WFP Scales Up to Avert Famine in Boko Haram Affected Areas of Nigeria and Lake Chad Region (For the Media)

The Lake Chad Basin is grappling with a complex humanitarian emergency affecting some 17 million people in the most affected areas across north-eastern Nigeria, Cameroon’s Far North, western Chad and south-east Niger. The combined impact of deepening insecurity, rapid population growth and severe vulnerability resulting from the effects of climate change, environmental degradation, poverty and underinvestment in social services is translating into record numbers of people in need of emergency relief. Continued violence has forced 2.3 million people to flee their homes. The UN needs US$1.5 billion in order to respond with food, medicine, shelter, water and other essential needs.