Starvation, Hunger worst hit In Nigeria, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan-UN Humanitarian Chief

By Winifred Bulus

United Nation’s Humanitarian Chief, Stephen O’Brien, has revealed that the world is presently facing its worst humanitarian crises since 1945.

He explained that about 20 million people in Nigeria, Yemen, Somalia and South Sudan were suffering from starvation and hunger.

Mr. O’Brien therefore requested the UN Security Council in New York to help fight starvation faced by the countries affected.

“The situation for people in each country is dire and without a major international response, the situation will get worse. All four countries have one thing in common: conflict.

“It is all preventable. It is possible to avert this crisis, to avert these famines, to avert these looming human catastrophes,” he said.

He added that 18.8 million people in Yemen have been affected by the hunger and starvation, stressing that the region had been affected by war waged by Iran and Iraq and have continued to suffer.

According to him, South Sudan had been at war since 2013 and its government has blocked humanitarian aid from coming into its territory to help victims.

He observed, “At least, 75,000 children are facing starvation in Nigeria as a result of Boko Haram terrorist attacks that have displaced many in the country.

“Somalia on the other hand had lost nearly 260,000 people in the last famine about six years ago.”