50,000 children may die if Nigeria's food shortage isn't dealt with — and fast
Eliza Lambert, The Takeaway
With 4.4 million food insecure individuals in northeastern Nigeria, the region is on the brink of famine. Boko Haram, the militant group who has overrun the area, is clearly a major cause of this crisis, which has taken international aid agencies by surprise.
Doctors Without Borders says that at least six people are dying from malnutrition each day in just one displaced persons camp. The UNs childrens agency, UNICEF, says up to 50,000 children could die unless they receive treatment soon.
Chris Stein, the Nigeria correspondent for Voice of America, says while Nigeria has a system for dealing with food insecurity, which has deep roots in the region, it's not enough. The issue is that malnutrition is not a lack of food, but a lack of clean water and issues of disease as well. Clearly, that system has broken down.
Stein continues, Its difficult for me to say whos at fault. These aid agencies are only just finding out theres this deep of malnutrition, and they have to scale up their response and get the money they need.
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