U.S. approves $32.5 million in aid to Nigeria to tackle hunger crisis

The U.S. has approved $32.5 million in assistance to Nigeria to help address a worsening hunger crisis. The funding will provide food and nutritional support to internally displaced people in conflict-affected areas, the U.S. mission in Nigeria said Wednesday.

Around 764,205 beneficiaries in northeast and northwest Nigeria will receive assistance, including nutrition top-ups for 41,569 pregnant and breastfeeding women and 43,235 children through electronic food vouchers.

Northern Nigeria faces an unprecedented hunger crisis, with more than 1.3 million people at risk of food insecurity and 150 nutrition clinics in Borno state under threat of closure, according to the World Food Program (WFP). 

The northeast has seen deadly insurgency linked to Boko Haram, resulting in around 35,000 civilian deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people, the United Nations reports. Violence in the northwest and north-central regions, often stemming from clashes over land and water, has further worsened food insecurity, including a June attack in north-central Nigeria that killed 150 people.

The U.S. aid aims to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation by delivering immediate food and nutrition support to the most vulnerable populations.

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