The United Nations (UN) has raised alarm over the flooding in Nigeria in 2022, expressing concern that food security could be worsened by the prevailing situation. Commenting on the disaster on Thursday during a news conference at UN headquarters in New York, Stephane Dujarric, UN spokesperson, said that “more than 19 million people across Nigeria are facing severe food insecurity.’’
“We are gravely concerned that the flooding will worsen the already alarming food insecurity and malnutrition situation in Nigeria,” Dujarric said. According to Dujarric, over 440,000 hectares of farmland have been partially or totally damaged at a time when more than 19 million people across Nigeria are facing severe food insecurity.”
The UN spokesperson said cereal production would likely decline by 3.4 percent compared to 2021 due to the flooding.
Dujarric said the flooding could drive up agriculture production costs and heighten insecurity in affected areas.
“Since July, national authorities in Nigeria have provided food, non-food items and clean drinking water to thousands of impacted households,” he said.
The spokesperson said they along with our humanitarian partners are supporting the government with assessments and response, notably in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, as well as in other impacted parts of Nigeria.
He also added that they have provided emergency shelter kits, and are working to create local water drains, sandbags, and walling around shelters to mitigate the impacts of the flooding.”
According to statistics from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the floods have so far affected over 2.8 million Nigerians, with 600 people reported dead,
