Hunger Crisis Appeal By Red Cross Targets 200,000 Nigerians
The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has stated that its Hunger Crisis Appeal is targeted to reach 200,000 people in Nigeria.
Benson Agbro, the NRCS Disaster Management Coordinator, has stated that the cash support has been provided to 30,000 people in 5,000 households, who are in severe need of humanitarian support and are facing food insecurity due to a combination of climate change, conflicts and the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
NRCS has collaborated with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and concluded the second round of cash distribution that is to support persons that are facing acute hunger in seven Northern states.
The society has explained that it is taking action to fight hunger in North West and North Central Nigeria, where it is estimated that approximately 19.4 million people will be facing severe hunger between June and August 2022, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Beneficiaries under the Nigeria Hunger Crisis Appeal were drawn from Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, Nasarawa and the Benue States.
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According to Abubakar Kende, the Secretary-General of NRCS: “The situation is critical and one that needs immediate attention. Millions are being affected, particularly women, the elderly and children. A good number of them are now in a situation where they do not know where their next meal will come from, and this is something that concerns us greatly. We are grateful to our funding partners: American Red Cross, British Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross, Japanese Red Cross and Netherlands Red Cross who have gone ahead to provide much-needed resources to allow us to reach the most vulnerable people in seven states. However, more support is still required, as the funding gap is still huge vis-à-vis the needs.”
Mr. Agbro mentioned that the NRCS had also decided to make the mothers club an integral part of the Hunger Crisis Emergency Appeal (HCEA) so as to teach mothers in rural communities to ensure proper nutrition for their children to reduce child mortality, prevent acute malnutrition as well as actions to take to keep their children healthy.
Dr. Manir Jega, the NRCS Coordinator, Health and Care, stated: “We know that if mothers have better information, it will lead to healthier children and a better society; that is why we have set up 140 mothers clubs in the seven states. We are working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health on this. NRCS launched a 4.1 million Swiss Francs Emergency Appeal in 2021 and is in the process of revising it upwards to meet the growing needs on the ground. Meeting the funding requirement has been a challenge due to the crisis in Ukraine, which is now the focus of emergency relief around the world. However, this crisis is also worsening the hunger situation in Nigeria, North and West Africa.”
