Over 200,000 Children Risk Dying of Malnutrition In Borno – UN

The United Nations says that over 200,000 persons, mainly children are at the risk of dying from malnutrition in Borno State as humanitarian needs of IDPs for food and medicare rise.

The UN humanitarian coordinator to Nigeria, Mr Mohammed Safieldin, made the shocking revelation at an emergency meeting with donor agencies and the Borno State government in Abuja.

According to him, if nothing is done to scale up interventions for food and medicare to IDPs, the camps are at the verge of losing five children every hour.

This alarming piece of information is coming as the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, has decried what he has described as NEMA’s tactical withdrawal of support.

According to the Governor, the last time NEMA supplied food to the IDPs was in February.

The Borno State Governor appealed to donor agencies to also look beyond suffering in the IDP camps as some returnees continue to face similar challenges for food and medicare in their communities.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has given the assurance that government will give priority attention to the needs.

Only three ago, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said the northeast is not yet conducive for the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The UNHCR regional representative for West Africa, Ms Liz Ahua, said that the persistent threat from Boko Haram, presence of mines and absence of basic services constitute acute humanitarian and protection risks for the affected population.