As part of its Hunger Crisis Appeal project, the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has distributed cash to 30,000 people in 5,000 households reportedly facing acute hunger in the north-western and north-central regions of the federation.
The intervention, which is carried out in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has concluded the second round of cash distribution in seven states: Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Niger , Nasarawa and Benue.
In a press release made available to PREMIUM TIMES, the society said it planned to reach an additional 200,000 people who are “in dire need of humanitarian support and facing food insecurity due to a combination of climate change, conflict and COVID-19.”
Elderly woman receives cash from the Red Cross in Nasarawa LG
Speaking about the intervention, NRCS General Secretary Abubakar Kende said: “The situation is critical and needs immediate attention. Millions are being affected, particularly women, the elderly and vulnerable children.
“A good number of them are now in a situation where they don’t know where their next meal is going to come from, and this is something we are very concerned about.
“We are grateful to our financial partners; the American Red Cross, British Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross, Japanese Red Cross and Dutch Red Cross, who have stepped forward to provide the resources needed to reach the most vulnerable people in 7 states. However, more support is still required as the funding gap remains huge relative to needs.”
war against hunger
The NRCS also stated that it is taking action to combat hunger in targeted northern regions specifically because the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UNFAO) estimated that about 19.4 million people in the regions will face acute hunger between June and August 2022.
The UNFAO report, which was published in March 2022, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development -FMARD and other stakeholders, analyzes acute food and nutrition insecurity in the Sahel region and West Africa.
Affected person with PCD in Nasarawa LG receives cash from the Red Cross
The report noted that the food crisis will affect Nigerians in 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including 416,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs).
He added that around 14.4 million people, including 385,000 IDPs in 21 states and FCTs of Nigeria, are already in food crisis as of May 2022.
An affected person receives a cash donation from a Red Cross staff in Agatu LG More intervention
As part of measures to combat hunger, the NRSC revealed that it has decided to make the Mothers’ Club an integral part of the Hunger Crisis Appeal to teach mothers in local communities how to ensure adequate nutrition for their children. in order to reduce infant mortality, prevent acute malnutrition.
“We know that if mothers have better information, healthier children and a better society will be achieved, that is why we have established 140 Mothers’ Clubs in the 7 states. We are working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health on this,” says NRSC, Health and Care Coordinator, Manir Jega.
He added that the red cross society has launched an emergency appeal of 4.1 million Swiss francs in 2021 and is in the process of revising it upwards to meet the growing needs on the ground, but the funding requirement has been a challenge due to the crisis in Ukraine.
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