurgency soon. Speaking on reports of importation of processed food into the country by the organisation, the director explained that Nigeria lacks the fortified food needed to address the malnutrition challenge, forcing the organisation to embrace importation so as to meet the immediate needs.
Read Also:
She, however, noted that WFP was working with local food processing companies in the country to ensure that the foods required for the nutrition problem was sourced from Nigeria. “WFP has given $126 million worth of assistance to vulnerable people in Northeast and will, continue to do more. On the imported processed foods, what was required to address the condition of malnutrition is fortified food which were not available in Nigeria.
We are however, talking with some food processing companies in the country to address that,” she said. According to her, although the number of unsecured people in northeast Nigeria as it relates to food, had reduced significantly, the number is likely going to rise 3.5 million in the next few months as the rainy season farming period is set to begin. She noted that the situation might be aggravated due to lack of access to farming lands, seeds and other inputs by those who are willing to get back to the farms, assuring that WFP will continue to provide farmers in the insurgency-ridden areas with seeds, tools and food assistance.
“The farmers in Northeast will get seeds, tools and other assistance that will take them back to the farm. We also provide food and nutritional foods to children and pregnant women. And these people are the most vulnerable among the displaced people in the region,” she noted. WFP Head of Communication in Nigeria, Ingermarie Vennize, also added that the organisation was working to ensure that up to 1.5 million people get assistance depending on the availability of funds. Vennize, who said the supports include cash assistance and other forms of help, added that the organisation intends to boost livelihood of displaced people to a level of sustainability.
