Over 3.7 Million People Endure Severe Food Shortage in Northeast Nigeria – ICRC Alarms

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has sounded an alarm over the escalating food crisis severely impacting northeast Nigeria, stating that over 3.7 million individuals in the conflict-ridden areas are currently battling acute food shortages.

In a press release shared on Monday in Abuja, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Aliyu Dawobe, the ICRC spokesperson, disclosed this grave situation. He emphasized that a substantial portion of those struggling with hunger were formerly self-sufficient farmers who have lost access to their farmlands due to the prolonged insurgency and unrest ravaging the region.

The statement shed light on how the persistent conflict has displaced countless families, obstructed access to fertile lands, and shattered established food supply systems. This has rendered many communities increasingly susceptible to starvation and malnutrition.

As the annual lean season progresses — a period characterized by depleted household food stocks before the next harvest — families are coming under increasing strain. According to Diana Japaridze, Head of the ICRC’s sub-delegation in Maiduguri, this season is particularly challenging.

“This is the time when families need to purchase food, but countless households affected by the conflict simply can’t afford it. They are compelled to drastically cut down their daily food consumption,” Japaridze noted.

She further warned that this intensifying food scarcity is driving up malnutrition rates, particularly affecting children under the age of five, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.

To mitigate this crisis, the ICRC is actively supporting malnutrition stabilization centers and conducting community education programs designed to equip families with the necessary knowledge to care for vulnerable children at risk of malnutrition.

Moreover, to address the underlying causes of persistent food insecurity, the ICRC has launched a comprehensive agricultural support initiative aimed at bolstering resilience and promoting local food production. This program is designed to encompass both the rainy and dry farming seasons.

“Our initiative backs both rainy and dry season cultivation, targeting thousands of farming households. This year alone, we have distributed climate-adapted seeds and farming tools to over 21,000 households to facilitate easier planting and increase productivity,” Japaridze stated.

Beneficiaries have received an assortment of staple and vegetable seeds such as rice, maize, tomato, and okra to not only enhance the diversity of meals but also to improve their nutritional content.

In addition to material support, the ICRC is providing comprehensive training in sustainable agricultural practices to ensure that farmers can continue producing food independently, even beyond the period of direct assistance from the Red Cross.

Japaridze also highlighted a systemic intervention made in collaboration with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC). Together, they recently restored a critical water source essential for maintaining the seed testing and greenhouse facilities managed by NASC, which is vital for sustaining seed quality in Nigeria.

Despite these robust interventions, Japaridze acknowledged that the lean season remains a formidable challenge, leaving many farming families still struggling to secure adequate food supplies