Nigeria will receive $121
million in aid to feed hungry people because of drought and conflict especially
in northern Nigeria that suffers the world’s third highest level of chronic under
nutrition among children.
Communities in northeastern
Nigeria are facing the dual threats of hunger and the terrorist group Boko
Haram. The zone has been identified by aid agencies as one of four
conflict-torn parts of the world at risk of famine this year.
The United Nations Children’s
Fund estimates that the number of children suffering from severe acute
malnutrition will reach 450,000 this year in the states of Borno, Adamawa and
Yobe.
Thanks to the U.S. President
Donald Trump who on Saturday promised $639 million in aid to Somalia, South
Sudan, Nigeria and Yemen. Over $191 million would go to Yemen, $199 million to
South Sudan and almost $126 million for Somalia.
Trump's pledge came during a
working session of the G20 summit of world leaders in Hamburg, providing a
"godsend" to the United Nations' World Food Programme, the group's
executive director, David Beasley said.
"We're facing the worst
humanitarian crisis since World War Two," said Beasley, a Republican and
former South Carolina governor who was nominated by Trump to head the U.N.
agency fighting hunger worldwide.
The new funding brings to
over $1.8 billion aid promised by the United States for fiscal year 2017 for
the crises in the four countries, where the United Nations has estimated more
than 30 million people need urgent food assistance.
"With this new
assistance, the United States is providing additional emergency food and
nutrition assistance, life-saving medical care, improved sanitation, emergency
shelter and protection for those who have been affected by conflict,"
USAID said in a statement.
