Sunday, July 09, 2017

Donald Trump pledges $121 million in aid to Nigeria




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.

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