Highlights
As the tensions in northern Nigeria continue, the displacement of populations remains ongoing, greatly impacting the ability of border countries to cope with the crisis.
In the areas worst affected by the crisis, rates of malnutrition among children under five surpass the World Health Organization’s emergency threshold.
In September, WFP reached over 340,000 food insecure people in the Lake Chad Basin, however continued insecurity is making it difficult and costly for WFP to provide lifesaving assistance to the people who need it most. Without additional funds WFP will be unable to scale-up its assistance to meet increasing needs.
Situation Update
Food plays a critical role in mitigating tensions in this type of volatile context, wherein an already vulnerable host population is facing the burden of a population influx combined with a reduction of their own services and livelihoods.
Intense military activity across the region has disrupted trade and other income generating activities, laying the ground for an economic crisis which will further compound the humanitarian situation.
The crisis has exacerbated the food insecurity of internally displaced persons (IPDs), refugees, returnees, and has greatly impacted the coping strategies of local populations.
In September, WFP provided life-saving food rations to over 340,000 people in the worstaffected areas of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger; achieving 68 percent of the month’s target as insecurity continues to hinder access to many beneficiaries.
WFP is also providing specialized nutrition products in an effort to stabilise the worsening nutrition situation of the most vulnerable groups. To date, more than 42,000 malnourished children and mothers have been assisted.