UN Allocates $15m to Address Food Insecurity in Nigeria, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen

As the spillover effects of the Ukraine war threaten to push millions closer to famine, the United Nations on Thursday announced an allocation of $15 million to Nigeria to address the current situation of food insecurity.

The fund is part of the $100 million earmarked for Africa and the Middle East to mitigate the raging food crisis in the regions.

According to the UN, the contribution is from the Central Emergency Response Fund and would go into relief projects in Nigeria, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen.

The fund pools contributions from a range of donors, with more than 130 UN Member States, observers, and others, including private individuals, providing more than eight billion dollars through the years.

Speaking about the fund, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said, “Food insecurity in these seven countries is mainly being driven by armed conflict, drought, and economic turmoil, and the Ukraine conflict is making a dire situation even worse.

“The war began on February 24 and disrupted food and energy markets, causing food and fuel prices to soar.’’

He noted that the money would enable UN agencies and their partners to provide critical support, including food, cash, nutritional help, medical services, shelter, and clean water, and would be tailored to help women and girls, who face additional risks due to the crisis.

“Hundreds of thousands of children are going to sleep hungry every night while their parents are worried sick about how to feed them.

“A war halfway around the world makes their prospects even worse. This allocation will save lives,” Griffiths added.

Meanwhile, the CERF was established in 2005 to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance whenever and wherever crises arise.

Over the past six months, CERF had allocated more than $170 million to address rising food insecurity in several countries, including those that would receive the new funding.

The CERF funding would also boost response in Ethiopia, amid its worst drought in recent history.