
Conflict, Crisis And Hunger In Nigeria
Northeast Nigeria is now the site of Africa’s largest humanitarian emergency.
Help TodayNortheast Nigeria is now the site of Africa’s largest humanitarian emergency, with more than 10 million people estimated to be in urgent need humanitarian assistance and nearly 4 million people facing severe food insecurity in the early months of 2018.
About 2 million people have been driven from their homes inside Nigeria and another 200,000-plus have taken refuge in neighboring countries. Food insecurity continues to be precarious and some areas could face famine conditions if humanitarian aid does not reach them—a constant challenge as aid organizations cannot access areas under Boko Haram control.
Conflict, Crisis And Hunger.
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Mothers and caretakers bring children to be screened and treated for moderate and severe malnutrition at International Medical Corps' outpatient nutrition clinic in Maisandari 2, a neighborhood in Maiduguri, the capital of conflict-ravaged Borno State in northeastern Nigeria. The clinic takes place once a week and sees more than 200 malnourished children, who they treat using nutrient-dense foods specifically designed to help children gain weight and recover. The clinic is supported by a team of community health volunteers who go door-to-door, educating families about various health topics and screening children for malnutrition. Those children who are malnourished are then referred to the nutrition clinic for further check-ups and care as needed. While waiting to see a clinician, mothers also receive education in infant and young child feeding and other health topics from the community health volunteers. There is also a hand-washing station at the clinic, which mothers are asked to use before feeding their children, and safe drinking water. Almost two million people are internally displaced and more than five million people are expected to face severe food insecurity, with tens of thousands living in "famine-like" conditions. International Medical Corps has worked in Nigeria since 2013 and currently has team in Sokoto, Kano, and Borno states, delivering programs in health, nutrition, water and sanitation, gender-based violence prevention and response, and food security.